Some of you showed an interest in coming out and lending a hand when I mentioned this a while ago. I can handle taking care of them myself, I've done this when I worked with Bob Long at the Chicago Park District. But they would love to see that people are still interested in the fact they are still around. They are very excited about doing this. Like a bunch of kids.

Come out if you can.

Silver Springs State Park.
The fishing pier behind the concession stand.
I'll be there at 8:30 AM to get things set up.
The old folks should be there around 9:30-10.

My wife is a nurses aid for a place called Bickford. It is an assisted living and memory care facility. So far a half dozen have signed up. I don't think it will be more than 10. Believe it or not, that's a lot. It's tough organizing a group of old folks that have special needs. Some will have a tough time getting around, maybe a walker or two and one feisty old guy that can barely move will be in a wheel chair.

If you come, bring patience, conversation and the ability to put a wax worm on an aberdeen hook.

Thanks in advance guys.

Then, when they're gone, I need a good picture of a largemouth bass and I know how to catch them out of that lake.

How did it go?

Sean,
It almost didn't happen. Scott showed up around 8:30 to lend a hand and a few minutes later my wife called to cancel. Apparently no one thought to schedule an aid to stay back at the facility. She then said I'll call you back and scrambled to get a coworker to come in. She wasn't going to disappoint them.

Noon they showed up. 4 women parked their wheel chairs by a picnic table in the shade of a tree to enjoy lunch. The 2 old guys came out on the pier to fish. By then the sun was high and the gills under the fishing pier were being picky. Struggled to catch one each for them. Damn gills would all hover around the bait staring at it.

Have a few pictures I'll get up later. I had a great time and apparently the old guys are still talking about it a few days later.

After he caught his fish Dean shouted back to the women, the fish was so big we couldn't get a picture of it because the camera was too small.

Dean has the beginning stages of dementia and is in his late 80's. You would have never known it that day.