What's in a name

Earlier this year some of the residents at my dad's nursing home formed a choir. It's made up of about 15 people who sang in their church choirs, community chorus and who just plain love to sing. My father is the only man! They rehearse weekly and give occasional concerts for the other residents and family members.

Nursing home residents live there not by choice but out of necessity due to physical or mental deterioration from disease, trauma or age. However, the choir can sound amazingly good - at times. Now, it's not the Morman Tabernacle Choir, but what they lack in talent they make up in enthusiasm. But this post isn't about singing it's about living life to its fullest no matter what the obstacles. It's about remaing positive and joyful even under the worst of situations. It's about Angela. Angela suffered a stroke a couple of years ago that has left her paralysed down one side and wheelchair bound. Her speech consists of three phrases: "No" "Yes" and "I know." But Angela can hum, and so when the opportunity presented itself, she joined the Tara Gospel Bells. And you can see her in the second row, chin tucked in as she hums her part. She projects her pleasure through her smile and demeanor, and her enthusiasm for life is contagious. Her parents must have known something when they named her!