If I had a Million Dollars...
I've seen the house I grew up in get put on the market a number of times over the years. I always google the address wondering if I'll see updated pictures showing what the new inhabitants have done to the house we left behind. Shortly after my parents sold it (when I was 17) I went to a Halloween party hosted by the people who bought it. That was an interesting experience to say the least. It has since been bought and sold a few times and the new owners appear to have made some incredible upgrades.
If I have the means, I would buy back this house in an instant. I know you can't buy back memories, which is probably a good thing in my case as I was very, very sick as a child, but this place has a hold on me.
Whoever ends up buying this place, please tell the ghosts in the second floor bedroom closet that Amy says "hello".
Not telling you which bedroom...
Here is the official listing: 1745 BEACHBURG Road
Music & Memory
For the past few months I have been volunteering at the Glebe Community Centre with the Music & Memory program. If you're unfamiliar with the program, I urge you to watch the video included below.
MUSIC & MEMORY℠ is a non-profit organization that brings personalized music into the lives of the elderly or infirm through digital music technology, vastly improving quality of life.
We train nursing home staff and other elder care professionals, as well as family caregivers, how to create and provide personalized playlists using iPods and related digital audio systems that enable those struggling with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive and physical challenges to reconnect with the world through music-triggered memories.
By providing access and education, and by creating a network of MUSIC & MEMORY℠ Certified elder care facilities, we aim to make this form of personalized therapeutic music a standard of care throughout the health care industry.
via http://musicandmemory.org/
We are truly lucky to have this program in Ottawa and I have seen, first hand, it's effect on residents. People who won't speak and barely acknowledge their external surroundings start smiling, bopping along and some even sing! This is a great program and I'm personally reaching out to A) make you aware, and B) solicit donations.
At the moment, I've been tasked with finding music from the following artists. If you have CDs or would like to donate some iTunes gift cards to the cause, please be in touch! CONTACT ME.
Julio Iglesias
Feist
Engelbert Humperdinck
Barry Manilow
Barbara Streisand
George Benson
Gypsy (Broadway musical)
John Coltrane
Louis Armstrong
Quincy Jones
Chanticleer
Sammy Davis Jr.
Tony Bennett
Rob Orbison
Barry White
John Secada
Doobie Brothers – (song:music is the doctor)
Chris de Burghs – (song: lady in red)
Yanni