During the first months of the pandemic in spring 2020, residents at Brightview Avondell participated in a Short Story Contest. They were encouraged to write about their special or humorous memories to uplift spirits in the community.
Please enjoy two entries from that contest, both of which recall fond memories with loved ones.
A Young Married Couple
A Short Love Story by Pat Blum, a resident at Brightview Avondell
This story begins in the early 50s before air conditioning.
As a young married couple, we arrived home to our apartment to find the outline of a bat on the bedroom window screen. We had heard bats get in your hair. What to do? It then became hilarious. There was my big strong man, running around chasing a bat, dressed in very little with a nylon stocking over his head and carrying a broom.
How to lose a bat? We found the bat, at last, hanging upside-down behind a mirror, and chased it back out the window. My husband would disown me if he knew I told this story in public. A big joke in the family!
Then there is the tale of the wife. Being very thrifty, I decided to make turkey soup with the turkey carcass, just like my grandmother. It called for barely. Having never used barley before, I put in the whole box. To my surprise, I had a large pot of barley. What to do with it? I dug a hole and buried the barley!
A most joyful and uplifting ending to this tale is when we were told there was a child up for adoption. We had looked forward to this for a long time. It turned out to be a beautiful baby girl. At the adoption, we were asked by the court if it could be an open adoption so all present in court that morning could witness a happy occasion. Of course, we said yes. This lovely baby girl grew into a lovely woman still checking on me each day.
Moon River
A Short Love Story by Roy “Skip” Albert, a resident at Brightview Avondell
When I was dating a young lady, we went to see the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn. Audrey sang a song in the movie titled “Moon River.” We both loved the movie and the song. Here are the lyrics:
Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end
Waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon river and me
I married that young lady sometime later.
Strange, but when we woke on the first morning of our honeymoon, the first song on the radio was “Moon River.” Why was that?
I studied the lyrics and found that “Moon River” is about looking to the future and the past simultaneously. The river represents the journey of life. A huckleberry friend is an ideal partner.
My wife and I had dream makers and heart breakers and went after the same rainbow’s end. I loved and enjoyed my huckleberry friend for 54 years. It still brings back good memories when I hear that song today.
Moon River and me.
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village®, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
