Share Your Story: Dee Myslik

We’re excited to unveil our new Share your Story series.  In it, we’ll be interviewing the members, volunteers, and staff who make every day at Aging Resources so special.  For our first feature, we spoke with member Dee Myslik.  Dee is a true example of grace, elegance, and good cheer, and we feel sure you’ll enjoy the conversation as much as we did.  Read on!

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.  

​Aging Resources: Did you have a role model growing up? 
Dee Myslik: I guess my mom – she was such a strong, resilient lady.  I lost my dad when I was only 12, and she was amazing helping us through that.  He had his own business, and she had to dispose of that and go back to work herself.  After I was married, she got to enjoy our three boys, and she always craved a granddaughter.  By the time I was pregnant with our daughter – we lived in Connecticut at the time - she was terminally ill, but she got to spend several months with our daughter, and I’m grateful for that. All through her illness, she never complained – she was just like that. 
 
AR: Do you have any hobbies?
DM: I love to read - I'm an avid reader. I also like to keep in touch with people from my past.  I have two friends that I started high school with, and I’m still in touch with them and enjoy their friendship.  I’m a people person; my working years were spent working with people and I still enjoy that, either on email or by phone.

AR:  Do you have a favorite book, or a favorite author?
DM: I love mysteries - James Patterson and David Rosenfelt – he’s a dog person, and I love dogs. I've read all of Patterson's Women's Murder Club, and I'm waiting for the next one to come out now.  I have a tablet, and I use that to listen to audiobooks, and a Kindle as well. 

AR: Do you have a favorite musical artist or type of music you prefer?  
DM: I have to say, I don’t care for most contemporary music.  My favorites are the big band era.  My husband and I used to dance a lot to that music.  I still like to hear it, although there’s some that makes me sad, too.  I do also love piano music. 
 
AR: Do you have a favorite movie or television show? 
DM: I’m not much of a movie person.  I’m really hooked on the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mysteries.  In particular, I love the Christmas movies on Hallmark - I can watch those year-round.  When we went into lockdown, that was a bit disconcerting for me – I found the news concerning, and so I started watching more of the programming on Hallmark and I found that soothing. 
 
Oh, I also love Blue Bloods on Friday evenings – it pains me to miss that!
 
AR: What’s your favorite cuisine or meal?
DM: I love Italian food, and I’m learning to like Mediterranean.  And I love seafood.
 
AR: What’s your dream travel destination?
DM: My husband and I had the pleasure of going to Oahu and enjoyed it thoroughly.  Many years ago, we went to St Croix and loved every single minute of it.  It was heaven on earth – I had never seen water that color blue before – it was like something out of a painting.  Yes, I would say St. Croix.
 
AR: Do you have dream time travel destination?
DM: Wherever we went in my twenties and thirties, I’d like to go back there.  I was as healthy as anyone could be and as active as anyone could be.  I loved traveling with my husband and my four children. 
 
AR: Do you have a favorite season?
DM: Spring, for the simple reason that you look around and everything is starting to be new again. I was just looking at the tree in my backyard, and every day it's getting fuller and greener. Spring holds the promise that things are going to get better.
 
AR: How long have you been a member of ARDC?  Do you have a special story about ARDC you’d like to share?
DM: However long it’s been, they’ve been some of the best years.  They have provided transportation for my husband and me since I was unable to drive.  I have never found anyone more dedicated to helping me in whatever way they can.  Kevin and Jeffrey are my lifeline to wherever I need to go.  Kevin and I have become really very good friends.  We have wonderful discussions – he’s fun to be with.  When he brings me home, he always checks my mail – I appreciate that.
 
I’ve really enjoyed the barbeques, as well.  I’ve gotten to meet many volunteers, clients, and staff.  As I say, they have been really good years. 
 


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