Blog archive
April 2024
Stimulated by "Caste"
04/22/2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
Coffee Klatch in Grandma's Kitchen
By Nancy GoodellPosted: 02/24/2021
(Written by Nancy Goodell)
Monday is a busy day for me. I see my clients and have a two-hour work session with my administrative and technology assistant. In other words, my day is full from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM. Yet I have been fascinated with the concept of Monday Morning Coffee Klatch ~ folks coming together for informal conversation and a cup of coffee ~ now all by Zoom of course. So last week I tried it. The experience was more than just pleasant for me. The upbeat conversation was playful and I witnessed the value of people checking in with each other. What I soon realized was that this connection was a smart mental health practice during what has been, and still is, a very challenging time for all of us, especially those living alone. What unfolded was a heartwarming experience that I had not anticipated.
When I was a child, my family used to visit my Swedish grandparents on a farm in Nebraska. Grandpa and Grandma Jake had chickens, cows, horses and a very productive vegetable garden and orchard. My grandmother loved to cook, she had the gift of fresh milk and cream daily, and abundant vegetables and fruit from the farm’s harvest. She was always busy in her kitchen, which included a wood burning stove, for a good part of the day. Her kitchen was where friends and family gathered for “Kitchen Chatter.” Grandma rarely sat even when guests were around. She continued to “putter” – chopping vegetables, baking cinnamon rolls and making cream sauces for most everything we ate. Fresh coffee seemed to always be brewing on her big black stove. The smells were rich and inviting. The conversations were stimulating, usually playful but not always.
What happened for me last Monday when I tuned into Coffee Klatch via Zoom was that I had a flash back to my experience in Grandma’s kitchen. During the Coffee Klatch gathering, I was busy fixing my breakfast. I didn’t sit down, but I was able to join into the conversation because it was playful and chatty. I felt happy, relaxed, and connected to these folks who were all new friends to me. What a gift! I have reflected upon my childhood kitchen experience and my Village Coffee Klatch experience throughout this week. Both were truly heartwarming. What an unexpected gift! I am so grateful. I carried that positive emotional energy with me all week. I look forward to 9:30 next Monday.