January 2024

 Dear Family and Friends,

The Christmas and New Year celebrations are over and linger in our memories now. I hope you have some wonderful memories of 2023. Due to the kindness of different drivers, I was able to attend several nice activities that leave me with special memories. 

At the Relief Society Ladies Luncheon, we were asked to bring a gift of something pertaining to a scripture in the Bible. I brought a bottle of soft soap and a hand towel to represent Mathew 13:13 which says Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Gifts were exchanged, so no one knew what they might receive. My driver, Vicki Wade, got a pair of glasses and ear wax remover in response to John 14:13 which describes those who have eyes yet do not see and ears but do not hear. I received a gift of lotions and creams for the feet, in response to “How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of those who bring good tidings.” So, now I can have beautiful feet, or my case, foot! It was good fun seeing what the women came up with to match a scripture.

Another was “Game Night”at a couple’s home, the Davies.  I was invited to attend and bring copies of my Christmas puzzles. Richard & Linda Jacobs took me. They also live at the Riviera, and when not traveling in their RV or sick, are quite willing to take me to church and other places. The hostess, Pamela Davies, even provided prizes for those with the most correct answers to the puzzles, something I have never done. Pamela is a very gifted pianist, and she told us about the composer of “Away in a Manger,” and the many tunes to which it is sung all over the world. In America, we sing only the two most common versions. Coincidentally. I had just received a book about the composers of many of America’s and our church's well known hymns as a Christmas gift from Heidi Jarvis, who is also an accomplished pianist. It was all very interesting. Pamela was recovering from a broken arm and wrist, so was unable to play for us. But it was a fun night mingling with quite a few church members. It was my first time to be out after dark and I was delighted to be able to see all the lights and decorations adorning homes on our way home..

My daughter Linda took me to our monthly meeting of DUP (Daughters of Utah Pioneers). And there, it had been pre-arranged that we give no gifts to each other, but instead, bring something for the foster children, ages 0 thru 17, that are in need in our community. We learned of early Christmas practices and shared some family traditions of our own. I took a pumpkin pie for our potluck and some writing supplies for the other, and I was glad to enjoy the company of my DUP friends from the other wards. 

The long anticipated Riviera Christmas Dinner, provided entirely by the Management, was suddenly transferred to a Friday night which interfered with my temple attendance, so I missed out on that this year. But the Redwood Ward Christmas Dinner was very unique this year, as we were all invited to ‘Come to Bethlehem’. We entered the Cultural Hall under a canopy and were given a small bag of Caesar’s coins to use in buying food, I suppose, although they were never called for. The closed divider to the chapel was covered by a beautiful portrayal of the town of Bethlehem to give the right atmosphere, and the stage was occupied by a stable and the full manger scene, with a little space left for some angel dancers who also appeared. The food was to be as near a replica of what people would eat in Jesus’s time as was possible. There was, of course, no ham, as swine were considered unclean, but there were slices of beef and even a little bit of lamb. There was no unleavened bread, but there was a variety of crackers and lots of cheeses and yogurts to choose from. There were all sorts of nuts and fruits like grapes, olives, even figs. The Elders of our ward also joined in, dressed as shepherds. It was a fun night to remember. Christ’s birth is a joyous time!

Life has a strange way of tossing in a few things along the way to challenge our joyfulness, but we learn to take them in stride and try to learn from them. One such challenge was another unexpected tumble that happened on the morning of Sunday Dec.17th. I was ready to be taken to church by the Jacobs couple and was waiting in my wheelchair just inside the back door when they drove up. True’s car had a flat tire that day so they offered to take me. I had not used my Buddy (prosthesis) for a few weeks waiting for a sore that had developed on the stump to heal up. The Jacobs were running a bit late, so when Richard came up the stairs to get me, True pushed me out the door and continued to the ramp. It is a little steeper than normal and was covered last summer with a carpet that doesn’t have any nap, which makes it difficult for the wheels to have enough traction, so I must depend on a pusher to keep the chair in tow. In the rush, True had forgotten to put on shoes, so was still in her stocking feet and didn’t realize how slick the ramp would be until she began to slip and lose control. Gaining speed along the way, we both slip-slided on down the ramp. I had no idea what was happening, but I knew we were in trouble and could do nothing about it, so I was just hanging on as tight as I could until the chair hit bottom and dumped me out onto the rough garage pavement and onto my knees. Luckily, I didn’t land on my hands nor hit my head. True immediately scooped me up and sat me in my chair. My stump nor anything else on that leg was badly hurt, but the spot just under the knee of my good leg was hit hard and had a big gash in it that was bleeding rather profusely. We sent the Jacobs on to church, but True realized the size of the wound would need stitches, so I should get to the ER as soon as possible. Since True’s car had a flat, we called my friend Debbie Barr, a few doors down on Leonard Road, to see if she could accommodate us. She was here in a flash and took us to the Urgent Care unit. We were seen immediately, got paperwork taken care of, had an x-ray taken of the area, with the wound cleaned and four stitches, then a bandage on it and ready to leave, all in less than 2 hours, which is remarkable! It was of course painful at first, but by now is pretty well healed. And so is the sore on my stump, so I am now beginning to get back to using my Buddy for a little bit each day, so we'll see how that’s going to work out.

What really got me worried, however, was that at this same time, True was having continuous excruciating pain from an infection in her jaw, linked to implant work she was having done by expert dentists in Tijuana, Mexico. She said that on the scale of 1 to 10, her pain was a steady 7 that peaked to a 9, and was so intense that she was out of her mind! Oh, the poor dear! True asked for a Priesthood Blessing, I had her name put on the prayer roll of the temple, and she had many, many friends who were praying for her. She called her surgeon to get advice and sent him x-rays taken by her local dentist. She continued to take strong pain medications and antibiotics until the pain finally subsided to a tolerable level, although some pain is always with her. Bless her heart! She has to be very careful what she eats as she heals, but still carries on with her regular routine because she has to. She is such a trooper! Her daughter Cedar is also a great trooper in recovering from her injury. She is now able to take a few steps without using a walker. Yeah!

I will mention one last thing and then I’ll end and get this letter on its way. Our sweet little neighbor Iris is a trusted friend who would walk into my house at any time to bring in my mail and newspaper when True was not available, and would call out to me if I wasn’t in sight, just to check on me. She has always been so good to me by playing the Tile Rummy game with me here, or with Karen at her home, She would often bring treats, and because I said I really enjoyed her strawberry cake, she brought me a special little pan of one, with whipped cream and 6 strawberry slices on top. Because of its size, and True doesn’t eat sweets, I shared it with Norma and Maxine when I went for my hair appointment. Well, that sweet Iris had a terrible fall while in her shower on Jan. 4th, hit her head in such a way that blood soon filled her brain, which prevented it from functioning, and she was pronounced brain dead within the hour! We were all so shocked! How could that happen? And so fast? All of us have our falls, but nothing so drastic as that. It does go to show us, though, that anything can happen to any of us, in just a second, and we must always be on the lookout and try not to put ourselves into dangerous situations. Her funeral will be this Saturday, Jan 13th. She was so active, so well known and loved in the Park that I’m sure everyone will try to be there.

Now, I send you my love, and wish you good health and happiness throughout this year of 2024. 

Marie