At Home Chesapeake is a non-profit, fee for service membership organization which provides advocacy and education, and ensures connection to a wide range of services for mature adults who want to live independently in their community.

  SCARY MOVIES

When I was a little girl I loved to go to scary movies. I waited with dread and excitement as the story unfolded to find out who the monster was and what it was going to do to the characters in the movie. The anticipation kept me on the edge of my seat until the monster appeared. It was only after the monster appeared that I actually began to relax. Whether the monster was named Godzilla or King Kong, once they appeared and developed a personality and vulnerabilities, I relaxed and sometimes even felt sorry for them.

 The unknown is only scary until you meet and recognize it for what it is.

 All of us will age and it looks scary and full of unknowns. But it will stay that way until you name it and face it. Once you know what you are facing, it is like Godzilla. The big mechanical robot is not scary and maybe even a little vulnerable. We can deal with “our aging” similarly. We can acknowledge the facts and make a supportive plan. We can then relax and enjoy our next scary movie or whatever makes us smile.

 SOUP KITCHEN

  Once upon a time there was a group of homes at the end of a steep narrow road. A blizzard came along and dumped three feet of snow over all the little homes in the village along the steep road. The folks who lived in the homes were stuck at the end of the road. Now most of the people didn’t know each other very well as is the wont of modern times. But one of the homeowners opened up a “soup kitchen”. She invited all the “neighbors” to come wading through the snow with whatever provisions they had. Together they made a big delicious pot of soup. While it was cooking they introduced themselves and swapped stories. They learned they were not really isolated and that they could help each other out in other creative ways. Eventually the snow melted and outside help was available. But the one time soup kitchen formed a heart for the little village.

 Each person needed to contribute to the pot of soup. The combined efforts and talents created something powerful. Everyone benefitted from the soup.

 At Home Chesapeake is a Village. Do you have any contributions for the Village? May we offer you our talents?