August 1, 2021

Dear Everyone,

    WOW! I know it’s summer, but it has been extremely HOT, in the 90’s and 100’s since June, with more yet to come in August. At the very end of July we did have a reprieve when a nice rainstorm passed through. A few fires have already hit various parts of the West because of such dry conditions, but hopefully, won’t come too close to us. Our heat-pump/air-conditioner has been really having a workout trying to keep us cool and True has been trying desperately to keep her plants alive. Today, the heat pump finally gave out. The town’s fireworks for the 4th were canceled, but the outdoor activities of the LDS Church to celebrate the 24th did go on as scheduled. I did not go, but was told it was so blistering hot that they felt like real pioneers, whose suffering was so great. 

    Through the generosity of an absolute stranger I received an electric wheelchair, and now I'm able to get outside and go to the clubhouse, around the streets of the Park, and down to the river all BY MYSELF! A fellow here in the Park saw True pushing me in the wheelchair and told his friend, who refurbishes electric ones and then GIVES them away to those in need. So, he brought one to me. I couldn’t believe that he definitely would accept no money. He said my beaming face and a sincere Thank You were payment enough. I am so thrilled to now be able to get around outside by myself. It took me a little bit of time to learn to control it, so as to be able to go up and down the ramp and other places without running into anything or anybody. 

    That brings up a tale I must relate. Riding with Linda recently, we had occasion to stop at the store for a few things. It was so hot that she didn’t want to leave me sitting in the car, so had me come in and use one of their mobile carts. I had never used one before, but since I did ali right with my new chair, I said “Sure”, and transferred into one. The mechanism on it was a little different from mine and I was so afraid of bumping into things that I made very jerky movements going up and down the aisles. Linda stayed close beside me, and as we came to a checkout stand with only one cart I raced for it, literally, and, unable to stop, crashed right into it! I was so ashamed and embarrassed. The lady was shocked, but friendly, and no damage was done, so Linda excused me by saying, ”She’s just a teenager with her first test drive.” This made her and others laugh. And then I popped up with “I hope I didn’t give you whiplash!” which brought a good laugh from everyone. The lady smiled and waved to us as she left. 

    True left for a week to help her daughter in San Diego load a POD container in preparation for her move to Spokane, so she arranged for someone from the LDS Church to come by every day to visit with me and be sure I had food for lunch and dinner. They also watered her plants in the terrible heat. It was so nice of her to arrange that because it gave me a chance to get to know a few of my “sisters” a little better. Through their generosity I did have plenty to eat, and True’s plants survived well. It is good for True to know that she can leave me anytime there is a need to help someone else. She is such an angel! I don’t doubt but what she will go to help her son, Clint and his wife Lindsey, when they welcome their first child in February. I will be glad to have another great-grandchild, too. 

    When True does go to help with the new baby, she will also be able to see “Rosie” again. Rosie is a large, friendly cat who belongs to Clint, but was with True when she came to live with me last October. I had a poor previous experience with a cat, so I was'nt too keen on having another one around. But True loved it, so it had to stay. As my leg was healing and still very tender, I objected to the cat jumping onto my bed. But as I improved, so did my relationship with Rosie - from objecting, into tolerating, then actually enjoying having her here. She was an outdoor cat who roamed the Park and made friends with everyone. But when management said someone had put out traps to catch skunks, then we kpt Rosie inside for her own safety. Rosie was very unhappy and was constantly trying to get out. We knew it was time to return her to Clint, now that there is a place for her to roam at his new home. 

    We are expecting the arrival of my son, Dan and his wife Cathy of a year, from Florida for a few days in early August, on their way to Utah for the sealing of their marriage in th Draper Temple on the 28th. The few days they are here will give us a chance to get to know Cathy better, since we met only briefly a year ago. Now that Dan has retired and says he wants to do more traveling, we might see him / them more often? I don’t know, because Oregon and Florida are still on opposite sides of America. 

    As for my prosthesis, we are still kind of in limbo, because I have had a cast done and a trial one made, but am finding it a bit awkward and heavy to use by myself. I have been promised therapy to help me, but have seen nothing of them so far. In fact, right now it is unusable, having been returned for repair after I pulled a wire loose. As you can tell, I’m a little discouraged about the whole thing, but, hopefully, things will improve and I will, someday, be again able to walk with two legs. During the time our clubhouse was closed for the Covid virus, we had no exercise class, and I’m bad about doing some at home alone, so I’ve lost a lot of the leg and arm strength I had acquired, both of which are greatly needed to handle this equipment. I am so glad things are getting better and we will have the use of the clubhouse for our exercise class again. 

    True and Linda are glad the Park’s clubhouse is reopening, because the park is doing a huge yard sale in a few days. This gives all the residents an opportunity to clean house and sell of all kinds of stuff. The two girls are at this moment clearing out our storeroom where so many things have been stored during the winter and the remodeling of this home. That will be a great relief, and maybe a lot of things will be found that I thought were lost. Who knows? 

    Well, that’s about all for this time, and I hope all is going well for you, with some reasonable summer weather. I would sure love to hear from you.