Musical Holiday Party Bridges Many Cultures at Lake Anne Fellowship House

Lake Anne Fellowship House has very diverse senior aged residents hailing from over the world, about 20 countries.

Knowing music can bring people together, on Dec. 20 some 80 residents attended a Holiday Musical Tea Party that I "crowdsourced" into happening.

Lots of great sounds came from the many hand instruments like tambourines and small drums. And they weren't just accompanying Christmas songs - several party goers overcame their usual shyness in public and sung in Persian, Hindi, and Russian.

They even danced a bit, too, which made everyone clap and move their feet to the joyous singing.

The party was made possible through contributions of some local caregiver companies and others. Friends through social media as well as organizations that I volunteer and belong to helped out as well.

Friends like Steve Gurney from Reston for a Lifetime; Karen Brusche and Susan Zaboji, of Reston Community Center; Michelle Scott of Shepherd Center Oakton-Vienna;  Julia Loughran, of Thoughtlink, who brought her pipes with numbers so all could play made it inviting and fun.

Partygoers were served Chai tea and delicious donated sweats and savory foods.

May Barzinji, the building's social worker said, she "could not remember so many happy faces with willing participation; it was just perfect."

I also enjoyed getting the partygoers to start what I hope will become a Lake Anne tradition - creating a poster that some wrote a few lines as to .."my favorite things."

There are about five languages represented on the resulting poster, and to me they were simply priceless and held the meaning of what we always refer to as "holiday spirit."

Some of the entries -  "love of my family" and my favorite, "living."

If you like volunteering and helping out with seniors give a shout my way...we are always looking for people to help create fun events to make special lives happier.