Making a Splash: Myrtle and Sam — Video

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“What’s my favorite thing about Myrtle?”

Sam, Myrtle’s professional caregiver, arches her eyebrow as she considers the question. She breaks into a wide grin. “That’s easy: she’s a hoot!”

It’s hard to argue with that. Whether Myrtle is taking water aerobics classes at the local community college, or zipping through her Mississippi property in a golf cart with her trusty dog, Roscoe, sitting shotgun (“he likes it when I sing to him,” she says), there’s no shortage of activities that bring her joy. And thanks to Sam, she’s able to pursue them all.

Sure, Sam might not love all of Myrtle’s hobbies. Sam isn’t much of a swimmer, but she takes Myrtle to the pool twice a week and has recently built up the courage to dip her toes into the water. She’s not much of a dog person, either, but she’s grown to tolerate — dare we say, even love — seeing Roscoe almost every day.

For the two of them, it’s the give-and-take that makes their relationship so special: Sam ensures Myrtle can be her truest self by pursuing her many passions, which in turn pushes Sam into trying new things.

It’s a philosophy that’s best summed up by Myrtle herself. Sitting in afternoon sunlight, cold glass of lemonade in hand, she leans back into her porch chair and winks:

“Life is too short not to enjoy it.”

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Eric-Larson

Eric Larson

Eric Larson is a writer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. He’s worked on commercial campaigns for brands like Google, Amazon Fashion, and Casper, and his independent films have screened at renowned festivals in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and Paris.

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