It’s not often that 50 sugar-free cupcakes, baked carefully by Casey Parrent, brings unbridled joy to a room.
But that’s just what happened Friday afternoon at Trigg County’s Shady Lawn Nursing & Rehabilitation, when Cadiz Mayor Todd King and City Clerk Susan Hyde dropped them off for more than four dozen residents — many of them having loved and lost enough for one lifetime.
Among them: 65-year-old Brenda Joiner.
A lover of all things Luke Bryan and Lynyrd Skynyrd, she was dressed for the occasion — a red wrap neatly tied and a pendant around her neck.
Visitors, she said, are infrequent, but more than welcome — especially on Valentine’s Day.
Becky Reynolds, Shady Lawn’s Activities Director, said they love to gather and celebrate holidays as often as they can — bringing everyone together for food, friendship and fellowship.
And if the month doesn’t have a special holiday? Reynolds said they will find a reason.
Specifically, she said Valentine’s Day can be particularly difficult for some.
King said the idea to visit Shady Lawn stemmed after a successful visit to the Trigg County Hospital during last Christmas, and that there was a desire to step a little bit outside of the city limits.
To cap it all off, “Pops” and “Ms. Nell” were named Valentine’s Day King and Queen — behind overwhelming staff and resident selection.
