June 2023

 Dear Family and Friends, 

    I can’t believe that May has come and gone already. I hope you don’t get bored hearing about my daily activities, but it’s just my way of keeping in touch with everyone. So, here goes……… 

    Since I was asked to be “Sunshine Lady” for the Park, I am required to attend the 1st of the month Residents Board Meeting to report how many cards were delivered the previous month. This also gives me the chance to get in on the discussions and plans for the next month and feel more involved here. 

    On the 5th of May I made up “Cinco de Mayo” puzzles to share with the Church’s ‘older ladies’ as we enjoyed the lovely ‘tea party’ prepared for us by the Primary girls, ages 8 thru 11, who did all the decorating, food preparing, and serving. It was delightful for us and good training for them. They had sent a really cute invitation, but I failed to see the notation at the very bottom which said, “Dress and hat, if desired”. So when I arrived wearing pants and saw others in lovely dresses and hats, I was truly embarrassed! But, as true sisters, they accepted me, wholeheartedly. And I’m sure glad they did, because I wouldn’t have been able to be as dressy as they were, anyway. 

    The 2nd Sunday in May seemed to come early this year, and with it Mothers’ Day, and another puzzle to share. This time at the activity after church where finger foods and nicely wrapped pieces of homemade caramel candy were made available. Hmmmm, so good! 

    One of True’s many talents is in making her own cards, and the one she made for me for Mothers Day had elevated pieces that were exact duplicates of the beautiful orchids that grace our windows. She and I spent a quiet day at home, while Linda and her daughter, Naomi,and her partner Ryan and his mother spent a nice hot day viewing all the animals at the Wildlife Safari near Roseburg. Dan and Cathy sent a nice card and then a beautiful bouquet of flowers was delivered. So, that was our peaceful Mothers Day! About mid-month, True took off again for San Diego and Mexico to help a friend and get a dental checkup. She had just planted more flowers and veggy plants and was worried about the self-watering system that had been installed with them, hoping it would work okay in the heat. Linda saw to that, and put ice cubes on the plants and flowers inside, so everything was just fine when she returned a week later. 

    During that week, I busied myself with fixing my own early meals and then eating the spaghetti and meatloaf she had prepared for my dinners. Chicken was also available. so I made mashed potatoes and gravy to go along with that. In tending to myself, I have two options, wheelchair or walker, both of which still require some support when standing. When sitting in the wheelchair, I have both hands available for use, but am too low for the stove or sink, so I must stand for them. Using the walker, I have the height, but must continue to use a hand, or lean against something sturdy for support, so cannot carry anything. So, you see, doing my kitchen duties is a bit difficult. But, I do seem to manage. if I am careful. Her time away is my time to get out the Brillo pad and go to work on the stove drip pans, And I also took the opportunity to mop all the floors again, using my foot and one hand, while hanging onto the chair with the other. It’s easy! 

    I am grateful for my neighbor, Iris, from across the street who gets my mail and newspaper and helps with other tasks when True is gone. Her next door neighbor, Karen, who had a recent hip replacement, invited me to come for lunch at her place and bring the Tile Rummy game, so that, with Iris, the three of us could play it at her house. Using my walker, I was able to climb her ramp very easily, whereas, my ramp, which is much steeper, is very difficult for me. We had such a good time that we did it again the next week, and plan to have it as a regular date on our calendar. It seems that everybody loves Tile Rummy! 

    Linda is very good about making doctor appointments that fit with her work schedule. The 6 month appt. with my primary doctor, Dr. Brett, in May was very satisfying to me. I thought I had gained weight, but his scale registered only 127, which is great! The blood pressure, however, was a little high. But to the Doc, the lab work report proved to be very “boring” {using his word} since everything showed up in the ‘normal’ range. That was good news to hear and let me know that all my innards are doing their job well. On the outside, however, my “Buddy” has been giving me a bit of trouble lately by sending occasional sharp pains and lots of stinging from some still-active nerves in the stump, that often makes it difficult to even wear the prosthetic leg at aIl, which I certainly do need to do. I have another 6 month appt. time with my prosthetist on June 6th. So, maybe he can help. 

    Two days after True returned from her trip, and at the start of the long 4 day weekend for Memorial Day, her daughter, Cedar and granddaughter, Ella, came to pick up the car that had been waiting to be officially transferred to Ella, as she had recently turned 16 and begun her drivers’ education class. They were also able to get in on seeing and hearing the hydroplane boats that come to Grants Pass each year to participate in its Boatnik races and other festivities. Here at the Riviera we have an ideal viewing spot, being somewhere near the middle of the river route they travel in going from the Caveman Bridge in the center of town to the Robertson Bridge and boat ramp nearly 10 miles downstream. Skimming over the top of the water and whizzing by at around 100 miles an hour or so, it doesn’t take them long to get there. And then we see them again on their way back. This is even repeated again, so we actually see and root them on for 4 times before a winner is proclaimed and a trophy is presented. It is a very exciting event to witness and attracts people from all over the country to Grants Pass. There is also a Boatnik parade, a carnival, and fireworks to draw peoples’ attention to this small town. 

    While Cedar and Ella were here, we, of course, engaged in some Tile Rummy, to keep up our family tradition. But after a bit, True began to cringe from some pain that pierced her on her right side. Cedar went to her smart phone, looked up all of her symptoms, which indicated that it could be a kidney problem, and if so, should be taken care off promptly. So, off they went to the emergency room at about 9:00 PM on the 27th. I was so glad Cedar was here to take her to the ER and stay with her until they found out what was wrong. Thankfully, it wasn’t the kidney, but some sort of muscle spasm that sends out horrific pain jabs every time she moves into certain odd positions, like reaching, bending and twisting. She was given a pain reliever and muscle relaxer to take repeatedly, which she hopes will soon resolve the situation. We all hope so too, and pray she will be okay soon. 

    So, with that unexpected bit of sad, but glad, news, I’ll close this month’s letter, praying for the Lord’s blessings to be with each of you, that you may be healthy, and happy, and ready to face the new month.

Love to all… Marie