Classic car show brings Birches residents back in time
If you ask Birches Assisted Living residents what the cars of today are missing, you'll likely get one resounding answer: chrome. Cars of the 1950s and 60s were covered with this shiny, mirror-like material that gave them their characteristic two-tone charm. On June 24, Birches residents had the opportunity to reminisce about the chrome-covered cars of their youth during The Birches' annual summer car show.
Every June, The Birches hosts a car show in partnership with Adventist St. Thomas Hospice Chaplain Ed Partyka. A classic car enthusiast, Partyka is a member of several classic car clubs and invites his fellow club members to park their retro automobiles in The Birches' parking lot for an afternoon of classic car admiration and reminiscence.
"A lot of residents come out and say that they had a 57' Chevy when they got married or that they brought their first child home in a Model A Ford," said Partyka. "It's really nice to hear all of their stories. They really love seeing and talking about the old cars."
Partyka says he is always amazed by what transpires when older adults get to see the cars that were popular during their adolescence and young adulthood. One year, for example, a friend of Partyka's brought a very rare German-made car called an Opel to the car show. When a Birches resident rolled up in his wheelchair and identified the car, Partyka and his friend were impressed. They soon learned that this particular resident had worked on Opels in Germany during World War II. The resident even helped Partyka's friend fix an idling problem he had been unable to resolve.
"My friend was smiling because this resident straightened out this idling problem with a screwdriver," said Partyka. "And of course the resident, since he knew how to do it, said it was the best day he'd had in a long while. It made him feel like he was needed and that he had a purpose," said Partyka.
According to Partyka, this is just one illustration of how the annual car show impacts Birches residents. When residents see the classic cars, their eyes light up, and they relish the opportunity to reminisce about the days when chrome-covered cars ruled the roads, says Partyka.
"It's a nice social time for everybody to get together, smile, laugh, enjoy the outdoors and enjoy the chrome from yesteryears," said Partyka. "Cars used to have chrome bumpers, chrome on the sides and chrome hood ornaments, so when the residents come out and see the chrome on a car they smile. It brings back a lot of good memories from their youth."
The Birches Assisted Living in Clarendon Hills is a premier retirement community dedicated to providing professional services that support its residents' physical, social, intellectual and spiritual growth. The Birches offers a full calendar of purposeful programs and activities designed to promote a healthy aging lifestyle and a strong sense of community. For more information about The Birches, call 630-789-1135 or visit: birches.net.