A Beautiful Friendship Bridges the Generations
by Gregg Brunner, In Service of Seniors Projects Coordinator
About seven years ago I met Patty, 81-years old, when she worked at the flower shop next to the coffee shop where I worked. Patty had been a nurse her whole life and she would come over every day to get coffee, and we became fast friends. She would tell everyone that I was her boyfriend. It was adorable.
A year or so after becoming friends with Patty, she finally popped the question—do you want to come to breakfast with us? You see, Patty went to breakfast every Sunday with the flower shop owner and his wife, Carol. Her father, Carl was also there. Of course I said yes, and after breakfast Patty informed me that I had to attend every week now. Thankfully, that wasn’t such a difficult thing to agree to. We continued that tradition for quite a while, and over time Patty went from being my girlfriend to my Pittsburgh Grandma.
Both of my grandmothers had passed away, and I kid you not, Patty is the perfect mix of both of them. Every time I see her it reminds me of both of my grandmothers, and I absolutely love that.
The breakfast bunch had somewhat disbanded once COVID hit, but Patty and my friendship continued. Her daughter lives in New York, and Patty’s friends are all older adults, so I would be the one helping out if something came up. Not because I felt bad for Patty, or because nobody else would, but because I was her friend and that’s what friends do. I helped her move. I put air in her tires. I put up pictures for her. Whatever she needed, I was more than happy to help out.
Patty would always say that I was her guardian angel, but I personally think it’s the other way around. Being friends with her has taught me so much about what is important in life and what doesn’t really matter. I am able to help her in concrete ways, but she has helped me in those ways that speak to your core. To say I am thankful for that is quite an understatement.
My friendship with Patty has allowed me to see and experience how important programs like our In Service of Seniors program are. There are older adults in every neighborhood that not only need concrete services provided, but also need to feel connected to their communities and other human beings. We are relational beings, and to be robbed of that is to be robbed of what it means to be human. Opportunities to share stories, recall memories, and to be heard and seen are vital. I love that my position with NHCO allows me to help facilitate those relationships. Not only do I know how important it is for our older adults, but I know how beautiful it can be for anyone willing to give volunteering a try.