THE CHEERING SECTION

Almost every article on senior activities mentions the benefits of group activities and involvement.

The NSL wii competition is not just about scores, wins, and loses. It is about having fun and getting people involved.

"Oh I don't play but I think it's just great."
Dorothy @ Atria West Cobb

In August and September of 2009 we did a few test events at communities in the Atlanta area. My job was to set up and host the event. Well at one of these I got everything set up and and then sat down for a quick breather. Big Mistake. I was in the cheering section and sitting next to Dorothy. My assistant ended up doing all the work as I spent the next hour and a half chatting, cheering, and clapping with the people around me. None of them were playing though and the crowd kept getting bigger. Between frames Dorothy and I swapped war stories about our experiences running restaurants. Separated by 40 years, it was amazing how similar they were. I asked Dorothy what brought her to the game and she explained she heard a ruckus down the hall and decided to investigate. Now she was missing her show on TV but didn't care. Later I discovered Dorothy had been spending a lot of time in her room watching TV. That was the most they had seen her out and smiling in a while.

I couldn't play basketball to save my life in high school. But I went to every game. Not just because many of my friends played on the team, but that is where a lot of the kids were at having fun (also some very good looking girls). I wanted to be a part of that atmosphere. The team was horrible but we didn't care, we were gonna get loud. In senior communities from east to west, north to south people have the chance to reliving that excitement. Who knows, maybe even find a good looking girl in the process.