Sunday, I drove myself over to the nursing home with my flute and music at the ready. The people there weren't expecting me, I don't think. NHS does Elmcroft visits every last Sunday (or something like that, I don't remember), but I have a strange feeling that not too many people show up to these events.

Anyway, I timidly approached this lady who was having a late lunch (it was around 2pm), and she looked confused as to where to place me. Finally, she placed me in the Alzheimer's ward. The interesting thing is that they keep the ward locked with a special security system. The lady let me in, but if I wanted to leave the ward, and nobody was there to help me, I would be stuck in there.

Anyway, I digress. This is only the second or third time I've been at this particular nursing home, and although these visits make me sad, I still try to go every now and then. Making these senior citizens smile makes my day, even if I do have to play my flute for two hours. Although playing for two hours is rough- I tend to run out of things to play. I need to start commiting more pieces to memory. It comes in handy.

There was this man sitting on the couch in the corner. He didn't look too old - maybe around 70. Everytime I finished a song, he would always be the first to clap. I would look into his eye and nervously smile and mouth, "Thank you." Nice old men are a joy to see because most nursing homes are full of women... and most of them are kind of cranky.

The women who worked there were all smiles when I finished - I didn't realize that they were listening, as well. Some of them were hanging out in the back. They commented on how cute I was and how I should come back more often.

I should.

I'm going to the nursing home (another one) on October 1st. I think I'll bring my flute that day.