Wish Stories

Beverly is an 88 year-old Brookdale resident in Bradenton, Florida with an adventurous soul. For Beverly’s entire life, she wished to take flight in a hot air balloon. She tells the story of watching hot air balloons from a cabin in the mountains, wishing she could...

Frank, 90, from Brookdale Grants Pass Springs in Grants Pass, Oregon, has always dreamed of flying. When he was 10 years old, Frank made a pair of wings and jumped off the top of a barn. He fell about 30 feet and sprained both of his ankles but said he “didn’t feel...

Hazel, 88, from Brookdale Midland in Midland, Texas, spent the majority of her life in Big Springs, Texas. Back in Big Springs, Hazel enjoyed hearing about the local rodeos. In the 1970s, Hazel discovered that a man named George Strait was a strong competitor in...

Lynda, 76, is a older adult who has always put the needs of others before her own. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and has lived in Texas her whole life. She has always served others and has gone on several mission trips with her husband throughout her life. This...

With such a lively spirit, one would never guess that Audrey is 92 years old. Though she now resides in Brookdale Destin in Florida, Audrey spent the majority of her life in New York. She worked as a typist in New York City for many years in a large company downtown,...

Leslie, 71, has always kept a positive outlook on life. As an avid resident of Brookdale, he enjoys many activities in the community, though his favorite pastime is watching the Price is Right. Leslie remembers watching the very first episode of the Price is Right...

Ever since Mary saw the dolphin Flipper on TV as a child, she has been intrigued by dolphins. Mary said dolphins' "perpetual smiles and complex aquatic maneuvers" remind her of her time in high school when she participated in synchronized swimming. Mary spent part of...

Donald, 95, has an everlasting passion for aviation. Though he has taken flight in an abundance of different aircrafts, he has never flown on a glider plane. When asked of his Wish, Donald knew immediately that he would love to feel the air from a different...

Bob, 93, and Phyllis, 89, share a deep love for their home city of Chicago. The two grew up in the Windy City in the 1920’s and 1930’s and never wanted to leave. Bob and Phyllis have become great friends as residents of Brookdale and want nothing more than a chance to...

Lois has an adventurous soul with big dreams, but at the age of 93, she is limited to the amount of activity her body is able to endure. Growing up with a troubling childhood, she has reinvented herself for her family and remains a strong, courageous woman. During...

Betty Wilson, 83, loves to dance. At Brookdale Champions, her infectious dance moves inspire other older adult residents and community associates to dance with her. Betty is often seen dancing right alongside her favorite talk show host and fellow dance fanatic, Ellen...

Ellen, 86, is a remarkable woman with a lifelong commitment to helping others. She was an advocate for desegregation of schools in Montgomery in the 1960’s, eventually being appointed by a judge to serve on a biracial committee that monitored schools for integration....

Richard, “Robbie,” served in the United States Navy for 25 years. Robbie joined the Navy in September 1937 at the cusp of WWII. He graduated with almost 40 others in his class at Pensacola; however, he was the only member of his graduating class to survive WWII....

Sue, 77, of Brookdale Blankenbaker in Louisville, Kentucky is an outgoing, happy lady with a love for new adventures. Her dream was to view the Thunder Over Louisville event from the Galt House Hotel. This event consists of an air show followed by a fireworks show. To...

A casual conversation between two Brookdale Tuskawilla residents sparked an unexpected Wish of a Lifetime. Shortly after moving to Brookdale, Josephine, 95, befriended a man named Charlie. Charlie is an avid baseball fan who collects baseball cards. One day, Charlie...