At The Hop
By Jo Strausz Rosen
Thanks to a special donation from Andrew Mac of AMAC Pharmacy Services, the weeklong Dream Cruise activities on Jewish Senior Life campuses brought residents, guests, and staff together for a great time. Events included sock-hop-themed live music, Elvis impersonators, jugglers, and a parade of vintage autos. As we waited for the cruise to begin, participants bopped to fifties and Motown tunes as staff in poodle skirts and scarves served the drivers and their passengers a special box lunch. Residents whooped, hollered, applauded, and waved checkered flags at the parade of antique autos that circled the campus. We were delighted to have Channel 7 News reporter, Kimberly Craig there to report on the festivities and interview residents and staff. Our wonderful JSL Dream Cruise made the news!!!
Activities in all JSL buildings brought out the best energy in everyone. Fleischman hosted Elvis on stilts who juggled as musical entertainment and sweet treats from the Ice Cream truck brought joy to all present. Arnie Collins drove his shiny vintage 1939 Ford and let the residents pose for pictures and peek inside.
Meer captured the fun with a photo booth and jukebox for residents, many of whom were decked out in their own 50s attire, holding props for the Paparazzi. After their photo op, residents adjourned to the dining room, which was transformed into a 1950s diner, for a Super Sock-hop featuring a delicious BBQ dinner. The feast included Boston Coolers and Root Beer Floats, burgers, and hotdogs with a side of chili. Dessert featured cupcakes resembling soda fountain milkshakes. The dining staff got into the act with their 50’s style costumes. Residents dug into the feast and then, clapped to the beat of the Earth Angels, a teenage dance troupe. These kids blew us all away with their fast-paced dance moves and lively interaction with the appreciative audience. After the festivities, grateful residents thanked Meer Administrator Marcia Mittelman and her hard-working staff and then retired to the lobby to hang out and socialize late into the evening. I didn’t want to leave!
Here’s to a peaceful weekend at the Woodward Dream Cruise. Shabbat Shalom.
