Friends of all Ages

Friends of all Ages

Posted on Dec. 07, 2016

Louise (left) and Lindsay (right), December 2016

Walking into an unfamiliar apartment, the smell of Windex, attempting to be masked by Febreze, smacks me in the face.  I don’t know what to expect — my mind is racing as I try to focus on Airlie’s sweater right in front of me.  She’s leading me into a small living room to meet Louise, the elder I will be spending one hour weekly with for the rest of the year.  I’m nervous, excited, and everything in between.  

I began volunteering with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly just two weeks before this meaningful meeting.  Taking a unique course on Philosophy and Theology, we are required to participate in 10-12 hours of service a week to supplement our education.  I was selected to spend this time working with LBFE, an incredible organization dedicated to relieving isolation and loneliness from the elders in our community.  And here I was, in the living room of an 87 year old woman, being asking to complete that task.  I have never felt more as if I had no idea what I was doing.  I sat down on the couch next to Airlie and let her take the lead.  After 20 minutes, conversation was flowing easily.

And that’s how it was for the next two months, easily flowing conversation floating around Louise’s living room for one to two hours every Monday morning.  We talked about everything from singing to restaurants to dogs.  One morning, I decided I would invite Louise to come to my Christmas Chorale concert.  Located only five minutes away in Newton, I thought it would be a great way for Louise to get out of the house and hear some fun Christmas music.

When the concert started, I saw her face beaming from the third row.  She immediately began to sing along to the carols and tap her foot when she didn’t know the words.  Singing for her lit up my soul, as I sang with all my heart.  At the end of the concert, I rushed over to her to thank her so much for coming all the way out to see my performance.  When I got there, one of the other singers asked me if Louise was my grandmother.  Without thinking, I immediately responded, “Oh no, it’s just one of my good friends.”  Turning back to Louise, the tears in her eyes immediately made mine tear up as well.  She quietly said, “You’re my friend too, Lindsay.”

Lindsay Buckel is a Boston College Pulse intern for the 2016-2017 year. In addition to visiting with Louise, Lindsay is a volunteer leader in our City Site program.