Singing for the Residents

Yesterday, before I was so rudely accosted by Wal-Mart Man, I sang for the residents of the nursing home where my mom resides.  I was to begin at 2 and end around 3.  I got there at 1:30 and set up my stuff...while the nursing home people brought the residents in for the entertainment.  I tuned my guitar, spoke to the few that were already there, waited for my mother...and at 2, promptly on the dot, I hit the ground running with the Hank Williams classic, "Hey Good Looking."  I looked around at the room while I was singing and several of them were singing with me.  This was a bonus for me....so I kept the pace up for a bit.  Then...from the right side of the room...I heard his voice.  No, it was not the Wal-Mart man....but it was a resident...singing loudly with me....he was always a little behind in the words...but he was having a high-ho good time.  I loved it!  For the next hour I filled the room with gospel music and tunes from the likes of Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ray Price, Doris Day, and the Sons of the Pioneers.  When I picked my playlist I took into consideration the residents ages and fortunately for me...my family is a musical one...I know the old stuff like the back of my hand.  The residents knew almost every song I sang and had big smiles on their faces.  I fed off the fact that they were so into the music.  If they did not sing...I made that song a short one...and moved to another.  I told some stories in between some of the songs....they loved the one about Hank Williams being in jail in Alex City and writing Kowliga.  I did not sing Kowliga....but I did do "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."  The hour passed way to fast and before I knew it it was time to close out the entertainment....with my huge gospel medley.  I wanted to sing a lot....so I smashed them all together in one song....all the G D C chord songs...."I'll Fly Away, Do Lord, This Little Light", "Will the Circle be Unbroken," "I Saw the Light"...and finished up with a last chorus of "I'll Fly Away."  The applause was deafening....for nursing home residents.  I closed the time with a prayer and I don't know what got into me...but it was a passionate one.  The activities director told me I had to come back.....The verbal residents all asked me to come back....that was so very touching, and several of the residents stayed around to talk after the performance.  You all know I have missed singing at the Arbor.....alot....since we moved to Rock Mills....but yesterday.....I found a wonderful way to fill that void.  God love the residents.  My momma was thrilled.  She made sure she told everyone .....that I was her girl.  She sat right in front of me, singing and beaming the whole time.  Yesterday was a good day....and I love my mom!