News
Virginia “Ginny” Jensen 
Virginia “Ginny” Jensen first met Edie Seyl Polson, the Executive Director of Weaver’s Tale Retreats, more than 15 years ago at the Sylvia Beach Hotel on the Oregon Coast. She spotted Edie across the room wearing vibrant turquoise and lavender and instantly thought: here is a kindred spirit. They sat together for dinner and what followed was an easy friendship and a memorable weekend of conversation, adventure and sharing of their artistic, philosophical and spiritual lives. When Ginny learned that Edie was writing a grant that weekend to fund her newly hatched non-profit called Weaver’s Tale Retreat Center, she was impressed and felt a genuine heart to heart connection to its mission. From that moment, Ginny had the wish that if she were ever in a position to make a donation, she would make it to Weaver’s Tale.
Years went by, and Ginny continued to receive mailings from Weaver’s Tale and hear how Edie’s vision kept growing. Her own children were growing up, keeping her busy, and then in 2003, her own elder mother moved into an assisted living facility in Atlanta, GA, and Ginny was initiated into the experience of becoming a caregiver.
Joanne “Jo” Pearce, Ginny’s mother, was a genteel Southern lady; yet she was not the typical woman of her era. Though happily married to an attorney husband, Ed, with their four children, she had always been a creative spirit. She had always painted and taken photographs and when her children reached their teens, she decided it was time to spread her wings. In 1971, at the age of 47, she began the first of a series of great solo-adventures by traveling alone for 6 weeks in Greece to paint, take photographs and fulfill a life long desire to see the world. Her family at first did not understand her desire to travel solo, but the joy, adventure and artistic output resulting from her first trip to Greece made it clear that she would be feeling the bite of the travel bug throughout her life.
 Jo Pearce traveled to some 135 countries over the course of 30 years. She went back to Greece many times, and in her later years, her daughter, Ginny, accompanied her. She painted, she took photographs, she even wrote a book about her early travels called, Greece, Journey to Joy. She swam in the ocean and used the water to paint watercolors of the scenery. She climbed to the highest peak on each island, and was once even mistaken for Jackie O. on one of the Greek islands she used to frequent. In later years, she put together slide shows of all her travel photography and made presentations at senior centers.
Her daughter Ginny remembers one trip with her aging mother, when she was weighted down with their luggage, and yet her mother was still falling behind while climbing some steep stone stairs. Never losing her sense of humor, Jo smiled up at her daughter, who was looking back at her and said, “You too shall pass this way.”
When Jo went into assisted living, she did it with the same independent spirit with which she lived her life. Even though she stopped painting in her last years, Jo never lost her sense of the beauty of nature around her. She went for long walks every day, and a few weeks before Ginny’s mother passed away, she asked her to look out the window at a beautiful tree shining with bright yellow autumn leaves, saying surely that tree was crying out to be painted.
In her mother’s last years, Ginny often wished there was a program like Weaver’s Tale Retreats available to her mother. Her mother loved everything that Weaver’s Tale sought to share with seniors like her: art, music and connection to nature and the larger community. Joanne was 84 years old when she passed away, leaving her family a nice inheritance, and that’s when Ginny remembered her wish from all those years ago. Ginny always felt that if you are doing good in the world, it needs to be supported, so this last December, Ginny Jensen made a donation of $25,000 to Weaver’s Tale Retreats in memory of her mother Joanne Pearce. The time was finally right.
Weaver’s Tale would like to honor Ginny and her extraordinary mother;both of them gifted artists, painters and photographers, for this extremely generous gift. A portion of this donation will be used to create a newly launched endowment fund, to ensure the future of Weaver’s Tale Retreats and its mission to serve seniors for years to come.
Compassionate Touch
Massage Therapists at our retreats are now offering a massage technique called Compassionate Touch. This form of massage is ideal for many of our seniors who are frail or memory impaired. For further information contact us or visit Compassionate Touch
Seniors “Hit the Trails” at Weaver’s Tale Retreats
It’s 7:00 a.m. and as resident Lillian Bell wakes up, there is a smile on her face because it’s not just another ordinary day at the assisted living facility where she has lived for the past 2 years. Donning her layered clothing, sun hat and sun glasses, she is ready to experience Oregon’s nature at its best. After breakfast the bus is loaded with 10 residents, wheelchairs, walkers, and extra clothing. The journey takes the bus through the countryside of Clackamas County with views of llamas and horses, fields of strawberries, grapes and produce stands, and, oh, majestic Mt. Hood has just been spotted. The senior residents are quiet as if taking it all in. Smells of fresh cut hay fields bring back memories of days gone by. Forty-five minutes later the bus turns into Alton Collins Retreat Center in Eagle Creek, OR, where the Weaver’s Tale staff are eagerly waiting.
