After my last column detailing the finger-lickin’ goodness found at Gilroy’s famous Garlic Festival, I was contacted by the program director at Live Oak Adult Day Services, who asked if I’d be interested in swinging by to visit the seniors and share the details.
The timing was spot-on: The previous week I’d mentioned to a friend that I tend to get along well with the older generations and I’d like to volunteer or visit some area seniors who might like some company – I just wasn’t sure how to go about taking that first step. And besides, I’m just a your typical, woman-next-door – no extraordinary talent or story to share – what would I talk about?
So when the director said the seniors are unable to attend festivals anymore and might like to hear about this year’s Garlic Fest, I jumped at the opportunity. And I got the enthusiastic OK to bring my good-natured dog, Bailey, along for the visit.
Last Friday, Bailey and I took a break from the office to hang out with the seniors and staff at the Sixth Street facility. Having an affinity for older generations – and no longer having grandparents of my own – I was looking forward to sitting among those who’ve experienced so much more than I have.
I was introduced as the day’s guest speaker and as I shared my experiences of the Garlic Festival, my job at the newspaper and how I found Bailey, some of those sitting around me began to speak up to share their stories.
One gentleman reminisced of the days when he worked at the Dispatch beginning at the age of 9. In 1950, he earned 3 cents for every newspaper he delivered and was responsible for collecting the subscription fees, which were $1 per month. He eventually worked his way into the pressroom.
Oh, how things have changed – everything from printing and pricing, to delivery methods.
Speaking of deliveries, a woman piped up to share the story of her father, who had the honor of being the very first mail carrier in Gilroy, delivering mail from a sack he carried on his back. Made me wonder how he dealt with the weight of the mailbag in Gilroy’s summer heat.
Summer temperatures always seem to soar the last weekend of July during the famous Garlic Fest, which was another hot topic among the folks at Live Oak. Sharing my thoughts and experiences from this year’s event brought back memories of past festivals for some.
Many raised their hands when I asked who had attended the festival in the past and if anyone had volunteered. One man spoke up about going from booth to booth around 1978 and waiting in the food lines for lunch. He ate his plate of food in the shade of the information booth where his sister was volunteering.
When asked about my thoughts on garlic ice cream, I gave my honest opinion – and another man chimed in that his sister loved it.
Though I don’t love garlic ice cream, I do love dogs, as do some of the seniors. I walked around the circle with Bailey, who was more than happy to get a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears from those who wanted to give one.
I shared Bailey’s story, and mentioned how the veterinarian recently claimed she needed to lose a couple pounds. Hearing this, one woman joined in and spoke about a dachshund named Penny, who was 10 pounds overweight.
Another man shared the story – and laughter – of his great Dane, a gentle giant he called King. As a youngster, the man said there were cops walking in an alley by his house and King was resting his head on the top of the fence, watching. As a cop walked by, King barked a friendly greeting and the startled cop launched backwards. After re-gaining his composure, the officer made a comment about how big King was – and he was only 8 months old.
It made me smile, knowing my sweet little dog, Bailey, opened the door to stories and memories from long ago.
And even not-so-long-ago.
Bailey seemed particularly drawn to one man, who shared that he had a service dog, a golden retriever, for about 12 years. Just a few months ago, he got another service dog, a Labrador named Freedom. As he scratched her ears, I imagine Bailey sensed the man was a kind, dog-friendly soul.
As time wound down, and friends and family members began to come in and pick up those sitting around me, I came to a realization: The visit to Live Oak Adult Day Care Services wasn’t about me. In my anxiousness wondering what I would talk about and what stories I would share, I lost sight of the most important thing I had to offer: an attentive ear to listen.
