November 3, 2022
Coronado Ferry Rides: A Big Day on the Big Bay for Residents
by Sheryl Wilde
Armonie was confused by the tears at first.
Brian, Willow House resident, had been talking, non-stop, about the Big Day, for what seemed like weeks. He was so excited that day after day, over and over again, he reminded Armonie, and anyone who would listen, that the Big Day was coming – and he couldn’t wait!
“I always find it endearing,” says Armonie Mendez, QIDP, Spruce and Willow houses. “Some might find it tiring to be reminded of the same things over and over again, but Brian’s excitement reminded me to be grateful for each little moment, whether in my own life, or in shared moments like this in Willow House, with the residents.”
“We’ve been on COVID lockdown for the last two years,” says Angela Addington, former Director of Development, MSF. “The pandemic has been difficult for us all, perhaps even more so for our Mountain Shadows residents.”
Brian, in particular, struggled in Willow House during the COVID lockdown. He’s a longtime member of our family and he just loves Mountain Shadows. He is also among the most highly functioning of our residents and loves getting out into the community, socializing and being active.
Not long before the pandemic shutdowns, Brian lived a lifetime dream. For many decades, Brian had dreamed of flying, soaring even above the eagles, as his father had as a pilot in World War II. Thanks to Mountain Shadows Board Member, Don King, Brian’s dream came true.
Says Don, “We went on a flight on December 18, 2020. We flew to Fallbrook, Temecula, Murrieta, and above the mountains. Brian just lit up! He had a huge grin on his face the whole time.”
Then came COVID. And the world changed for us all.
As Armonie shares, “Our residents, for a good portion of the lockdown, have watched the staff leave in our cars and they hoped that soon one day they’d be able to do the same.”
While activities for the residents continued during the pandemic, most took place via Zoom. Leaving the campus became difficult and, due to the vulnerability of our residents, high-risk.
Brian held the memories of flying free, as his father had, close to his heart throughout the pandemic, and, of course, he loved his Willow House family – but he missed going out into the community, interacting with others, doing all the fun things Mountain Shadows residents normally do. He wanted to get back out into life again!
“Finally, after the last COVID wave, our restrictions began to ease up a little bit, so we wanted to get some activities going again for the residents,” says Angela. “We wanted to do something outdoors and not in a crowded area.”
“We thought the residents would enjoy going on a ferry ride,” says Vickie Perdaris, Activity Director.
Adds Angela, “I went along on the first two ferry rides to help the staff with the residents. The views from the ferry are just amazing. I sometimes forget how spectacular the view from the bay is. It was very exciting. You see the whole San Diego skyline from the ferry. We saw fishing ships, a cruise ship, the USS Midway with the planes on top, and the new Rady Shell.
“The whole ride over to Coronado is just filled with sights. The residents were super excited and so, so happy to be out. There were just all smiles.
“We had lunch at a table by a fountain and watched the shore birds. It was wonderful. The residents really got to enjoy the day.”
“I went along on the rides too and everyone had a great time,” adds Vickie. “Donna and David from Oak House couldn’t stop smiling! Johanna from Olive House was absolutely joyful. When the ride was over, she said, ‘Can we go again tomorrow?’ A service dog laid down and put his head under Julio’s wheelchair! The dog would not leave Julio. It was very special.
“And Brian was smiling the whole time.”
Oh – Brian felt free again! As he had soared above the eagles on his flight, now he sailed alongside the gulls, with the smell of the salty sea air and the gentle splash of the waves exciting his senses.
After a day filled with the sights and sounds of the San Diego Bay, Brian returned home to Willow House. The thrill – the rush of excitement – of the day was settling in, like the sun settling in over the horizon at dusk.
Then it seemed the sun began to set in Brian’s eyes. And, as he sat there in his wheelchair, he started to cry. The stress of the lockdown, and the joy of sailing freely across the waves – it all came together in torrent of emotions, and poured down his cheeks.
To many of us, it would have been just a ferry ride. To Brian, and our other residents, it was a really Big Day.
And Brian didn’t want it to end.