Where are you from? I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana, born and raised.- How did you end up in Fountain, Colorado? I landed in Colorado following Hurricane Katrina. My whole family was dispersed after Katrina and I followed the advice of my son who told me not to take cover at the Superdome. My friend called me right after Katrina hit to say she was moving to Colorado and that I should move with her. My son and I lived with her for 2 weeks before settling in at Fountain Ridge. We’ve been here for 15 years.
- What were your biggest fears moving to Colorado? Seeing a bear! It was my biggest fear moving here and still is!
- What are some of your fondest memories growing up in New Orleans? Listening to my sisters sing in church. I personally can’t sing but at some point I realized that was ok, I was meant to do something else. I was put on this earth to help people.
- You received your first Covid vaccine today, how are you feeling? I’m feeling fine. My friend is a manager at Walgreens in town and she made sure to take care of her elderly patients. She not only made sure my vaccine was scheduled, she coordinated transportation as well.
- How has life changed for you since Covid? I miss hearing kids running around outside. I miss hearing them laughing and cheering out my window. I wish people would just do the right thing and wear a mask. We need to get kids back in school.
- How do you like living at Fountain Ridge? Let me just say how great everyone is here. Yvette is a great property manager, she does good work. Kevin (Maintenance Technician Manager) not only takes care of the property, but he cooks us elderly residents meals. He spoils us and he is a great cook! And Jasmine (Family Service Coordinator), she’s just the best. It feels like a family here.
- Jasmine tells me you’re a tremendous help with Food Bank. Tell me about that. A lot of our residents depend on Food Bank for their meals. Jasmine drives the van each week to pick up food and calls me when she’s on her way back to the property. I meet her at the Community Center to help set up tables and lay out food for the residents. I know the right way to set out food so the residents will take it.
- I hear you’re really good at Zumba, how did you get started? Zumba is offered to residents at Fountain Ridge on Friday mornings. Jasmine is so good at scheduling activities for residents. We just started working with a local yoga studio in town and now have free yoga once a week too. I have a rod in my back and suffer from arthritis so Zumba and Yoga have really helped. I also really enjoy organized walks with other residents at Fountain Creek Regional Park down the street.
- Life lessons to live by? Say good morning to everyone, no matter what color you/they are. Say thank you to everyone in uniform.
