Move Over, Alex Trebek

Three of us sat together there in the dining room of the nursing home--my daughter, myself and Sybil. Sybil is a dear; she's pleasant and agreeable and interested in everything. She's so interested, in fact, that she often asks you the same question two or three times. Or maybe it's because she doesn't remember what you told her the first time she asked. She has a little sign on her walker reminding her how to get back to her room: "Turn left after the dining room, then third door on the right". We talk about the weather-several times-and this afternoon's activity-Jeopardy!

Two ladies join our little group and we introduce ourselves. The lady with the cropped white hair and the snappy green eyes informs us that her name is Moyne "M-O-Y-N-E. I'm Irish and I took that name so you wouldn't have to." Jonni, very spry, funny and so sweet, says she is Irish, too, and I admit to being a little Irish myself. We reassure Moyne that she has a lovely name. Jonni tells us that her family used to call her "Baby" and how, even when she got older, like forty, people were still calling her that.

Mary, Eloise and Bea arrive. Bea wants to know if we will be doing a Christmas program again this year. I tell her that my older girls are very busy with their college classes and that my talent pool is dwindling. She still thinks we ought to do a program. I tell her she doesn't want to hear me sing a solo or play an instrument but I am quick to assure her that we plan to be there at Christmastime, talent or no talent. Then, in my best imitation of Alex Trebek, I tell them it is time for Jeopardy!

Sybil may have short-term memory loss but she shows us she knows her trivia on the very first question. It had to have been only 30 seconds later, during Jonni's turn, when she asks "Now, what are we doing here?" Jonni sweetly answered, "Don't worry, honey, just listen and we'll explain when it's your turn."

Some of the ladies are risk-takers, choosing $500 questions right out of the gate, while others, less sure of themselves, choose the easier ones. Quite often the ladies forget this is a competition and they help each other with the answers. It is heartwarming to observe their gentle care and encouraging manner.

The last question in the category "Civil War" is: "From which state did both the president of the North and the president of the South come from?" Jonni doesn't know and neither does anyone else. And the only reason I know is because I have the answer sheet right in front of me. I offer to give them a clue and say "There's a song that has the answer but I'm not going to sing it for you because I don't actually know it. It begins with the words 'The sun shines bright on my old...' " Sybil immediately starts singing and we all join in as we discover we know the song after all. ♫


Yes, Sybil did win the game and she seemed pleased with herself...for a little while. Suddenly she was tired and wanted to go back to her room. Gently we pointed her in the right direction and watched to make sure she turned left after the dining room.