The staff of Weaver’s Tale Retreats, comprised of occupational & physical therapists, massage & music therapists and also volunteers, escort seniors into the main lodge where a welcoming atmosphere of coffee and snacks, indoor restroom facilities, and a panoramic view of the lush green forest await. As our guests check in they are given the choice of several activities during their day visit.
The seniors and their staff have signed up for guided walks on wheelchair accessible trails through the woods followed by a nature craft, a music circle where participants sing, make music together, and share stories from their past, and also for individualized relaxing massages by licensed massage therapists.
The program director, Edie Polson, welcomes everyone to the retreat, familiarizes everyone with the day’s program, and after introductions of the staff, the group activities begin. Guests and staff are reminded about the garden fresh home cooked lunch that will be ready at noon.
Lillian has selected the nature group for her first activity. With the assistance of staff and volunteers the nature group assembles outside at the head of the trail. The nature leader points out the sights and sounds, smells, colors and textures of the woods. From the earthy details of velvety moss, lacy ferns, and furry caterpillars to the airy heights of towering cedars and soaring hawks, the seniors begin to breathe more deeply and pause to reflect. The quarter mile loop trail serves to unwind and refresh participants. With a ratio of 2 seniors per staff person everyone succeeds in reaching the end of the trail. The nature group returns to the lodge with their senses heightened and ready for more experiences. Awaiting the group is a pressed flower craft activity with plenty of hands-on help from staff and volunteers. The pressed flowers are artistically attached to colorful paper for use as a bookmark, stationery, or just as a pretty work of art.
Lunch is ready, so guests are escorted into the dining room that is surrounded by views of the meadow and woods. Garden fresh home cooked meals and customized special diets are served. Staff sits with the seniors engaging them in conversations and assisting them if necessary. Warm home baked cookies bring a great meal to a close with applaud to the kitchen crew.
After lunch Lillian joins in The Circle of Friends, the music group led by a music therapist. As Lillian listens to the songs from her past she remembers particular episodes of her life; the first time she drove the old tractor, her first boy friend and the touch of his hand in hers, cooking over a campfire on one of her camping trips… She joins in full voice singing, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…”
Tim Mulcahey, Licensed Massage Therapist, approaches Lillian and invites her to receive a massage. This young man sweeps Lillian off her feet, but remaining seated in her wheelchair, she only smiles and says, “Yes.” He wheels her to the dimmed and quiet room where other people are receiving massages. Remaining in her clothes and seated in her chair, Tim places his large comforting hands on her shoulders and speaks softly to her. Lillian begins to melt, just a little. It’s been forever since anyone has touched her; ever since her husband became sick which was 8 years ago… As the nurturing touch continues, Lillian’s breathing deepens and slows, and her eyelids close. She is again transported in her memories to a time when she was younger and her body moved with ease, climbing all the way up to the top of Mt. Hood. Experiencing this sense of freedom, her tense muscles let go and momentarily Lillian experiences a deep relaxation and freedom of movement. Tim ever so gently ends the massage and gives Lillian a hug. Both Lillian and her massage therapist feel a sense of peace and heartfelt gratitude.
Tim escorts her back to the music circle where the music therapist has just brought out the tone bells. Holding the bell in her hand and flicking her wrist, a lovely ancient chime resounds. Soon the entire circle is creating music together. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with tone bells transcends the group for the moment. Quiet followed by laughter and applause follows. As the music circle is brought to an end the group connection has deepened. Lillian made a new friend today. She is one of the staff from her own facility. They discovered together that they both like to go camping and have climbed Mt. Hood. Though their ages differ dramatically they are brought together close in time by memories of their past. Melissa, the CNA who is Lillian’s new friend, shares that she has gotten to know her residents as persons with unique pasts, not just as patients.
Cookies, fruit, and beverages are served at the end of the Weaver’s Tale Retreat day. Several seniors and staff share with everyone the highlights of the day. For Lillian, receiving the massage was at the top of her list. Everyone hopes to return next year.
The Weaver’s Tale staff helps their senior guests load into the bus for their journey home. As the bus takes off, everyone waves and the staff of Weaver’s Tale sings a rendition of “Happy Trails to You, Until We Meet Again.” For Lillian and her group the journey hasn’t ended. The group is more talkative, sharing the experiences of their day, finding more common ground between themselves, and looking forward to continued time together.
For further information & a brochure about Weaver’s Tale Retreats and /or to purchase the SpirAH gift certificate good for one retreat for your loved one call Edie Polson, Executive Director 503 913-0048 or email: edie@weavers-tale-retreat.org.
