Blog archive
June 2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Rumor of Humor #16
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
Issue #7
03/31/2023
Issue #6
03/26/2023
Great Decisions update
03/14/2023
Dominion Lawsuit, South Africa and 710 Stub
03/08/2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
MEN'S TIME
By Blog MasterPosted: 01/31/2022
MEN’S TIME
Have you ever wondered just who you are or how you became what you are today?
Do you sometimes wonder where you would be if you had made different choices in your past?
Do you have an interest in sharing fond memories with a group of your peers?
Have you wondered where you might be going from this point in time?
If so, Pasadena Village's “Men's Time” group may be for you. (E.g., see the list of topics at the end of this article.)
The Men’s Time group got its start some ten years ago, making it as old as Pasadena Village itself. Some of its members had been meeting together through their church. Their leader, John Tuite, says the group was like being part of a small town where men meet every morning for breakfast at the local coffee shop. Only they met once a month.
Why a men’s group? As John explains it, generally men have a tendency to slip into isolation. They don’t easily pick up the phone and reach out to a friend. Men’s Time provides a way for men to find their voice and maintain their self-respect. “If you are isolated and your health is deteriorating, you can lose your self-respect. The acceptance and support we offer during Men’s Time allows for both growth and self-respect.” Also, the wives appreciate what the group offers. They are pleased that their husbands have something to look forward to and a place where they know they are always valued.
It is clear that, month in and month out, the men enjoy the exchange with other men and are very loyal to the group. The format of the group is simple and consistent each month. John decides on a topic or theme and writes about it on the Men’s Time blog. In the days when they met in person, each person in the circle would speak about the topic, or sometimes about something else that was triggered by the topic. John would be the time keeper and make sure that everyone who wanted to had a chance to speak. Now, of course, they are on Zoom, but the same principles apply.
Pat Dawe is a regular participant of Men’s Time. “I don’t like Zoom and I wish we could go back to meeting in person. But I’m always interested to see how the other men are doing and I like to hear what they have to say. Some things really light people up. We’ve been together a long time now and it’s good to see people at different phases of their lives.”
Another regular attendee, Peter LeSourd, enjoys the variety of the topics. Men’s Time is the only way that is possible for me to be in the presence of a substantial group of Village men. I’m active with the hiking group and other activities which have both men and women. I like that the focus is on men. We have some very in depth conversations, not just chit chat. And we are made to feel very comfortable.”
These are challenging times for the group. Some of its original members are now approaching their 90’s and are not as robust as they once were. Some of them cannot participate in other Village activities, so the group is especially important to them. The men know that the group needs new, younger men to keep it alive and well. To this end, John is planning some outdoor breakfast gatherings where new people can learn what the group has to offer them and contribute to its future development.
For more detailed information on Men's Time” and other Village happenings go to the the Pasadena Village Blog page to view the Blogs, then click on Men's Time. Note that you do not have to be a member of the Village to look at this information.
Partial list of topics discussed in the Men's Group over the past year
Who Am I? How do the nature and impact of your family history help define who you are?
Choices: What choices have you made that cause you to wonder “what if”? What do you think the outcome of a different choice would have been?
Vacations: What vacation trips do you remember most fondly and why? (Suggested by Mike Babcock.)
Holidays: What were the holidays of the past like as a young adult? A teen? A child?
What Lies Ahead: What is the meaning of your life at this point in time? What do you want to think about, read about, talk about, or learn about in the year ahead?