Highlights from Reno

I had a fabulous time sharing at the Northern Nevada Activity Professionals Conference in Reno. Thanks to the original invitation from Activity Consultant and Conference Coordinator, Arlene Tierney, I had the opportunity to get acquainted with several wonderful individuals and learn from many excellent speakers.

I also had the privilege of being invited to bring my music and my Emilou puppet to two different care communities, The Arbors Memory Care and Life Care Center.

And, for a little personal icing on the cake, I roved around Wingfield Park during Reno’s annual Artown and got lots of interested inquires about Emilou. The following are pictures that highlight some of my experiences.

Emilou finds herself in the arms of a stranger, Steve, at a slot machine in the Las Vegas airport.
Emilou peers across the river rapids in Wingfield Park as a dance performance takes place during Artown.
Emilou gazes at the images of artwork created by residents (facilitated by Lynette Schweigert, Director of Moments of Memory) of The Arbors Memory Care.
Emilou rests on top of a painted piano on a street corner of Reno during the annual Artown. Mover over Cher!
Emilou and I pose by the sign of Life Care Center where we entertained residents, thanks to a serendipitous invitation from Activity Professionals, Jessi and Adriene.
Emilou shakes hands with one of the residents of Life Care Center.
Emilou and I had the pleasure of being asked to have our picture taken with Steve, a tatooed patron of Artown.
Emilou and I pose with Activity Professional, Norge and a couple of her favorite residents, Jean and Harry from The Arbors Memory Care
Emilou and Jean make quick friends!
Emilou, Jean, and me!
One of the artist residents poses beside her artwork at The Arbors Memory Care.
Karon McDonald, an Activity Professional, shows off some of what happens through her volunteer work with Moments of Memory at The Arbors Memory Care. The pictures featured on the wall behind her are created through an innovative medium, ladies’ cosmetics, thought up by Director of Moments of Memory, Lynette Schweigert. Lynette was one of the presenters at the conference.
Emilou poses with one of the Activity Professionals during a break at the conference. Oh dear, we forgot her name!!
Emilou and I head back to our hotel, the Sands Regency, one evening after our Artown stroll.
Emilou poses by a vending machine. The real Emilou’s drink of choice was always Pepsi, the drink that “makes me quiver.”
Emilou and I flew Southwest.
A young family approached Emilou and I about having her picture taken with their baby girl, Brienna. I think the parents were a whole lot more excited about this moment than their daughter!
Emilou and I sat and watched a dance concert at Wingfield Park. Some folks seated on the grass to our left expressed some curiosity about my puppet. I explained to them that Emilou Goldenpuppet is based on a real person named Emilou who spent the last 17 years of her life in a nursing home. I kidded that my kids were probably glad to not be with me as I paraded Emilou around in public. However, I added that I bring Emilou with me to various places as a symbol of all the Emilou’s in the world who want to be a part of something special. Their response?
“Don’t stop doing that.”