In Memory of Joan Andrews, licensed massage therapist for WTR
An Interview by Amy Long, Administrative Assistant 
Joan Andrews was a massage therapist since December of 1995, and worked with Weaver’s Tale since 1996. She first found out about Weaver’s Tale through a mutual friend, Gail Murphy, who gave her name to Edie Seyl, the Executive Director. Soon thereafter, Joan participated in her first senior retreat at Menucha Retreat and was instantly hooked.
Joan described Weaver’s Tale as a wonderful organization, which provides touch and affirmation to elders, two ingredients missing in most elder’s lives. She experienced many wonderful moments during retreats, such as during a sharing circle led by Edie. Joan described a moment in which each person in the circle was affirmed and celebrated for who they are, sharing their unique life experiences. Joan also found that these retreats helped enlarge the seniors’ worldview and got their blood flowing, enhancing their emotional, physical and spiritual health.
Joan also loved the people connected with Weaver’s Tale. Although she had just turned 74 herself ( during this interview), she had the energy of someone about half her age, and loved the experience of meeting new people at retreats, working with elders, and keeping contact with the all the staff at Weaver’s Tale.
Over the years, Joan took on many roles with Weaver’s Tale, including staffing our summer day-long retreats at Alton Collins Center, providing individual massage sessions to seniors in their homes, and participating in our fundraisers. Joan led a monthly massage group for Weaver’s Tale Retreats at Willamette View Healthcare Center in Milwaukie, where she worked for 4 years with a group of residents in the memory care unit. Joan’s group included many residents with fairly advanced Alzheimer’s, so she strived to make one-on-one connections with each resident, knowing the connection would only last a moment, but that in that moment, she saw the eyes of each person light up and sparkle with the joy of attention and the comfort of gentle massage work. Joan often brought flowers from her yard, pictures of her family, or pictures of pets to share with residents at Willamette View, as a conversation starter and a memory tool.
Even though memories have slipped with this group of elders, she found over her 4 years at Willamette View that individuals did respond well to her presence as someone they trusted and found familiar, especially once they had experienced her touch each time. Joan described her work with this group as providing “mini relationships” with each participant. Grace is one woman in this group who Joan often found dozing her day away, but whose eyes lit up when Joan spent time with her and began her massage. Joan described Grace’s hands as long and beautiful despite the outward signs of age, imagining that she must have played piano when she was younger. Gladys often slipped back into her dozing and non-communicative state later on, but Joan knew that she had had a moment during her day in which Grace felt affirmed for who she was.
Joan worked for 20+ years as an RN, working primarily within a chronic pain program. She also trained and worked as a certified biofeedback therapist for 10 years, and was able to draw on this experience in working with seniors, suggesting techniques for stress-relief and relaxation. Joan loved to provide massage to seniors and to her own loved ones, as she felt it affirmed herself as someone who could be of help to others, a value she held since her early years of nursing.
Massage was certainly not Joan’s only interest, as she kept busy with making music and helping to raise her 2 granddaughters. Joan loved to sing and compose music. Ever since she was a child taking voice lessons, she said she’d been making up and singing her own melodies, and was told by a number of teachers that she had a knack for melodies. Joan took several classes at PSU such as 20th Century Harmony as well as composition for 9 years with local composer David York, who reviewed her pieces and offered critique. Joan said she was asked to come to class with some of her own melodies written down, because her brain was so full of ideas. All that brainstorming apparently paid off, as one of her pieces based on an Emily Dickinson poem about the river of life was published by Santa Barbara Music and has been performed by the local all-women’s vocal group, the Aurora Chorus, directed by Joan Szymko. In addition, the David York Ensemble recently released a CD that includes her composition, “O Burning Light”, lyrics of Hildegarde of Bingen.
Family is the other activity that kept Joan busy. Joan so loved her multi-generational living situation, sharing a home with her daughter Jenny and 2 granddaughters aged 8 and 11 for the past 5 years. Since her daughter went back to work full-time as an activity director at a local senior care facility, Joan helped provide childcare for her granddaughters as well as 2 other children in her home. She loved being in the role of mother and homemaker again later in life, taking the girls on shopping trips, to the library or a museum, swimming, or simply playing on the trampoline at home and keeping the hungry bellies of growing girls happy with a home-cooked meal.
Joan was not only a long-time dedicated staff member of Weaver’s Tale, she provided a great example of what healthy, active aging can look like-someone who can share her many gifts with others, continually meet new people and share her life experiences, and someone who stays connected with people of all ages in her community. Joan said she can’t wait to work at the next retreat at Alton Collins Center, our beautiful retreat facility in Eagle Creek, OR set in old-growth forest. We’ll always have a place in our hearts there for her. In remembrance, thanks for 10 years of service with Weaver’s Tale, Joan. |
