Fun time was had at Pawtucket’s St. Patrick’s Parade
We have had so many fun things going on the last few weeks.
It started with a Cultural event at the senior center called Loteria Mexicano or Mexican Bingo. It was a free event run by retired social studies and Spanish teach Maria “Ceci” Cano. Ceci gave us an explanation of the Spanish language then explained the cards. The cards were different, they had pictures with Spanish words under them. Thankfully there were numbers assigned to the pictures. Ceci had a deck of cards that she drew cards from and called out the Spanish name and the assign number. Like bingo you then put a tab on the picture if you had. The game patterns were the same and there were prizes to win. We were lucky to have a Spanish speaking person at our table who helped us a lot.
During the week at Fallon Memorial School, we were part of the school family dinner and survey program. Families were invited to come to the school and fill out the family survey. It gives them a chance to express what they like or dislike about the school and what they would like to see happen at the school.
Wendy and I were running the Books have Wings table. While the parents were doing the survey the children could come to us and pick out two books to take home or enjoy the project the Empowerment Factory was running. After completing the survey, the family could enjoy a free dinner of salad, macaroni and meat balls and cookies.
Last weekend found Linda and I at Park Place Congregational Church’s joint praise & worship Gospel presentation, held in the church. The evening started off with the Park Place choral group singing some wonderful songs, “This Little Light of Mine”, “Walking to Jordan” just to name a few. For me one of the highlights was the duet between Paster Wayne Patenaude and choral member Christine Prescott. The beautiful voices blended perfectly together and filled the church.
Once the group was finished the thirty-member Prism of Praise Community Gospel Choir came forward. Conducted by Michael Evora, founder and director, the size of the group alone leads you to believe you were in for a treat. They did not disappoint. Before each of their songs one member would come forward, introduce themselves, and explain what the song meant to them. When Tony came forward, he said there are more than one way to praise God depending on where you live. His song was going to be done in the Mississippi way. His strong voice filled the church but when the choir joined in people were dancing in the church, in fact I think you could have heard them sing all the was across the street at St. Paul’s.
The night ended with both choirs joining together for two more songs. Thank you to all for such an uplifting night.
We had a super fun time in Pawtucket’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade this weekend. We met early at Jenks to decorate the Senior Centers Bus and my car. When completed we went back to the school cafeteria where the parade committee had coffee and donuts for parade participants. The seniors were excited about being in the parade. For some it brought back memories of being in a parade as a kid; for others it was there first time being in a parade. When it was time to move out, the group boarded the bus, Mary Lou, the center’s director, Maria & Diana let the way with the carrying of the center banner, Donna Carter, the center’s dance teacher, road a decorated adult threewheel bike, and the bus with the member waving in the windows followed. We followed behind the bus.
Wendy, the therapy dog, has been in the parade for several years now. Our friend Linda Dvelis held Wendy so she could look out the window, she is too small to look out herself. Wendy loved hearing her name called out by the people in the crowd (I have signs on the car with her name and picture on it}. It was fun hearing some of Wendy’s school readers calling out saying they remember her.
When approached the reviewing center Linda jumped out of the car to join our line dance friends with Donna Carter, to do a little Irish jig, then came back to hold Wendy again. I did not get any picture because I was driving but Donna was kind enough to send me the ones she took. There are a lot more pictures at Pawtucket St. Patty’s parade face book page.
Have a great week and if you see us “around town” be sure to say Hi!