Our hearts were heavy this week as we dealt with the news that our friend Rebekah Mason passed away over winter break. Beka had a lifelong heart defect, but we couldn't have imagined we would lose her. We spent this week sharing our memories and lots of sweet stories about her time with us, and we found immense comfort in that. We are dedicating this week's blog post to our beloved friend, Beka.
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Beka's First Days with Us
Beka joined The Arc of Greater Williamsburg early last year, and joined our Arc of Abilities day program in February. We met her on January 16 when she came for a "trial visit" to determine if our program might be a good fit. Turns out, it was...for Beka and all of us!
Elizabeth, Laura, Kate, Alexis, and Tessa were happy to welcome another girl to the program!
Devin enjoyed introducing her to our concept of "brain work" as they worked on an assignment about Martin Luther King, Jr.
Beka joined us on our visit to The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg where Christina taught us how to make paper hats on National Hat Day.
On Beka's first bowling trip with us, we found out she was nervous, so her new friends rallied around her with lots of encouragement.
When we realized she loved books and reading, we added her to our crew that volunteers to shelve books at the JRES Library. Laura showed her the ropes!
Early on, Beka became a regular at Arc's evening and weekend events, such as a paint night in February where she and Alexis created these masterpieces.
By early spring she had joined Buddy Baseball. Beka's mom, Susan, shared with us that Arc events, Buddy Baseball, and joining the Arc of Abilities all meant so much to Beka.
Pizza after a Buddy Baseball game with Patrick, Devin, and Drew
She's A Regular Now!
Beka proved to be a valuable member of our team in short order. At our vocational jobs, she demonstrated an excellent work ethic and never shied away from a task.
Working at Pet Supplies Plus was very enjoyable to Beka because she liked animals. Whether stocking shelves, folding towels in the grooming area, or cleaning floors, we could count on Beka to get the job done.
One of the stories shared by her friends this week was that Beka made the comment when working at Eaton that she liked the feel of nuts and bolts in her hand. One of her favorite tasks was attaching them when we assembled PowerSlide Doors. However, she happily worked on any task she was assigned. She also enjoyed days when we finished early at Eaton, and had time stop at nearby New Quarter Park for a walk in the fresh air.
Our group also volunteers at Grove Christian Outreach Center where we sort food items and then bag them for distribution to families in need in the Grove community. Beka and all of her friends always worked diligently at GCOC, and felt good for making a difference.
We work with many volunteers at GCOC, but our mainstays are Thom, Tom, Ursula, Peggy, and Joel. Beka is standing in front of Ursula, with whom she enjoyed chatting about baking. Ursula often brought us homemade treats.
Beka appreciated opportunites for continuing education. In our many relationships with community partners, there was always something cool to learn!
Beka always asked insightful questions, and contributed to discussions. We had a lot of great visits with Wisteria and her team at The Mariners' Museum, Mike at the Watermen's Museum, and Christina at The Art Museums of CW.
Beka liked working with our master gardener friends and learning about flowers and herbs. She loved watering the herbs in our raised bed that the master gardeners donated to us, and even more, she loved cooking with the herbs we grew!
Something Beka looked forward to each month was our visit with friends from Therapy Dogs International.
Speaking of dogs, another fun memory was the time we were at Deer Park in Newport News, which is close to where Beka lived. Her mom brought their dog Alfred over to meet us and go for a walk!
Another learning activity that Beka relished was what we call "brain work." Scavenger hunts for facts about things like animals or American history, using the computers to solve puzzles or create documents, and literacy activities were among her favorites.
Being outside was another experience Beka enjoyed, especially the many walks we took when she could talk with her friends.
A fist bump with Emma as they crossed paths on a walk outside our building.
If the sign said "Trail," we had to check it out!
Hanging with friends at the Botanical Garden at Freedom Park on a sunny day.
An outdoor scavenger hunt at New Quarter Park when we were joined by Beka's mom!
A beautiful afternoon spent by the river at Yorktown after a lesson with Mike that morning.
Birthdays!
It wasn't long after Beka joined the team that she learned birthday celebrations are a special thing for us! From the spring blitz, through the summer when things slow down, and then through the fall blitz, she always delighted in celebrating with her friends!
We celebrated Beka's birthday in November. Her mom treated us to a lunch of chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and cupcakes, and we played the kind of games Beka loved - card games and board games.
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This was one lively game of Uno!
So Many Fun Times
We had so many fun times with Beka. We'll cherish our memories forever. She made us laugh and smile a lot with her "understated goofiness." She made us feel important as she helped and supported all who needed a little extra attention. She impressed us with her quick answers during Disney trivia games, and boy could she ace a game of scrambled words or Hangman! Thanks for the friendship, love, and memories, Beka. We'll never forget you.
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Free Slurpee Day; Hanging with Moose Patti; Showing off new eyewear; Silliness on National Get Silly Day!
Winning a big ball at the arcade; Pizza after bowling; Yoga on Friday afternoons; Checking out the Free Little Library behind the school
Games with friends; Cheers with sodas; Homemade turtle candies; Crafting
