Misericordia Strikes Gold at The Golden Games
by Linda Buchalo
On August 20th, 26 Misericordia residents attended the Golden Games. This annual event, sponsored by the Chicago Park District and Special Children’s Charities, honors Special Olympics athletes aged 45 and older. The honorees included both active and retired athletes from the various park districts and agencies that are a part of Chicago Special Olympics.
Traveling with the group were 14 Misericordia staff members, including special recreation staff, residential staff, and the nurse from Shannon apartments, who administered medications to the various residents. The group also included five volunteers, including two long-time volunteers from Team Sports and three parent volunteers. I was privileged to attend as my son’s chaperone.
The day began early; we met at the Courtyard Inn, clad in Golden Games T-shirts, and boarded a Windstar bus that transported us to the ComEd Recreation Center. This trip, as well as each subsequent trip, began with a roll call to account for every person.
At the Center, athletes tested their sports skills at various stations which were set up and manned by Chicago Park District staff. The stations included bocce, track, softball throws, soccer, football tosses, golf, basketball, and Zumba. Athletes had fun stopping at each station, often returning to a favorite activity. The stations were well-managed, with lots of guidance and kudos from staff, and minimal wait times.
After building up an appetite, athletes broke for lunch—Subway sandwiches and all the trimmings. Next came the presentation of awards to each athlete and recognition of the various groups who attended and sponsored this fun event. Each athlete received a gigantic gold medal, proudly worn for the rest of the day.
Following our morning of sports activities, we again boarded the bus for a scenic trip to Navy Pier. From there, we boarded the Spirit of Chicago for the second part of our day. The weather was cloudy but beautiful, not too hot and with no rain in the forecast—a perfect day for a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan.
On the ship, our group found seats at the dining tables and shared stories and photos of the morning activities while enjoying a beverage. Several people had never been on a ship, so this was especially exciting for them. After the ship set sail, we enjoyed a sumptuous meal, served buffet style. The food was excellent, topped off with a dessert table with fresh fruit and five different desserts.
Lively music and a lighted dance floor in the center of the ship gave everyone a chance to work off some of those calories. Access to the outdoor decks at each level allowed us to admire the view and feel the breeze as we sailed past the shoreline sights of our beautiful city.
Throughout the day, we were the recipients of much care, kindness and hospitality from park district staff, Navy Pier employees, the boat crew, the bus driver, and of course, from our very own Misericordia staff, who were so attentive to everyone’s needs. Throughout the day, I marveled at how patiently and efficiently Mis staff managed mealtimes, countless bathroom stops, and the various activities of the residents, always with a smile and obvious enjoyment. One long-time recreation staff member from Mis noted that she really enjoys the Golden Games because she has “grown up and grown old” alongside these athletes.
At the end of the day, we rode the bus back to Misericordia in the midst of rush-hour traffic, giving everyone a chance to relax and sneak in an afternoon nap. It was truly a fun day.
Kudos to the organizations that planned this great event and the staff and volunteers who made this fun day possible for our residents! I look forward to next year, too!
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