{"id":2044666,"date":"2025-09-23T21:02:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T21:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2044666"},"modified":"2025-09-23T21:02:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T21:02:21","slug":"woman-forms-bond-with-elderly-landlord-when-she-realizes-his-birthday-is-coming-up-she-steps-in-with-a-surprise-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/woman-forms-bond-with-elderly-landlord-when-she-realizes-his-birthday-is-coming-up-she-steps-in-with-a-surprise-exclusive\/","title":{"rendered":"Woman Forms Bond with Elderly Landlord. When She Realizes His Birthday Is Coming Up, She Steps in with a Surprise (Exclusive)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Kalina Ross surprised her 82-year-old landlord, Pops, with a \u201cMidnight Shuffle Party\u201d after his usual 8 p.m. nap and 11 p.m. dinner routine<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The TikTok of the heartwarming moment captured millions of views and comments from people missing their own grandparents<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The friendship inspired Kalina to start The Golden Age Foundation to bring connection and joy to seniors<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Kalina Ross knew her 82-year-old landlord Pops had a routine \u2014 nap at 8 p.m., wake at 11 p.m., and cook dinner in their shared kitchen. This year, she and her daughter decided to turn it into a birthday surprise that would go viral.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe always know when Pops is up because it sounds like a shuffle party below the kitchen,\u201d Ross tells PEOPLE. That late-night soundtrack became the theme for his \u201cMidnight Shuffle Party,\u201d complete with margaritas and his favorite music.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ross posted the moment on TikTok, where viewers were charmed by the cozy scene and Pops\u2019 unique schedule. The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thegoldenage5280\/video\/7517473696181751054\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:video;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">video<\/a> explained, \u201cWe decided to throw pops a midnight birthday party because he always naps around 8pm and wakes at 11pm and cooks dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The caption added, \u201cWe always know when pops is up because it sounds like a shuffle party below the kitchen lol so we threw him a \u2018midnight shuffle party\u2019 with margaritas and his favorite songs.\u201d In the clip, Pops smiles as he\u2019s greeted in the kitchen after waking up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For Pops, who has lived in Denver for decades, the celebration was about more than just a birthday. It was another moment in a friendship that has grown into a chosen family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The two met in 2020 when Ross rented one of Pops\u2019 properties. \u201cSince I live across the alley from there and own the property, I encountered her quickly on the property and said hello,\u201d Pops tells PEOPLE.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Over time, they stayed in touch through shared interests like gardening. Last year, Ross moved into Pops\u2019 in-home basement apartment with her 3-year-old son, her 20-year-old daughter, and later, her mother.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Kalina Ross<\/p>\n<p> Pops, Kalina Ross, and her daughter and mom<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Pops\u2019 schedule is unlike most. \u201cI usually only sleep in the bed for three or four hours,\u201d he says. Mornings are spent working outside, caring for the garden and the property.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Evenings are quieter, often ending with him falling asleep on the couch while watching recorded news programs. \u201cWhen they come upstairs to use the kitchen, if they just glance in the other direction, there\u2019s my couch and there\u2019s me asleep,\u201d he says with a grin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">That routine inspired the October birthday surprise. Ross says she and her daughter, both \u201cavid TikTokers,\u201d came up with the idea as a budget-friendly way to make the day special.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIn all honesty, we\u2019ve always made fun of him \u2014 in a loving way \u2014 about the shuffle,\u201d Ross says, comparing it to the \u201cMidnight Margaritas\u201d scene from the movie <em>Practical Magic<\/em>, which Pops enjoys.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">To keep it a surprise, they set everything up while Pops napped just 15 feet away. \u201cFirst stage is rubbing his eyes and he sits like this for a good 20 minutes,\u201d Ross says. \u201cStage two is he starts to get up, a little disheveled \u2014 we didn\u2019t want to scare him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When he finally walked in, the reaction was immediate. \u201cI was shocked,\u201d Pops says. \u201cIt had been many, many years since I\u2019d had a birthday celebration like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The timing was meaningful. His stepson and granddaughter had recently moved out after years of living with him, and he was adjusting to the idea of being alone for the first time in a while.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ross says Pops \u201cliterally saved my life\u201d by offering her a home during an emergency. Pops says he just saw her situation and wanted to help.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Since then, life in the home has been lively. \u201cWe\u2019re having a ball, honestly,\u201d Pops says. Four generations now share the space \u2014 Ross\u2019 toddler, her young adult daughter, her mother in her 70s, Ross, and Pops.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI don\u2019t think there are any others quite like this one,\u201d Pops says. When the TikTok went viral, Ross says many commenters shared how much they missed their grandparents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThat\u2019s really the response,\u201d she says. \u201cSeeing how many people miss their grandparents or wish they had cherished them differently.