Home Away From Home!

This week, I had the opportunity to relax at the Home Away From Home Community Center for Veterans. During the week, I usually go several times a week. This center caters to only Veterans of different services. While I am there, I have great opportunities for health, wellness, and personal growth. The director , Kimberly Richardson,  and her amazing staff do a great job of taking care of the Veterans.
  
There are so many activities that you can get involved in like arts and crafts, bible study, dominoes, cards, and lots of other fun activities. You can play pool, Pacman, and participate in Bingo. Sometimes, the center will have a local barbershop to cut your hair. Meals are also provided for Veterans.
  
There are also special activities like Father’s Day events, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and other special day on which a party is held, and different food is prepared differently than the food on the menu. Birthdays are also celebrated with pomp and circumstance.
 
Bingo is my favorite activity. According to research on the Internet, Bingo was created in 1929 by Edwin S. Lowe, a Brooklyn toy salesman,  (The History of Bingo | Back Then History ). He was observing a game called, “Beano” when he got the idea to create the Bingo game. Beano used beans and markers making it a precursor to Bingo as far back as 1530 in Italy. (The History of Bingo | Back Then History ).
 
 I seem to be somewhat anxious when I play Bingo. I guess you could say that I am extremely competitive. Since childhood, I have always been that way, so I am trying to tone this down somewhat. I was a “high achiever” in youth with in some ways as being a “perfectionist” which is something on which I am working. When I was in high school in Composition 1, I would write compositions at home. If I made any mistakes on the paper, I would tear up the paper and start over.
  
During Bingo, we are allowed to use two cards except when we do the game of Blackout. We play straight bingo, double bingo, kite (four corners and a diagonal together forming a kite), small diamond around the free space, large and small picture window, form a lazy “T” ( form a “T” in different directions to include upside down) , pick numbers bingo, form an “X”, and Blackout. Usually, I get more chances at a Bingo on a “Blackout” since many winners can win during this time. Usually, four to five bingo winners are usually the case.
 
When you win, you get monopoly money that you can use to go shopping in the local award shop in the facility. They have all kinds of different items to choose from like snacks, hygiene supplies, electronics, and household items.

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The best part of it is the social interaction. I am a social butterfly with so much of my characteristic being an extrovert. During the time I am there, I make my rounds talking to me. When I am not socializing, I participate in stretching exercises and movies. There is so much to do at this center.
 
 Many of the Veterans are from different branches of service, participants in wartime and conflicts, and from separate times of service in the military. I am truly in awe over the sacrifices and stories these people share with others. I am proud to have been part of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve.
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