Brenda Malone Zimmerman, Director  of Life Enrichment

 

Black and White and Roaring All Night…..well maybe not ALL night, but there was a lot of roaring going on and the colors were definitely black and white.  Black and white table decorations, backdrops and arrangements made even more festive by dozens of shiny black and white balloons.

The Eighth Annual Harvest Moon Ball was held at Trinity Oaks health and rehab November 6.  The dance has become a tradition of pulling together from the community at large to provide the elders of the Trinity Oaks with a magical night of dressing up, dancing, food, fellowship and fun.

Comfort Keepers not only provided volunteers to assist with the decorating and getting the ladies ready, but they sponsored the food and beverages for the evening.  Comfort Keepers’ Patrice….. is a frequent visitor to the campus and was eager to be a part of the fun.

Kim Etters reached into her bag of tricks to complete the decorating and set up the “prom photo” area for Steve Norman. Steve has been the professional photographer for the event since its beginning!.

The day before the event ,Mary Kay representative Renay Jacobs   invited ladies out to the main activity room for pampering and a facial in preparation for the next day.  She returned on Thursday afternoon to get everyone ready. At one point, 20 ladies were lined up waiting to get their eye shadow and lipstick done!  Students from Volunteer Catawba had come earlier in the afternoon to help get the ladies nails polished. The beauty shop was packed with ladies getting their hair done or touched up.

Dresses selected during a shopping day the last of October were delivered to resident rooms.  An early evening meal was served in room since the dining room was already decorated for the event.   One resident called a family member at the last minute to bring her a strand of pearls.  Another family member arrived just in time to see mom all dressed up and provide her with a corsage before leaving for work.

Excitement was in the air as residents, staff and family members began gathering in the hallway for the 6:00 opening of the activity room doors.  The waiting partiers were greeted by the Salisbury Swing Band.  Steve Etters and his fantastic musicians have been the anchor of the event since its beginning: “The Salisbury Swing Band has at its central mission to preserve and provide dance music from over 6 decades to audiences of ALL ages. The Annual Harvest Moon Ball has held special meaning to the organization as it was among one of its first performances, and continues to be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable!”

Within a few moments a collective “ooh” could be heard as the entire baseball team from Catawba College came in.  A seemingly endless stream of good looking young men in shirts and ties entered the room!  Coach Jim Gantt was there as well.  The fellows reached for the hands of the elegantly dressed ladies and escorted them one by one to the dance floor!  For those unable to dance, young gentlemen sat with them and engaged them in conversation or took them down to the dining room for punch and petit fours.  They were kind, personable and really seemed to enjoy their “dates.”

To assist with the roaring all night portion of the evening, four stunning flappers showed up.  They were Catawba co-eds who stayed on the dance floor non-stop from arrival to departure!

“Nurse Mary” showed up in a glittering dress, lacy black gloves, beautifully coiffed snow white hair with her cane lit up in white lights.  Alter ego of Patrice Gordon, Nurse Mary is not stranger to the campus!  She showed those young fellows how to cut a rug no matter your age!!!

The music and dancing lasted until after 9:00.  The band wrapped up and closed with the traditional “Be Young, Be Foolish, and Be Happy!” Decorations came down, tuxedoes went back in the bag, furniture was reset. Staff made sure the partiers were tucked into their rooms, locked up their offices and headed home. Glittering chandeliers:$6.99 each; miles to get here to escort Mom to the dance: 125; smiles on the faces of the residents: PRICELESS.

Thank you to every one that made this night possible!!!

 

PHOTOS BY BRENDA ZIMMERMAN