Harborchase07

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect on Good Friday, April 6th. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, and there was a fresh, cool breeze in the air. As the vintage cars began arriving in early afternoon in the parking lot of HarborChase Retirement Community, residents and visitors gathered out front - first on the covered porch, and then dragging chairs behind them, they moved in closer, right into the driveway, for an up-close look and a walk down Memory Lane.

A local barbershop quartet, “The 4 Thoughts” came and even brought a 10’x10’ Seminoles tent to provide shade for those sitting out in the driveway in the sun. They offered continuous musical entertainment, strolling along the front of the property, singing to the clusters of folks gathered in various spots along the way.		Residents from both the Assisted Living area and the Memory Care area gathered to enjoy the event, either under the shade of the tent, lined up in chairs along the front sidewalk, or rocking on the long covered front porch! Many walked from car to car with friends or family members or staff, admiring the detailing, sitting behind the wheel, and sharing stories of their own former cars.
Residents got a kick out of “driving” in one car that had a “drive-in tray” attached to the driver’s door topped with plastic hot dogs and ice cream cones. A vehicle with a rumble seat was another popular attraction, although none of the seniors were brave enough to try to climb into that seat! (one very limber staff member did, however!)		“Joe,” a resident who is a former chief of police, was delighted with a shiny red convertible, and you could tell he was completely transformed in time when he climbed inside, cocked his straw hat to one side, put his elbow up on the driver’s door, closed one eye, and pointed his finger like a gun at the activities director, taking the pictures!

One resident, “Jack,” got very excited when he saw a pale yellow car that was exactly like one he’d owned many years ago. Although he was in his mid-90’s, and too frail to leave his wheelchair to climb behind the steering wheel, Jack insisted on having his photo taken in front of that car with one of his favorite caregivers. When the picture was developed, he was given an 8x10 enlargement which he proudly showed off to anyone and everyone for the next week!