Wednesdays in Taylor Mill are special for senior citizens.
They are so special that the ladies and men who belong to the Taylored with Time senior group try to avoid scheduling doctor appointments, dentist appointments, or any other engagements on Wednesdays, unless it is after 3 p.m.
“This is important to us,” said Susan Neltner, whose idea of forming a group of seniors started the thought process among several people that resulted in Taylored with Time being born in 2008. “We are like a family. And everyone who comes in that door loves it, too.”
Unlike some other senior centers, the Taylored with Time group is not affiliated with the state of Kentucky. The city of Taylor Mill has helped the group and given them their Wednesday meeting place at the Pride Park Community Center, but the city does not sponsor them.
The day starts with someone coming in and making coffee — two different kinds — and tea. Members either bring in something they have baked, or pick up donuts, danish, or a cake. One of the members is in charge of buying soft drinks, and there is a charge for most of the things.
Nowadays members bring their own lunches. In the heyday of the group, they would have a meal brought in, but the cost would sometimes be too much, so except for the times when a member cooks something like chili or a casserole, everyone brown bags it for lunch.
A core group of about 10 to 15 members sit around with beverages and catch up on things.
“We talk about things that have happened since the last time we saw each other,” said Donna, who lives in Indiana, and makes the two-hour trip many Wednesdays. “This means a lot to me, or I wouldn’t come whenever I can.”
Donna has been labeled the black sheep, and members laugh, but don’t tell how she acquired that name.
The same with Nell, who is known as the troublemaker, and although no anecdotes about the moniker were forthcoming, every smile on every face showed that she legitimately acquired the name.
Susan and Rita Hassler are looked to for leadership, and Ray Mannes, the ‘baby’ of the group at 68, is in charge of the soft drink supply.
At one time the group had speakers who came in and talked to the group about different subjects, and although many of the members are adamant about not needing anyone else who speaks about funeral homes and some issues that older people have to deal with, they all spoke highly of Lauren Trondle, who recently talked to them about Medicare.
“I originally wanted to form a group because I was following a Tai Chi teacher around wherever she taught, and I thought, why don’t we have a place in Taylor Mill where we can have a teacher come in and help us learn Tai Chi?” Susan said. “We did do that in the beginning, but gradually we got away from it. Covid really ruined a lot of things for us.”
During COVID-19, two small groups within the large group still got together, although the Pride Park Center was closed. They would meet in the shelters, and if it was cold, they would wear their coats and shiver, but they would still meet because no one liked the isolation the pandemic created.
Susan said the group is currently at a point where they are coming back after the pandemic, and trying to reorganize the group, and understand what everyone would like to do. They have less membership, and a lot of that is due to natural causes of members getting older, becoming sicker and needing full time care, or actually passing on.
But the group is stronger than ever.
One look at the faces around the table is testament to the bond the members feel for each other. They laugh, they joke, and they really enjoy each other’s company. This is a group that likes to have fun and do things that are fun.
The city has agreed to do some leg work for the group, picking up lunches that they order, and trying to book speakers that the group wants to hear.
In the meantime, most of the people like the games.
Rummikub is usually the first game to be brought out. Susan said if anyone knows how to play gin rummy, they can play rummikub. She described it as a more intense rummy, played with tiles instead of cards. Most of the members say that watching the game for about fifteen minutes will be enough to catch on and be able to play.
Somewhere around noon the euchre players start arriving at the center, and card tables are set up so that several foursomes can play.
The play is usually lively, and the players rotate regularly, so the games are exciting and competitive.
Three o’clock comes all too fast and the members reluctantly say goodbye and go home.
“It is hard to make friends when you get older,” said Susan. “We just want to be together.”
