Kindness can be all around

The Boston Herald

BEVERLY BECKHAM

Fall River papers didn't cover it, though it happened in their backyard.

It wasn't news. News is about people hurting one another - robbing, lying, beating, killing. News is a health care worker mistreating patients; a doctor overprescribing drugs; a psychiatrist abusing clients. News is about the evil that men do.

But life brims with good, too, and the good far surpasses the evil. If it didn't, people wouldn't have partners, children, friends, pets. No one would nurse, doctor, teach, parent, rescue, feed, guide, inspire, love. No one would lift a finger for others.

The world is full of good. It's just that it goes largely unnoticed. But I saw it this week in eyes, in smiles, in helping hands, in strong backs and in the patience and actions of others at the Kimwell Health Care Center in Fall River.

Kimwell was hosting its first Senior Olympics. Some 100 seniors, including some from four other Flatley Company health care centers - Charlwell in Norwood, Parkwell in Hyde Park, Hollywell in Randolph and Milton Health Care Center - came for an afternoon of bowling, basketball, horseshoes, wheelchair races, a cookout, music and a sing-a-long.

It wasn't an easy thing to orchestrate, though Rita Collaid, Kimwell's activities' director, would tell you it was.

And you could see the care and the hard work even in the decorations: the great green tent set up on the lawn, the red, white and blue tablecloths, the matching balloons, the flags, the Olympic torch, the box full of trophies, and the circus music which played as guests entered the tent.

"You should have seen this place yesterday, if you think it looks good now," Collaid said. The day before she'd hosted a medieval theme party for 400 people on the lawn.

"Many of our residents can't go places so we try to bring the places to them," she added.

She phoned the Society for Creative Anachronism, which recreates crafts, dances, jousting and culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and asked if they would perform for Kimwell's residents and guests. They did - for free.

And on this day too there was generosity all around.

Dozens of volunteers wheeled the elderly, assisted those with canes, got their food, gave and helped out simply because they saw a need and filled it.

"We have a lot of fun."

"These people are great. They're smart and they're kind and they appreciate everything you do for them." These are the comments I heard from the Durfee High School students who helped set up the decorations and serve the food, from Barry and Judy DeRossi, who sang all the old songs, from aids, social directors and nurses.

Jim O'Malley seemed to typify the spirit of the day. He's a bus driver for Flatley. But he didn't just drive. He helped people off the bus, wheeled some, walked others to their seats. He took pictures, served hamburgers, made sure everyone got a drink, cut up residents' food, and addressed everyone by name. "Morning Frances. Morning Catherine. You sure look pretty today."

He could have sat in his bus and read a book. He's a bus driver. The only thing he had to do was drive.

Good, ordinary people doing good, ordinary things, without recognition, without TV cameras rolling.

So why do they do it?

They do it because it brings them joy. Because when they see Mary Morrissey running in her wheelchair, taking quick little bird steps, out-distancing everyone else, they smile. When they hear Agnes Kaiser, 88, singing flawlessly in a voice steady and strong, they get a lump in the throat. When they notice a man with Altzheimer's recognizing for just an instant the tune, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" they are filled with hope.

"This was a nice day, wasn't it?" one resident said to another as they waited for their bus.

"It was grand day," her friend agreed, "I hope they do it again next year."

I hope next year they make headlines.