|
Senior News January, 2005 Vol. 26. No. 1
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
|
|
|
Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
Plus in this issue catch more news, opinions, features, book reviews, and event calendars.
Pick up a copy today! Better yet, subscribe and never miss an issue! Brought to you by 
|
Riding the bus Kindness, interest and infinite patience offered to seniors by Barbara Clark
There's a reason why Barbara Scott-Davies nominated the Humboldt Transit Authority drivers for the Senior Friends award last month - she says that every one of them exhibits kindness, interest and infinite patience to seniors. Seniors wrestle with the issue of keeping their driver's licenses and automobiles as they age, but if you listen to Scott-Davies, you don't need to worry. If you get on the bus, you'll discover an entire new community. Take driver Carol Nielsen. We boarded her Red Route bus at the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in December and took several photo poses of her with Scott-Davies boarding. In one she reached out to shake hands. I asked how they usually greeted one another - and they fell into an enthusiastic hug. Scott-Davies moved to Eureka from Vallejo seven years ago and had a car until then. She sold it to cut down on expenses. She was disabled for a while, but worked again as a caregiver, and found riding the buses easy. Now she lives just three blocks from the bus turnaround spot at 3rd and H streets. "Carol Nielsen is probably the first person I met," Scott-Davies said. "A lot of seniors who ride buses live alone, and she is often their first contact in the outside world. She becomes a friend, counselor, guide - she is endlessly patient." Nielsen has been driving for 23 years in Eureka. "I love driving," she said. "People are fabulous." She says the best part is that the days are never the same and she always gets to meet people. "The drivers have to take everything that comes aboard," Scott-Davies continued. "When young people harassed another driver, I wouldn't let them do it. I set them straight." She misses drivers who are gone. They're like family. A husband and wife team moved to the east coast and she misses them. Michael still comes back when they need extra drivers. Dave and Robert are still driving. "I had thought I'd write a letter to the mayor, but then I read about the Senior Friends award," Scott-Davies said. Annually the Area Agency recognizes individuals and institutions who are exemplary in their service to seniors. In her nomination, she wrote, "I have such gratitude and respect for them that I would literally lay down my life for any one of them. I moved here from an area where these courteous behaviors are not so apparent, and I am continually amazed by the respect, courtesy, dignity which these people show - and not just to seniors, but to all people." Scott-Davies includes drivers from the county routes in her praise. She rides the county bus to the scrapbook store in Fortuna and to the Co-op in Arcata. She goes one step farther than just paying her fare, too. In December she stops all the buses to give the drivers a hand-made Christmas card. |
Senior News
