May
3
By Martha Prytula
As a participant of the ASEL (Apartment Seniors Enjoying Life) program offered by the Beckley Farm Lodge Society I was moved by Penny Pitcher's article (in April's Beacon) regarding the necessity of buying a new bus for Beckley Farm Lodge.
But being moved and being moved to action are two different things. After the first reaction, I chose the latter action.
I obtained a photo of a possible bus to be purchased, scanned it and printed several copies in different sizes. Before I could say 'Beckley Bus Booster Bank' or 'Beckley Bus Booster Boxes' my dining room table was strewn with boxes of all shapes and sizes, glue, clear tape, ribbons (red-left over from Christmas), scissors, calligraphy pens, paper, dried toast and mugs of coffee that were forever getting cold. Soon enough several boxes were covered with the photo and formed into 'Banks'-one for coins and the other for cheques and paper money. And 29 little gold Booster boxes which I calculated could hold 11 toonies or 12 loonies or approximately $9 in a mixture of change (excluding nickels because they take up too much space for their value). I also made extra copies of Penny's article. Then I trotted all this downstairs (feeling more than just a little bit of trepidation) to our Activity Room for our Wednesday evening ASEL supper.
That was just a little over two weeks ago and I'm happy to report the response has been nothing short of phenomenal! The little booster boxes 'flew off the shelf' with ASELs filling them and refilling them. The first twenty dollar bill was quickly followed by a $100 bill. Cheques of various amounts were stuffed into the bank and the change bank became heavy in no time. Although the final calculation for April has not yet been made, more than two thousand dollars has been added to the bus fund by the efforts of Beckley Manor seniors. And that does not include amounts brought in by us using the Thrifty's Smile card.
And we are all committed to the long haul!
And to that end I wrote our theme song which I share with your readers now.
My Baby wants to ride (In A Mercedes-Benz* Bus)
By Martha Prytula ©Prytula 2014
I said to my sweetheart:
"Let's go out and celebrate
Our many years of marriage
With a special date.
Let's rent a white limousine
And drive through town
And enjoy the beauty
Of the scenes all around."
But my sweetie said; "NO!
That's way too much fuss
'Cause I just want to ride
In a brand new
Mercedes-Benz bus."
Chorus:
Oh, my baby wants to ride
In a Mercedes Benz bus
With me by her side.
That's why I'm making such a fuss.
Bring your loonies and your toonies
And even maybe more
To help me grant the wish
Of the one I adore.
I don't want your life savings
(But I'll take them if I must)
'Cause my baby wants to ride
In a brand new Mercedes Benz bus.
So I said to my sweetie
"A bus is way too big
For just the two of us."
She said: "Oh don't be such a prig
We have so many friends
I want them all to ride with us
In a brand new, fifteen passenger
Mercedes Benz bus!"
Repeat chorus
So if anybody out there wants to help the ASELs help 'Baby' get her wish you can make a cheque out to: Beckley Farm Lodge Foundation with a notation in the lower left hand corner: Bus Project. Any contribution over $25 will receive a charitable receipt. Please include your name, address and phone number.
Mail or drop your donation to:
Beckley Farm Lodge
530 Simcoe St
Victoria BC V8V 4W4
We will thank you.
And so will 'Baby'.
* Note from Beckley Farm Lodge Management: Although our residents and clients will be thrilled with the "luxury" and joy of riding in a new bus, the prospective bus is neither a luxury vehicle nor a Mercedes Benz. It is a vehicle specially adapted for use by seniors and those with disabilities. We thank Martha and the ASEL seniors for their outstanding support!