Hi, my name is… Anna Keller.
I live at The Retreat at Alameda in North Phoenix and I love it because… Everyone is so nice and friendly. They take very good care of me and I am happy here. Originally, I didn’t want to come and live here but my daughters thought it would be best for me. I am so glad they convinced me to come here. The staff here even takes my dog Willie out every day since I have trouble walking long distances.
A typical day in my life includes… Good food, company, and activities. I’m able to get any meal I like from here. I have new friends that I get to learn more about each day and I even get to have entertainment in the dining room every week. I also enjoy watching my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, when they play. I put on my favorite jersey to cheer them on.
My family is… My two daughters, Darlene and Donna.
One thing I cannot live without is… People. They make the difference in your life. I’ve always been a social person; I worked in a flower shop and as a waitress for many years. I like to learn more about people and hear their stories. I think that is what makes us all happy.
My favorite movie I could never get tired of watching and why… Casablanca. The characters are such good actors and it is a great love story.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… A teacher. I had great teachers in my life that inspired me.
The song I would sing at Karaoke night is… Anything by Frank Sinatra. I know all of his songs and could sing right along with him.
The people who motivate me are… My daughters. I’m so proud of them. They have become such good people and work so hard. They own a ribbon shop and travel throughout the world. This time of year is particularly busy for them because everyone loves ribbon at Christmas time. They have such beautiful patterns for people to use.
The last thing that made me laugh out loud was… My dog Willie. He is so funny, always wanting me to be by his side. When I leave my apartment, he barks for a bit because he wants to go with me.
The perfect day is… Going with friends on an outing to the beach. I love to sit by the beach and hear the ocean, feel the sun on my face, and visit with friends. I’ve always liked the warm weather and when I was in New Orleans, we would go to the beach a lot and I always remember what good times I had while I was there. The only thing that would make the perfect day even better would be eating shrimp and grits!
My life is… Happy. I’ve lived a good life, had a lot of adventures, and have seen a lot of things and met a lot of people. I’m grateful and blessed to have lived such a rich life and am happy with where I am today because of it.
The best gift I’ve ever received was… My daughters. Everything I have and done would not be possible without their love and support.
My dream vacation would be… Honolulu. Hawaii is so beautiful, and the ocean is amazing.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received… “Be true to yourself.”
