When Irish Eyes are Smiling
From 2006 through 2008 five days a week, Tim Harrington walked into the room and was introduced to people he didn’t know, and he loved it. He was comfortable in those situations. He was inquisitive, a willing listener and storyteller, and he always enjoyed a laugh. My father, who had Alzheimer’s, was attending Adult Day Care at Lutheran Social Services.
One day he wasn’t in the best mood, no-one knew why. My brother arrived to pick dad up and just as he was about to leave someone yelled out, “Tim, you’ll love this one,” and began playing “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” on the piano. My dad, who was an awful singer, dashed back to the piano and gave a full-throated version of the iconic song. Upon finishing, he tipped his cap to the entire place and said, “And now I bid you adieu.” The Harrington family is forever grateful to Lutheran Social Services and The Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast WI for providing this opportunity for our father to socialize and our mom to get needed rest.
Adult Day Care is the type of program lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alzheimer’s Association of SE WI, more than ever, needs your support as they implement creative ways to provide support for the more than 5 million patients and their caregivers suffering the effects Alzheimer’s in the United States.
Dad died of Alzheimer’s related complications in 2009.This year we are hosting a slimmed down version of our 11th Annual “Harrington Open Golfing for a World Without Alzheimer’s.”On behalf of everyone affected by this disease we’d love your support. Click below to donate.
