A sweet spot for Salem

MT PLEASANT — Friday afternoon, a white stretch limousine parked outside Addington Place to pick up resident Rosalee Boecker, more fondly know as Rosie.

Rosie was certainly excited to hear that the limousine was for her to visit her hometown of Salem.

“Hip Hip Hooray!” Rosie said as she clapped her hands. “It is something I’ve been wanting to do.”

Unofficial Salem tour guide and official Addington Place caregiver Kelly Carter played a crucial role in making the excursion a success.

Carter not only listens as Rosie reminiscences of home while at Addington Place, but she has intimate knowledge about Roise’s life in Salem before.

Carter and Rosie’s families have been friends for multiple generations.

So, Carter was able to point out old land marks and familiar homes during the adventure.

Community Relations Coordinator Cody Flietner held Rosie’s hand as she climbed from the limousine at Salem City Park.

“How things do change,” Rosie said in disbelief. “This isn’t Salem.”

Carter gently walked Rosie through the land marks around the park as Rosie covered her mouth and turned in circles, taking it all in.

“Do you remember the bands that played in the gazebo?” Carter asked and Rosie nodded in affirmation.

The two pointed out Rosie’s old church, her childhood home, the post office, and nearly every other notable building around City Park.

With an ear to ear grin, Rosie and Carter took to the swings.

“I’m not sure I remember how,” Rosie said as she climbed on a swing for the first time in many years.

Despite her uncertainty, Rosie quickly found herself soaring through the air.

Carter and Flietner most enjoyed how Rosie’s eyes grew wide and exclamations spilled from her lips as she genuinely remembered her life in Salem.

While her memory oftentimes fails her nowadays, these memories were perfectly clear.

She said that her favorite activities growing up in Salem included dancing and playing basketball.

Rosie enjoyed hors d'oeuvres under the park shelter and continued telling stories about her time in Salem before the limousine took her to the main event.

Finally, Rosie loaded into the limousine to head home, not to Addington place, but to see the house she and her late husband Henry lived in as they raised their two boys.

Without hesitation, Rosie eagerly rattled off the address to the driver.

Clasping her hands in front of her Rosie sat back in her seat and said, “This has been great, greater than great.”

She eagerly watched out the window as she got closer and closer.

“We’re almost there,” Carter said to Rosie.

Rosie put one hand to the window and the other covered her mouth as she laid eyes on her beloved home.

A new family with two small children are now building memories in the home Rosie created a whole life.

All too soon, the limousine made it’s way back to Mt. Pleasant.

Just as she did on her way to Salem, Rosie watched eagerly out the windows and commented on the beauty of the trees.

“A Life of Luxury,” Addington Place’s theme of the month, influenced every aspect of the special trip, from transportation, to hors d'oeuvres, to a red carpet reception upon arriving back at Addington Place.

The real luxury, however, is likely that Rosie has Carter to help her continue down memory lane whenever her heart desires.

Flietner has no intention of putting back any of the stops as he arranges these Dare to Dream ventures.

A few new Dare to Dreams are currently in the works and include a pontoon boat ride and 34 Raceway for two deserving residents.

“They deserve this,” Flietner said.

The smile on Rosie’s face was more than enough evidence to believe Flietner is right.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com