These Students Are Dumping Their Dorms for a Retirement Home
byJOHN YANGandMATTHEW VANN
Retirement homes are perhaps the last place one might expect to find graduate students living. But for some in Cleveland, that’s the best student housing arrangement they could ask for.
Daniel Parvin, 25, calls the Judson Manor, a vintage one-time luxury hotel, his home after long days of study pursuing his Ph.D. at the Cleveland Institute of Music. But in his spare time, he’s also their resident pianist.
“I inherit 100 surrogate grandparents here,” he said. “And they’re really dear friends of mine.”
In exchange for free housing, students living at Judson Manor give free performances at least once a month.
When it was first agreed on that the students would be living at the residence, there were no worries about the late-night loud parties that may typically be associated with college students.
“I wasn’t remotely apprehensive at all,” said retirement home resident Mark Corcoran. “I thought it was a good addition to the community, and it has been without question. It has really worked very well.”
And after hearing one concert, some who haven’t touched an instrument in years felt compelled to play along with him.
“I had the privilege to play with him [Daniel],” said Janet Hall. “He was great. When I made a mistake, he didn’t jump up and walk away or say, ‘Janet that’s awful.’ He’s just very nice about it.”
And for other residents, just having the students around does much to lift their spirits.
“You see a young person coming toward you and want to look alive,” said Paul Ingalls. “You want to look like you’re still part of it.”
The residents have developed such an affinity for the students they even consider them as part of their family, referring to them as grandchildren.
Tiffany Tieu, 23, who plays the violin at Judson Manor, had an audition in Brazil, which concerned some residents about how she would get there. But in the end it turned out just fine when they found out she had friends there.
“She’s as much my family,” said Laura Berick, 79, of Tieu. “I see more of her than I do some my adult grandkids.”
But what could they possibly have in common? It turns out that much more than the music has brought them together.
“We found a lot of things that we like to do together,” said Tiffany. “Cooking, sharing a meal, talking about art.”
George Havens believes that both the students and the residents get as much as they give.
“It’s a win for us, because we have delightful young people here,” Havens said.
Temperature under 70 degrees.  PERFECT after this long,  hot  summer.
And I’m wearing my favorite outfit: shorts or a skirt and a long sleeved men’s shirt.
That reminds me of my favorite Shania Twain’s song because she talks about “Men’s shirts-short skirts”.
One of my most cherished memories is singing this song with Melissa and Carol just before the Women’s Fitness Celebration 5K Race during Melissa’s first year in college at Boise State University.
Carol and I had driven up from Fallon to visit Melissa about a month after she started college.
We joined 20,000+ other women in song along the streets in downtown Boise.
It was a magical moment with incredible energy and sisterhood.
And that’s when I knew I wanted to live in Boise. 🙂
That was 16 years ago this weekend. Â So in memory of that…
Let’s go girls!
Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
Let’s go girls! Come on.
I’m going out tonight-I’m feelin’ alright Gonna let it all hang out Wanna make some noise-really raise my voice Yeah, I wanna scream and shout No inhibitions-make no conditions Get a little outta line I ain’t gonna act politically correct I only wanna have a good time
The best thing about being a woman Is the prerogative to have a little fun
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I’m a lady Men’s shirts-short skirts Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin’ it in style Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction Color my hair-do what I dare Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel Man! I feel like a woman!
The girls need a break-tonight we’re gonna take The chance to get out on the town We don’t need romance-we only wanna dance We’re gonna let our hair hang down
The best thing about being a woman Is the prerogative to have a little fun
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I’m a lady Men’s shirts-short skirts Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin’ it in style Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction Color my hair-do what I dare Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel Man! I feel like a woman!
The best thing about being a woman Is the prerogative to have a little fun (fun, fun)
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget I’m a lady Men’s shirts-short skirts Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, doin’ it in style Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel the attraction Color my hair-do what I dare Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to feel the way I feel Man! I feel like a woman!
I get totally crazy Can you feel it Come, come, come on baby I feel like a woman
I think I’ve been to less than a dozen concerts in my life, and over half of those were his. Amazing concerts. No chit chat, just song after song after song…
Carol and I even went to see him at The Mountain Winery (formerly Paul Masson) in Saratoga, California–the most scenic backdrop I’ve ever been to for a concert.
Recently, Boz came out with a new CD: A Fool to Care. I was surprised because his most recent CD, Memphis, came out only two years ago. Â (He once went nearly ten years between CDs. Painful for his fans…)
A Fool to Care is similar to Memphis in that the music is very different from his previous work. Very smooth jazz with a twang that’s hard to describe–part country, part Cajun, part ???
My favorite song of his from all time is Harbor Lights, but there’s a cover of a Rick Danko and Bobby Charles song, Small Town Talk, written in the early 1970’s on this new album that moving up close to number one.
Here’s an unplugged version for you to enjoy…
Small Town Talk
It’s all small town talk, you know how people are
They can’t stand to see, someone else doing what they like to
It’s all small town talk, you mustn’t pay no mind
Don’t believe a word, they try to do it everytime
You can’t believe everything you hear
And only half of what you see
And if you’re gonna believe in anyone
You gotta believe in me
It’s all small town talk, it’s well known fact
You don’t ever know, how one might react to what you’re thinking
And it’s small town talk, they tell alot of lies
Make some people crazy never realize that they’re sinking
We’re only two people, trying to live together
Trying to make something work
Who are we to judge one another?
That could cause alot of hurt
It’s all small town talk, you know how people are
They can’t stand to see, someone else doing what they want to
It’s all small town talk, you mustn’t pay no mind
Don’t believe a word, they try to do it everytime