When a Pandemic Hands You Lemons
“We all need something to retain some sort of normalcy and keep from withdrawing any more than we have to.” –SCAN member Jim E.
In the last issue of SCAN Club, we featured stories of members who found ways to stay active and connected in the time of COVID-19. It’s clear from the letters and emails we received in response that many of you were inspired reading about your fellow members. Many who wrote in told us how they, too, have made the most out of this challenging year. We’ve shared some of their responses here and think you’ll agree that SCAN members are incredibly creative and interesting!
Apologies to Netflix, But…
When Jim E. read about how some of his fellow members have been staying busy during the pandemic, it got him thinking about how thankful he is to be attending online classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University, Fullerton (OLLI-CSUF).
“I’m not the type of person to dwell on the negative, but it’s somewhat comforting to hear people acknowledge that they’re in the same situation, and what you’re dealing with is what everyone is facing, too.” –Jim E.
The three to four classes Jim attends each week via Zoom provide opportunities to keep his mind active and to get welcome interaction with others. “It's camaraderie you wouldn’t otherwise have because you’re not going to see people,” he says.
Jim is taking a variety of online classes. There’s Sports Talk, Money News, History of Rock and Roll, WWII History and courses in technology and medical news. “I like that I’m learning new things, stuff that I’ve always had an interest in but have never taken the time or made the effort to learn about,” he says. “It has kept my mind active thinking about things, rather than just watching Netflix all day. Nothing against Netflix, but there’s more to life than just that!”
OLLI is a membership organization that provides older adults with learning opportunities in a university setting. Before COVID-19, Jim attended OLLI courses in person on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. Once the university closed due to the pandemic, OLLI-CSUF was able to move most of its more than 150 class offerings to Zoom, except those (like one of Jim's favorites) that rely on in-person meetings. “I’m really looking forward to being able to attend the Poker classes again,” Jim says.
OLLI programs are offered at more than 100 institutes nationwide, including most University of California and California State University locations. To find one near you, visit osherfoundation. org/olli_list.html.
No Travel Ban Can Stop His Wanderings
Limitations on travel during the pandemic haven’t kept John R. from exploring distant lands and meeting new friends in faraway places, but it wasn’t that easy at first. “At the beginning, it was hard staying isolated,” John says. “It seemed like the term ‘social distancing’ was somewhat of a misnomer and that ‘anti-social’ distancing was a more accurate term.”
But that was before John discovered that far-flung places and people were as close as his smartphone and home computer. “I soon began to make friends from all over the world. This resulted in a lot of new and interesting experiences,” he says. “For example, I can have a friendly discussion with someone in Los Angeles or New York (or both at the same time), or take a virtual tour of the Louvre with a new friend in France.”
John is particularly interested in stereoscopic 3-D imaging. He says that in virtual meetings with members of his stereo club, the technology makes it appear as if they are “right there with me, wherever they are in the world.”
Connecting with faraway people and places has made the world smaller in a way, too. John says, “I might find myself in a conversation with someone in Thailand, Australia, Japan or China only to discover that they and their families are concerned about exactly the same things we are here.”
Positive Thinking Is Her Superpower
It could be said that Virginia H. has had more than her share of challenges to deal with during the pandemic. In May, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led to surgery in September and chemotherapy starting in December. Then, she kicked off the new year by testing positive for COVID-19.
“My kids make me laugh because they call me the bionic woman,” she chuckles. “They say, ‘You must be Superwoman, going through chemo and then getting COVID and not even having to go to the hospital.’ ”
Her kids may joke but Virginia does believe a superpower of sorts has helped her overcome the challenges she’s faced. “I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking. I always look at the bright side,” she says. “Even when I got COVID … it scared me but I said, ‘I’m going to get through this,’ and I gave myself positive affirmations. I was really fortunate, and I know having a positive attitude has a lot to do with it.”
Virginia wields her superpower in everything she does. Almost all activities at the building where she lives and works as a part-time activity coordinator are on hold now, but Virginia does what she can to brighten the days of the other residents. She decorates the rec center’s bulletin board with seasonal themes. And during the holidays, she donned a Santa suit to deliver gift bags to residents’ doors.
“If you think limitation that’s what you’re going to have,” she says. “If you think “I can get through this,” it can happen for you.”
Answering the Call of the Wild
Irma with one of two pelicans she recently helped nurse back to health. The pelicans, who could not be released back into the wild, are now in a bird sanctuary at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.
Even though Irma M. takes all the necessary precautions to stay safe from COVID-19, she still has a houseful of visitors to keep her company. On her half-acre property in Southern California’s mountains, Irma nurses a menagerie of sick and injured birds and wild animals back to health.
For more than 20 years, Irma has worked with the Pacific Wildlife Project as a wildlife rehabilitator. The grassroots non-profit organization of volunteers rescues, rehabilitates and releases distressed animals, and the pandemic has been a particularly busy time for the group. Some of the animals that have been under Irma’s care recently include an injured white pelican, a peacock and a squirrel who requires hand-feeding because of a broken jaw from being hit by a car.
While much of her time lately has been devoted to caring for her wild houseguests, Irma hasn’t forgotten to take care of her own health. “I had gained some extra weight that was beginning to affect my thyroid, and I didn’t want to have to take medication,” she says. “So, I used a Lindora (diet) plan as a guideline for what to eat and lost 20 pounds. I also made friends again with my scale and now weigh myself regularly, do yoga and get in my 10,000 steps a day. Now the yoga is easier, I feel lighter and my clothes fit better.”
“I know my age—I’ve got the wrinkles to remind me—but I’m not going to let a number keep me from doing what I love.” – Irma M.
Irma says she misses her human connections. She’s looking forward to being able to go out to lunch with friends again and continue the tradition of making tamales next Christmas for her neighbors, for example. But spending time with her furry, feathered or scaly wards is helping her stave off loneliness and keeping her active while doing something she's passionate about.
