LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — This year's Valentine's Day was extra special for a 106-year-old woman in the Brookdale Pleasant Hills Nursing Home, when one of the residents surprised her with a singing quartet.
"I've been singing barber shop since about the 70s and I have a lot of experience delivering singing Valentines," said Bob Scott, a resident at Brookdale. "So, I decided I'd get a singing Valentine for her."
Scott said he moved into the nursing home in Little Rock in October. He doesn't know 106-year-old Mildred Louise very well, but he wanted to show her his appreciation in some way.
"I talked to her son and made arrangements to set up a barber shop quartet," Scott said.
Mildred's son, Jim Brown, was elated by the fact that someone would go so far to show his mother their appreciation.
"That guy is so special to go out of his way. And I keep asking him, 'How much do I owe you?' and all that," Brown explained. "He said, 'Oh, it's all free for me.'
He said his mother doesn't get to go outside of the nursing home very much, so something like this means a lot.
"When somebody comes in to sing like this, it was really a special day for her, special day for me! I enjoyed it myself," Brown said. "We just had a big time. She'll remember this for a long time."
Brown said Mildred started off the day in a foul mood because it was cold outside. There was a noticeable change in her mood once the quartet starting singing.
"When the singing and everything started, well that just kind of perked her up. I don't know if you noticed, but she sang along with them," Brown said.
Years ago, Scott realized the reaction that happens when a barber shop quartet sings a love song. He said it's very emotional and he wanted that for Mildred.
Mildred said Scott and the quartet made this an extra special day for her and that it was wonderful.