From Frank...
Happy New Year! I’m hoping that everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. Admittedly, for me, the season was bittersweet. It was the first year that my mother, who has advanced Alzheimer’s, didn’t really understand the significance of the holiday nor her birthday in late-December. And yet, she seems content and happy each day and so I’m trying to focus on the positive and stay in the here and now. For me, longing for what was and what can never be again only brings deep sadness. I try to be grateful for the past but live in the present. Sometimes, it’s hard to find beauty in immediate circumstances, but I’m always happier when I can do so.
I am truly excited thinking about the year ahead of us. We’ve got terrific plans for the Village, including a line dancing class which we’ll debut next Friday and a new Lunch & Learn program which this month will feature Village member, Janet Frank, talking about her career in the National Symphony Orchestra. Our first quarterly “tech clinic” will be later this month and if you’re anything like me, you’ll need an appointment to help understand some piece of technology which for me is the settings on my Apple Watch! Our monthly drop-in Lunch Bunch will be at Chef Geoff’s on New Mexico Avenue, and we’ve arranged a special docent-led tour later in the month of the recently renovated Folger Shakespeare Library. We’ll also have our second “Dial in Social” where you just call one DC-based phone number and you’re able to speak to others. This month we’ll chat about memorable movies. Our Tuesday Talks resume this month with Village member, Pat Roos, speaking about her book, “Surviving Alex: A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, and Addiction.”
All of this is in addition to our usual schedule of events, including book clubs, walking group, current events discussion group, virtual stretching classes, games group, and more! So, there’s a lot to do and I really hope that you find something of interest and commit to doing something with other Village members and volunteers. (As a reminder, Village volunteers can attend our events and activities!)
Finally, next Friday, January 10th, I’ll be at Dolan at 10:30 am to talk about the Village to anyone interested in becoming a member. I’ll even buy the coffee – which happens to be illy, my favorite coffee brand from Italy. If you’re a subscriber to this newsletter (and we have nearly 1,200 subscribers) but not yet a member, come learn more about the Village. We now have FREE memberships, both social and Members Plus, available to those with limited finances. It involves only a confidential discussion with me, so please do not let finances be the reason why you don’t join us.
I feel so privileged to lead an organization with an important mission, but more importantly, a dynamic group of members and volunteers. It truly is a community. My hope for 2025 is that we’ll continue to grow, but also help everyone to engage more in our myriads of activities. Remember that many research studies show that social engagement leads to better health. Will you commit to getting more involved in 2025? Read all about the Village events and programs for January here.
— Frank Finamore, Executive Director
P.S. Don’t forget to register for the February 1st screening of “Wine, Women & Dementia.”It should be a great event for anyone interested in learning more about dementia, caregiving, and resources available.