Grannies Gone Wild
Posted by Kim on May 3rd, 2007 / Print This Post
Another great idea, and it sounds like it was a lot of fun.
CRESCENT CITY — Gladys Cowart was gingerly being helped from the sidecar of Don Williams’ 1973 BMW motorcycle here Saturday afternoon.She had just ridden around the parking lot of the Lakewood Nursing Home, a ride that had lasted perhaps two minutes at heart-racing speeds of almost 10 mph, and the look on her face told it all.
“I’ve ridden horses and I’ve ridden calves, but this is the first time I’ve ever ridden one of them things,” the 91-year-old center resident said. “I’ll tell you what, though — riding that thing was a lot more fun.”
Ms. Cowart didn’t know it, but she was in for even more fun.
Jesse Stephens, a white-bearded member of Putnam ABATE, took her by the hand, lifted her up onto the driver’s seat of his Honda, and outfitted her with riding gloves and helmet to the delight of all who were looking on.
It was hard to tell who was having the most fun —- the residents at the Lakewood Nursing Center who were receiving the motorcycle rides, or the leather-clad members of the clubs who came to provide them.
Perhaps three dozen residents were outside the center, many in wheelchairs lined up outside the center when approximately 20 bikers roared up for a 90-minute visit tabbed “Grannies Gone Wild.”
The event is the brainchild of Liz Miller and Jeannie Gulledge, a couple of longstanding members of Putnam ABATE who, between them, have five grandchildren. Four years ago, the grannies had the wild idea of going to local nursing homes and allowing the residents to take short rides in the sidecars on some of the motorcycles.
Ava Swain, who will be 97 on Aug. 17 and who was the oldest resident to ride, said it brought back wonderful memories.
“I loved it. I loved it,” she said. “I would love to go another mile. That’s the first time I have been on a motorcycle in 50 years.
“I almost didn’t come out here because I thought I was too old. But I was wrong. This was a whole lot of fun.”
A nursing home up my way did this a couple years ago- local motorcyclists came and took the residents out for short rides. It was fun and very therapeutic for everyone involved. My husband assisted with the event.