It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to all that kind of stuff.”John Thomas
CULLMAN – When Rock the South is in full swing, homes all over Cullman are pounding to the beat of the music. Some consider it free entertainment, while others aren’t so thrilled with all the noise. Have you ever wondered what the nursing home residents next door to Heritage Park think about all the ruckus?
“Most of the residents know what’s going on now and some of them have actually embraced it,” said Mandy Shaddrix, administrator of Woodland Village Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. “A lot of them like to sit out on the porch and listen to the music. Last year, the ones that were aware of what was happening sat out late into the night with staff members. They really enjoyed it. I usually have staff members who volunteer to come up here on their off days just to take the residents out to hear the music,” she smiled.
“It can get very loud in here, but it really depends on what part of the building you are in. On our hall closest to the park, it is really loud, but it is kind of a muffled sound,” she explained. “We try to explain to our residents what is going on and why it sounds that way. Our more independent residents actually live on that back hall so most of them understand what’s happening.
“We try to be positive about it. We also keep in close communication with the City and we know their procedures and what’s going on. We have our own staff out on the road to let our families in. I think when it first started there were some issues with letting our folks in to visit their loved ones but we seem to all work really well together now.”
Although the music was in full swing outside when we stopped by, it was business as usual in the dining room. As supper was being served, conversation around the dinner table was all about the excitement going on in the park. Just what exactly did the residents have to say about Rock the South?
“Just whenever they have it, it makes a racket and keeps us awake,” said Mrs. Nellie Berry. “Yeah, it’s loud. Last year me and him (pointing to her buddy, Brother Billy Hester) went out on the back porch and listened to the music. We didn’t stay out there long. I remember there was a big old rabbit that came up while we were listening to the music. It had big ole ears about that big,” she motioned with her hands. “He come up beside Billy’s chair and looked up at him. Then he come on around, sat down and looked up at me. He sat there with us for a little while then hopped away,” she reminisced. “We had fun sitting out there, talking to the rabbit and listening to the music.”
“You can hear it all over Cullman,” Brother Billy chimed in. “If we are able to hear everything from the front porch, then I’ll go out and listen to it tonight.”
“We went out there on the front porch last year but couldn’t really hear anything,” Mrs. Berry added. “We’ll probably have to go listen to it out back; it’s closer to where everything is going on. Plus, if it gets too loud we can always come back in.”
“It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to all that kind of stuff,” John Thomas piped in. “They are out there playing now. They brought better people in last year. It was really good last year.”
“Well, I’m right on the far end of East Hall and you can hear it loud through the window,” Mrs. Dortha Hill added. “There’s just a big ole window there, but you really can’t see what’s going on through it; you can just hear it. It’s hard to sleep at night with all that going on.”
Even though the music of Rock the South blasts long into the night, most of the residents of Woodland Village don’t seem to mind. Most actually enjoy staying up late and sitting with their friends on the porch, tapping their toes to the beat. Thanks to Woodland’s wonderful staff, these nursing home residents are able to be a part of the one and only Rock the South.
