USD Magazine, Spring 1993

Friends in Deed

b y Tri s h a J . R a tl e d ge

Two-thirds of USD's undergrad-

This year, despite Michelle's absence, Paula keeps up the patterns the trio had established. Entering the colorfully dec– orated condominium, she greets Boo, Celeste's 17-1/2-year-old Siamese cat. Because she is allergic to Boo, Paula takes medication before each visit. To her left are Celeste's glass shelves cov– ered with crystal pieces and figurines from all over the world, each one a gift or a travel memento. Together, they reg– ularly clean and reposition these mementos while Celeste entertains Paula with stories prompted by the pieces, memories now as familiar and dear to Paula as her own. To her right are the brass lamps she and Celeste carefully polish twice each year. Originally altar urns, they already had been converted into lamps when Celeste's late husband found them in upstate New York. The walls are cov– ered with paintings - some are done by Celeste herself - and photographs, including a glamorous '40s Hollywood– esque portrait of Celeste that easily can be mistaken for Rita Hayworth and a candid photo of Celeste with a flustered Bob Hope, circa 1968. (On a cruise, she greeted Hope as if he were an old friend,

The day begins like every other when Paula comes to visit - with a long-last– ing hug, faces pressed together, eyes shut tight. There are no quick, obligato– ry hugs between Paula Matteucci and Celeste*. It's a bittersweet time because this fresh-faced USO senior and elegant grandmother - who share a deep affec– tion for each other along with brownies every other Saturday - will part ways in just a few weeks. Paula is heading back to Albuquerque after graduation, but neither she nor Celeste will talk about the inevitable separation. They've already been through this once. Last year, Michelle Nevin, Paula's partner and Celeste's other valued friend in USO's Senior Citizen Outreach pro– ject, returned to Colorado, creating the first break in their threesome. "We came over and she had to tell Celeste," Paula recalls. "We made it through that okay, but as soon as we left, Michelle was wiping her eyes." Paula, Michelle and Celeste "adopt– ed" each other three years ago through Senior Outreach, a community service program sponsored by USO and Associ– ated Students. Celeste, a widow with a zest for life despite a number of health problems, began participating in the pro– gram when it consisted only of cleaning or doing yardwork for senior citizens once a semester. Paula and Michelle signed up after the program expanded, enabling students to work with a senior citizen at least once a month for an entire semester, and they were matched with Celeste. None of the three had ever met.

uates do volunteer work some-

time during their college years. Some gain experience for future work; most gain 11aluable friend· ships that transcend the 11olun- teering. AU are working for a better world.

MAGAZINE