Pop culture has always been unpredictable. Like why is Monty Python and the Holy Grail still such a popular movie among college students more than 30 years after being released? Or why has vegetarianism transformed from a health or moral issue into a mainstream trend?

But no one could have possibly seen the potential for a power wheelchair brand to become the subject of a pop culture following. Believe it or not, the commercials for the Hoveround power wheelchair brand are showing up as points of interest and discussion around the internet.

The social networking site Facebook, which boasts millions of users under the age of 34 according to Fast Company magazine, has 21 groups devoted to the Hoveround brand and its geriatric targeted commercials. The names of these groups reveal the unusual appeal of these cheesy television commercials. Here are some of the more popular groups on Facebook:

1. When I get older I want to have a Hoveround
2. Future Hoveround Users of America
3. I want a Hoveround while I still have the mental capacity to enjoy it
4. Damn I wish I had a Hoveround

A follow-up search within Facebook for other geriatric products yields no similar followings. So what is it about a brand or an advertisement that can launch it beyond it’s target audience and into the cult-like momentum of pop culture? A look at the comments both on Facebook and the popular video-sharing site YouTube.com reveals that it’s the (mostly unintentional) humor in the ads that gives them such a following.

On YouTube.com, you can also find parodies of the spots with young people riding the convenience power wheelchairs at grocery stores while quoting the lines from the ads or singing the catchy jingle. The most popular Hoveround spot on YouTube.com has been viewed more than thirty-five thousand times. By comparison, no commercials for the competing Jazzy mobility scooter have even been posted on YouTube.com. The most popular video that even features the Jazzy scooter has been viewed less than two thousand times.

It’s difficult to define the precise appeal of these Hoveround spots. Could it be the choreographed spinning power wheelchair riders doing circles while going down the street? Could it be the over-the-top lyrics of the song the actors sing, “You made me love you”? We may never know the answer. But it just goes to show that you never know what is going to find a place in the pop culture.

As the weather gets warmer, it’s easy to start feeling that familiar tickle: the urge to get out a bit more, the need to get moving, be more active, or just use your brain and body a bit more than you do during the cold winter months.

A hobby can be a great way to spend your time this spring, whether it’s an indoor or outdoor pastime. Being in the middle of a project you enjoy working on is a pleasing and motivating feeling. In fact, recent studies have shown that:

* Participating in a regular hobby can improve your state of mind and mental health.
* Older adults who stay busy by being mentally and physically active live longer, happier and healthier lives.
* Older adults with hobbies that exercise their brains are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease than adults who do not have a hobby.

But what hobbies are appropriate for individuals who may suffer from limited mobility? See below for just a few suggestions.

Create art with your camera

Photography is a satisfying pastime that can be done indoors or out, taking action shots, nature studies, or portraits, black and white or color. Many people who take up photography as a hobby find that they benefit from classes, although there are a number of self-taught photographers as well. Take up this hobby and you may find yourself appointed as the group photographer at every gathering or special occasion!

To get more information about photography, you can contact a local community college or recreation center. There are also many sites that can help beginning photographers. See below for just a few.

Grow herbs, plant a flower garden, or create a beautiful container garden

A great way to get outside this spring is to take up gardening. With so many different types of gardening to choose from, you’re bound to find something that suits you. Grow a small herb garden on your kitchen windowsill, or, if you have sufficient mobility in your hands and arms, create a container garden on your deck or patio. Container gardening is a great solution for individuals who cannot stand or walk to enjoy gardening from a seated position.

Your local home improvement store is a great place to get information about gardening tips and classes. More information about container gardening, herb gardens and more can also be found online. See below for some examples.

Get crafty,­ start a scrapbook, make scented soap right in your home, or take up painting

For those with an artistic side, a crafty hobby is the perfect way to spend your time. Scrapbooking allows you to revisit and relive cherished memories, while creating a beautiful piece of art. It’s also a great way to make friends ­ many scrapbookers enjoy throwing parties where their friends can all scrapbook together. Making scented soap is also rewarding ­ once you’ve created it, you get the enjoyment of using it or giving it as gifts.

Visit a craft store in your area to ask about crafting supplies, classes, or parties, or look online for more information. Some suggested sites can be found below.

Become a volunteer

There are thousands of ways you can volunteer your time, and volunteering is a rewarding way to give back to your community. Contact your local hospital to see what opportunities are available, such as greeting patients and guests, comforting newborn babies, or visiting sick children. Call your local library to find out if there are literacy programs you might become involved in. Your local church may also be a good resource to find the perfect volunteer position.

The United Way in your area can also provide you with you information on many volunteer opportunities. See below for more resources you can find online.

The benefits of hobbies are far-reaching and numerous ­ find the hobby that’s right for you and go for it! Your physical and mental health will improve and you’re likely to make new friends as well as discover talents you didn’t know you had!

I was never into the computer that much before I bought my first wheelchair.
Honestly, it intimidated me a little. But when my son helped me get set up on the internet and showed me how to use email, it was such a blessing.

I have more conversations now with my grandkids than I ever did before. My little twelve-year-old granddaughter is such a cutie. She and I forward these silly little jokes we get and just giggle like school girls.

We had to fix my desk up so it was easier for me to sit there in my power wheelchair. But that wasn’t too much work. It’s been great.