“Back to School Reunion”
Rydell High
Leeza’s Place, Melbourne, Florida

If you’ve ever watched the TV series “Happy Days” or the movie “Grease”, you know memories of our youth and school days are relived and celebrated with joy! On Friday, September 26, Leeza’s Place in Melbourne, Florida did just that—we celebrated “The Way We Were” with a Back to School Reunion for our caregivers, loved ones and their families. Guests were invited to dress ‘as they were’ and bring their school memorabilia… and, as the doors of “Rockin’ Rydell High” were opened that afternoon, the halls were soon decked with pom-poms, poodle skirts, varsity jackets, and yearbooks…and…some were even brave enough to bring report cards!

As the loud sounds of “one, two, three o’clock, four o’clock rock” and Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire”, lured our guests to our party room, it was clear that –at least for a day- they would find their spirits and themselves again ~ enjoying a step back in time.

Just as the first school bell rang and our master of ceremonies was about to begin our reunion festivities, a beautiful white, stretch limousine pulled up to our doors and out came eight of our Leeza’s Place loved ones who now live at a nearby assisted living home. The owner of the home, wanting them to have a special ‘prom-like’ event, rented the limousine for the occasion and it was difficult to hold back the tears of joy as the driver pulled out wheelchairs, walkers and canes from the trunk and helped each one into “Rydell High”.

The day’s celebration of feeling young again included pot-luck “comfort” food from high school days, dancing to the beat of a jukebox revival of the 40’s and 50’s, a trivia contest complete with prizes and typical “teenage” competitive rowdiness, and a school “busload” of laughs. We ‘remembered long ago, far away when life was clear’ and, although illnesses and day to day struggles have taken so much from us, we had an opportunity on that one day back in September to remember that which has been given in life…memories of “Happy Days”.

And…at the end of the day, having had the time of our lives, we watched as the stretch limousine drove down our long, tree-lined driveway with its horn blaring for all to hear, and we couldn’t help but think…now, that’s “life after diagnosis”.

Joyce Kennedy
Leeza Care Advocate
Health First Leeza’s Place
Melbourne, Florida

P.S. We are happy to report only one guest was sent to Detention Hall for smoking on school grounds! J

(Many, many thanks to all our wonderful Leeza’s Place volunteers for all they did to make this event one to “Remember”).