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Kalina Ross Pops and Kalina\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"368\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/3QftsWH3VNy1bml9r4RlGw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTkyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/2d8a51e202350214f5fcc55c31cf6dcc\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Kalina Ross<\/p>\n<p> Pops and Kalina<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Viewers also noted Pops\u2019 \u201ccool\u201d style \u2014 including his Vans sneakers, which he didn\u2019t realize were trendy. \u201cThe cool people don\u2019t know they\u2019re cool,\u201d Ross teases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Pops, who rarely uses the internet, says the attention feels strange. \u201cIt almost feels like it doesn\u2019t fit for me to be viewed by the better part of a million people,\u201d he says. \u201cI never would\u2019ve done it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Still, he\u2019s letting Ross take the lead. \u201cShe\u2019s dragging me to it kicking and screaming, but I like it,\u201d he says. \u201cI haven\u2019t objected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The viral moment also marked the start of something bigger. Ross launched <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goldenage5280.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Golden Age Foundation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The Golden Age Foundation<\/a>, a nonprofit aimed at restoring connection, purpose and joy to older adults.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cOur mission really is to restore connection, purpose and joy in the lives of those in their golden years,\u201d she says. Caring for both children and elders over the years, Ross saw firsthand how common loneliness can be.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She recalls posting online for toddler clothes for her son, only to have older neighbors respond. \u201cI\u2019d go to their house, they\u2019d want to talk, they\u2019d ask for a picture of my son,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was just growing and growing.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Kalina Ross Pops with Kalina's son\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"368\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/sw5apuz6RMCeLEOhCEQSPg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTkyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/d7ff8efd3bb69415918ede4ab7949487\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Kalina Ross<\/p>\n<p> Pops with Kalina&#8217;s son<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Her background includes helping her ex-partner start a nonprofit in mental health and wellness. With Pops, she saw how small acts \u2014 like going to a movie \u2014 can make a big difference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Pops remembers when movie times were listed in the newspaper. \u201cIt\u2019s not there now, but it\u2019s on the internet,\u201d he says, adding that it\u2019s harder to navigate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Golden Age Foundation plans to offer companionship, acts of service, mental health workshops and home support for older adults. Ross says loneliness affects people across all income levels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Some of the most isolated people she met lived in large, beautiful homes with no one visiting. For the nonprofit\u2019s name, she and her daughter brainstormed until \u201cThe Golden Age\u201d stuck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They recently secured a fiscal sponsor, finished the website and officially launched on August 11. Pops says he\u2019s on board.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The work feels like a new world to him. \u201cI might as well make a visit to Mars and look around \u2014 hey boy, this sure is different,\u201d he says with a laugh.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Kalina Ross Pops in the garden\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"368\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FmNG7CIWpNV9e5EcgrEbUQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTkyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/3c77d57bf88e3199eebf473ee514f6d3\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Kalina Ross<\/p>\n<p> Pops in the garden<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Still, Pops says he\u2019s lucky. \u201cMost 82-year-olds don\u2019t have such a wild, delightful routine going,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ross hopes their story reminds people of the value of bringing generations together. \u201cWe have to get back to intergenerational mixing because we\u2019ve lost it,\u201d she says. \u201cI think this is one of the happiest times of all our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For Pops, the shuffle across the kitchen floor started as a birthday celebration. Now, thanks to TikTok, that joyful moment has been seen far beyond their shared home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/woman-throws-midnight-party-for-82-year-old-landlord-turned-friend-exclusive-11790285\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source ca.style.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Kalina Ross surprised her 82-year-old landlord, Pops, with a \u201cMidnight Shuffle Party\u201d after his usual 8 p.m. nap and 11 p.m. dinner routine The TikTok of the heartwarming moment captured millions of views and comments from people missing their own grandparents The friendship inspired Kalina to start The Golden Age Foundation to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2044667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[378791,378790,378789],"class_list":["post-2044666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-golden-age-foundation","tag-kalina-ross","tag-kalina-ross-pops"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Woman-Forms-Bond-with-Elderly-Landlord-When-She-Realizes-His.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2044666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2044666"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2044666\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2044667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2044666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2044666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2044666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}