The big event at Collington last week was the observation of a masked man armed with a pistol, wandering near the Clock Tower at the center of the community center. What? ICE on the campus? How did he get past security? How would some of the Collington staff with dark skin and foreign accents react? Those looking into the event noted that he appeared to be providing security to a delivery at Collington. Nothing more to report at this time.
We are continuing to enjoy our time here despite the bitter cold and blankets of ice. What makes Collington special in our thinking are two things–the extraordinary beauty of the campus and surrounding forest and the warmth and the friendliness of the residents. The past week has involved some minor health-related incidents for me. (Staff at Kaiser do not yet greet me in Urgent Care by saying, “Oh, Mr. Howell, how are you today,” but still….) But these incidents pale in comparison to the love and affirmation expressed by so many residents greeting me, seeing me back participating in Collington activities after more than a month of absence. There is a true community here and for this we I am deeply grateful. Thank you, fellow Collingtonians!
Lurking in the shadows for us residents, of course, is the question of what it will be like starting next year when the new construction gets underway to carry out the Collington 2030 vision, which involves the addition of 55 new residential units and the demolition of the existing assisted living building to be replaced with a state of the art health care building, expansion of common areas like dining, the auditorium, and the bar, and a new swimming pool and fitness center. The redevelopment process will take two to three years and involve a heroic effort to maintain anything remotely close to a business-as-usual campus life. We understand that the redevelopment effort will involve oversight by Kendal and a development manager added to the Collington staff to coordinate the redevelopment effort. So far residents are somewhat apprehensive but inclined to support the phased redevelopment of the property, not that we have a choice. Collington received very high marks from residents during the covid crisis for food delivery and coping with the pandemic. Some are contemplating that this will present a similar if not more compelling challenge.
The hope here is that the frigid cold, ice and salted walkways will soon be a thing of the past when temperatures start to rise again as is expected to happen this week. But it has been quite a month with the ICE assaults in the Twin Cities and also, though more limited, in Prince Georges County where Collington is located outside of Washington. As far as I can tell, Collington residents are overwhelmingly outraged by what we see happening due to Trump’s assault on immigrants and people of good will. I am told there may be MAGA enthusiasts here at Collington, but if so they are laying low. Friends, on a national level we are in the middle of a fight that will determine the fate of democracy here in the US and perhaps the fate of the world.
But do not despair. Join the resistance effort in ways that you feel are appropriate and keep up the good fight. We as a nation will come through this dark night of the soul.
Oh I’m sorry to hear about the urgent care visits… One thing I am very happy about is that there will be a new swimming pool and fitness center. That is going to be so great! Collington seems amazing.