Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
April 2018
Dear grandpa Helen Czaplinski keeps residents Bill Flick is a long-time resident of Presbyterian Manor and the Arkansas City community. He is an avid outdoorsman, and has passed his love for nature on to his children and grandchildren. His grandson, Matt Dewell, wrote this essay about his relationship with his grandpa. He was in the eighth grade at this time. My grandpa is my best friend. He does all the things I like. He is the one who got me hooked on flyfishing. We do everything together. When I am at his house, we walk, and shoot birds and also ground squirrels. Grandpa buys me junk food even when my parents say no. If I have slipped and fallen into the stream, he is there to pick me up. He is a fairly tall man with a bald head. His hands are tough and enormous from working with wood and plumbing all his life. His attitude toward life is to do everything now because there might not be any tomorrow. My grandpa is the coolest guy I know. I started fishing with my grandpa when I was four. I remember having a little Snoopy rod that I caught my first fish on. I was at the lake that he partially owns when I caught this monster fish. I felt the pole jerk, so I yanked it back furiously. My GRANDPA, continued on page 2
looking and feeling their best
For nearly 39 years, Helen has been the consistent face residents have turned to whenever they want to get spruced up. She runs the Arkansas Presbyterian Manor beauty salon. “My first shop was in the laundry room before the health care addition was built on,” said Helen. “On that first day, I had five patrons. Once I settled up that day, I started a second day, and then a third … and here I am now.”
Helen Czaplinski has been styling
The majority of Helen’s patrons residents’ hair for nearly 39 years. simply request to have their hair shampooed or set with rollers, but Helen knows that the positive effects of her work—on both the residents and herself—can never truly be measured. “It gives me great joy when they walk down the hall and just beam when someone says, ‘Oh, you look so nice,’” said Helen. “I know their hairstyles probably only last until the next time they lay down, but for at least a little while, they feel really good about themselves.” While Helen may not have always known that she wanted to work in an assisted living community, the path she would take to become a stylist was determined when she was just 15 or 16 years old. “When I was in the 10th grade, I had to give a speech on a possible career choice. I interviewed a local hair stylist and immediately thought, ‘I’d really like to do that,’” said Helen. “So, I graduated from high school on HELEN, continued on page 3
GRANDPA, continued from page 1
four-year-old body couldn’t hold it. When I felt myself getting pulled in, my grandpa was there to catch me. Then we reeled the fish in together. When we got it up, the fish turned out to be a little four-inch fish. But it was my fish, my first fish. When my grandpa told me about fly-fishing, I was very excited. It sounded like fun to fling a fly around on a rod like nobody’s business. To have me practice my aim, he made me try to throw the fly into a bucket. Having good aim is important, because if you see a fish in the water, you can just throw your fly right in front of it. Finally, I
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Sarah Griggs, executive director Sean Page, marketing director Lori Peters, activities director
To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact spage@pmma.org. Telephone: 620-442-8700 Fax: 620-442-8224 Address: 1711 N. Fourth, Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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Community Matters April 2018
Matt Dewell and his grandpa, Bill Flick, share a love of the outdoors.
got out on the stream with a fly. The fly I used was a mud cricket. I was so eager that I whipped my rod and the fly got caught in a tree. It was my grandpa’s best fly, and I had lost it. I felt so bad, but it seemed he didn’t care. He came over with a smile on his face and just gave me another fly. I didn’t catch anything that day, but I knew whatever I did, my grandpa would still love me. The next time we went fishing was at a lake. On the way there, he told me that this lake was one of the deepest, and that it had huge fish in it. We started fishing off the dam. Nothing was biting that day. Then we saw a huge gray fish. My grandpa hit it right on the head with a fly and it didn’t budge. The fish just wasn’t hungry. Although we didn’t catch a fish, I have a memory of the biggest fish ever. When I went to my grandpa’s by myself, I was dreading going to the same streams again. Then when I got there, he told me about his friend Duke. Duke wanted to go fishing
with us. My grandpa had a new spot where we could go. This stream was called Turkey Creek. When we got up there, we hiked in about five miles with our gear. Finally, we got to the spot where we wanted to fish. The sun had not yet come through the trees canopy. Then we saw the hatch on the water and knew it was time to fish. As we got started, we all were catching fish. This was the best fishing I had ever had. Next, we found a good clear pool, and my grandpa decided to sit down while I fished there. I threw the fly in a few times and a fish snatched it. By the time I realized what was going on, my grandpa was already on his feet cheering. When I got the fish out of the water, it was a 12inch Brown. This was the biggest fish I ever had caught. My grandpa had done it. He found the best fishing place ever. I love my grandpa. He is my best friend. I can do anything with him. He is the most fun guy I know. Like us on Facebook
HELEN, continued from page 1
a Friday and then started beauty school on the following Tuesday.” Helen’s job is not without its challenges. She struggles sometimes with patrons who forget their appointments, but she says it is all worth the incredible relationships she is able to build. “Even those who have memory problems are so appreciative—I truly feel like they are all my friends,” she said.
Away from the beauty shop, Helen directs the bell choir at her church, plays in the bell choir at another church, participates in two card clubs, reads and even does a little catering. “I’m just a happy person and enjoy life,” said Helen. “I really like to be around other people.” Helen has been married to Robert “Dutch” Czaplinski for 57 years. The couple has three children, six grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren.
Making the adjustment to campus life By Rev. Bill Bowles, chaplain Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
range of church and educational experiences.
One soon discovers that the retirement life at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor requires personal adjustments.
These life experiences can lead us to making new friends. These experiences may mean we share multiple personal, health or inspirational challenges that affect our emotions and our ways of thinking. Curiosity abounds. Interactions with residents, friends and staff will make for interesting conversations.
Our fellowship naturally challenges us because we come from numerous places and family experiences. We also come from varied vocational and geographical backgrounds in other states and cities, as well as a
Here are a few lines from a poem that are worthy of personal meditation and prayer. “I ask for daily strength Dear Lord and Savior, that I be faithful and true, To use my mind and blessings In everything I will do, always Rejoicing in your constant grace, Grateful for your everlasting care. Amen.” Poem byWilliam Edward Bowles
Happy April birthdays! Bill Flick
Sarah Lewis
Rita Stocksen
Betty Harris
Johnnie Pappan
Lila Teufel
Betty Hollister
Grace Potter
Helma Unruh
Dorothy Jackson
Doris GilmoreRogers
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Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor 1711 N. Fourth Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607 Return Service Requested
Tell us your story We will be celebrating Nursing Assistants Week in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you know a nursing assistant with a great story, or if you want to tell us how important their work is, we want to share the story. Contact Sean Page, marketing director, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters April 2018
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