August 1, 2022

    The month of July literally started off with a BANG! As I was able to observe, from the rooftop of a six-story apartment building overlooking the Willamette River in Portland, the fireworks being shot off with a loud bang skyward from a barge floating on the river. It was a fantastic sight from that vantage point, and I “oohed and aahed” over each one as they burst very near us. How was I, who has not been out of my own surroundings for over two years, witness such a sight, you may ask? Because True invited me (wheelchair and all) to accompany her as she promised to "house-sit and dog-sit" the 4th of July weekend for her friend Kathi in Portland. I was very hesitant to stay overnight anywhere other than my own home, but True kept urging me to give it a try; to have the experience of my first outing. It would be a great challenge, but she would be there to help me. So, I soon became excited to try it.

    We enjoyed Kathi’s lovely home and garden, but of course it didn’t have the handicap accessories I needed in the bathroom. Since I need something to hang onto while balancing on one leg, that was quite a challenge, as was manipulating my big chair around in her tiny bathroom. But somehow I managed to make it work, and was able to accomplish the task quite well. One of True’s longtime friends, Lisa, had invited True and me to join her family for a nice meal and fireworks from her rooftop, which we enjoyed very much. Back home, I was grateful for True’s invitation to spend the holiday with her, as it proved that although things are more difficult using a wheelchair, they are not impossible. So, maybe there will be more such outings in the future. I hope so.

    Another thing that happened that I thought was kind of ‘funny’ in a way, but rather embarrassing to relate, was “the tale of the bottles”. Six months ago, my niece Diana in Utah sent me a package that contained two large, open-legged pants that are able to fit over the prosthesis and cover it as well. I really like them, better than the shorts I’d been using. Anyway, also wrapped separately in the package were two rather large bottles with flip-top lids. They were maked as Body Wash and Body Lotion. When True saw them, she said, “Let me put one in a more convenient type of bottle for you to use in the shower”. So that’s what I’ve been using the past six months with showers 2 or 3 times per week. That is, until two weeks ago when I happened to spot the other bottle, which read Body Wash! Oh my Gosh! I’ve been using Body Lotion in the shower all this time. No wonder it didn’t have any lather! But I didn’t pay any attention. And so now maybe I’ve got the softest skin in town, but not the cleanest? Boy, how dumb can you get Marie?

    A silly thing happened the day after True left for a long vacation. A potluck dinner was being held at the clubhouse, and I decided to heat up a large can of baked beans to share. Not finding a suitable bowl, I left them in the pan to be reheated after I arrived. Then, using my mobile scooter chair, I hurried down to the clubhouse. But because it was a scorching 103 degrees outside, others had brought cool things to eat, and didn’t want my hot beans at all. Oh my, just another dumb and embarrassing thing on my part.

    Yes, True left on July 19th, and expects to be back a month later on August 19th, if everything goes as planned. True and her daughter Cedar from Spokane are currently somewhere in the wilderness along the last 360 miles of the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) that True, due to an injury she suffered, was unable to complete over 20 years earlier. She had often dreamed of finishing the last part of her hike someday, so when Cedar suggested they do it together, that was the perfect birthday present for her. True turned 66 years young on the 20th, and celebrated while visiting friends in Portland. Cedar is 46.

    True has always been quite conscientious about her responsibility on my behalf, so before she left she spent a lot of time preparing various meals for me that only have to be reheated. The fridge is fully stocked with possible breakfast and lunch items for me to choose from. She knows from the other times she’s been away that I can do very well by myself.

    My other daughter Linda lives here in Grants Pass but has many other responsibilities, manages to come by when her schedule permits to do the washing, water the plants inside and out, and everything else that needs to be done whenever True is gone. Knowing in our current heat wave that things would need daily care in order to survive the hot weather, I offered to water the plants along the north side and front of the house by using my mobile chair and a 100 ft long hose. That was a good idea, but I soon discovered that I was unable to manage that length of hose when it got itself tangled up and ran through the flower bed. Melissa, our park manager, got word of my predicament and had stakes placed around the corner edges, which helped. Another lady, Brenda, even volunteered to do the watering for me and other little chores around the house.

    Yes, it is good to know I have the kind of neighbors, friends, and church members who are always ready to help with what I can’t do for myself. So here, I’d like to mention by name others who freely offer to help when True is gone, because I know they will read this letter, and I want them to know how much I appreciate their kindness and willingness to help; Shirley, along with Karen, came to remove my bedding down to the mattress, then remade it with new pads, sheets and cover, all within ten minutes flat! Iris walks her dog twice a day and always brings in my mail and newspapers as she passes my house. She also helped untangle the hose before Brenda came. Norma Healy, who does my hair every week, leaves her shop to come get me and bring me back. I don’t ask women (other than my daughters) to handle my wheelchair because it is so heavy and hard to pick up and put into a car. But in Norma’s case I’m able to use my walker. I’d like to use the walker on Sundays too, but not yet, so I ask Lee Eastman, who drives by my house on the way to church, to pick me up when True is not available. Jeff Jarvis always brings me home from church. Norma has chairs with armrests, but the church building only has folding chairs (without arms), so I have nothing to use to help me get up from sitting in one. Someday, I hope to do it without any help. Then I can leave the wheelchair at home and just use “Buddy” and a walker to get myself around at church. But I’m afraid that day is still quite a ways off down the road.

    As you know, I do love to make up puzzles and share them with others. This one, “Church History Match-up” was just ideal to be included along with the Sunday bulletin on July 24th, Pioneer Day. Kate Conner, who prints up the church bulletin, offered to do the puzzle and even came to the house to pick it up, and noted its different style. Well, on Sunday morning I opened the bulletin and was shocked to see that she had changed the word “Indian” to “Native American”! Maybe that’s true for today’s culture, but it wasn’t that way for the Pioneers. The Indian was supposed to match up with the Chief, but that was now ruined. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now, so I got a good laugh out of it anyway.

    I send my love, and I pray you will be healthy and stay COOL during this heat wave. - Marie