June / July 2024

 Dear Family and Friends,

Since my newsletters do actually cover the latter part of one month and first part of the next, I think they should be so labeled in order to make them more discernible. Thus this month’s date above. June was actually a rather busy month because of all the birthdays, graduations, Father’s Day and other things needing cards, both among friends and family and those of the Park, where I am their “Sunshine Lady” and send out appropriate cards (along with notes and a puzzle to match each one, of course) I like it. It keeps me in touch.

Last month, I ended saying that our water problem would have to wait for this month to be noted. Well, one day True came from her bathroom saying that in her bare feet she felt some moisture on the floor. The next day she actually felt water oozing up between the tiles and thought maybe it came from around the toilet. In the Park there is a list of maintenance men who have been used by residents and highly recommended, so she called the plumber listed. Of course, he was busy, but he did come later, evaluated the situation and replaced a valve, thinking that would solve the problem. But it didn’t. Water had also gone through the floor and wall of the adjoining bedroom. So he came back again and found that water was coming from behind the wall near the shower. A section of the wall was removed, exposing another valve, which he needed to order and then replace. Thus eventually, the oozing floor water situation was solved. The flooring however was removed to dry out, and is waiting to be re-installed. So True’s bathroom is only partly usable. But that doesn’t bother her right now because she's not here to use it anyway.

The water was shut off for only a few hours during our water problem, which is always inconvenient, but we have plenty of other usable water including the pure Shasta water, so we were just fine. One time when we were caught without power, True used her ingenuity and saved the day. She had invited a couple to share a salmon dinner with us. Just before the couple arrived, the power went off. What a predicament! But True was undaunted. She heated up the Bar-B-Que with propane, cooked the salmon, heated some water for instant potatoes, she was able to serve up a scrumptious meal of mashed potatoes with butter and seasonings and grilled salmon with lemon and tartar sauce. All of us were grateful for our ‘impromptu” meal and were joyfully satisfied.

As I said, True is not here to care about the bathroom getting finished right away. She has left me alone before, for a week or so, but this time it will be for 6 weeks until the 1st of August. My sweet angel always responds to any call for help she receives from a friend or family member. This time it is to take care of her daughter’s home while Cedar fulfills a six-week assignment. She was worried about her house and leaving her chickens and their eggs and a young, frisky, puppy dog during that amount of time. Luckily. her daughter Ella is off to a summer camp during that exact same time, so no worry there. True is always ready to help anyone and likes to get away from me occasionally too.

Because of a problem I had a while back when I walked away and forgot about eggs I put to boil on the stove until they burned and burst egg stuff all over the stove and kitchen, the use of the stove is off limits for me now. And because I cannot reach inside the oven with its door down, the oven is also not available to me. Since True would be gone for such a long time, she decided to hire a lady to help me by supplying meals and checking on me daily. Luckily, a resident just a few doors down the street at the Riviera has done elderly care for years, and was now available. Her name is Diane, and she is very agreeable to my situation. I still take pretty good care of myself, but am not allowed in the kitchen except for the microwave. Diane is a very nice lady, about the same age as True, who doesn’t charge much and is a good cook. So we are getting along just fine. In fact, her whole family has become involved. Her husband Darrell waters the yard every other day, and her recently graduated son Matthew said he’d mow and edge my lawn for the same price I was paying Bob.

Being the Sunshine Lady responsible for getting greeting cards to the residents when needed, I was a little concerned as to who I could get to deliver them for me now, since True actually enjoyed going to the various homes throughout the Park as a sort of extra exercise routine for herself. But I didn’t need to worry because Diane offered to have her son Matthew deliver them for me, saying he needed that same exercise too. So, with that hurdle also taken care of, I have nothing to worry about and can just sit back and enjoy this new situation.

There is, however, one other situation that has recently occurred that is making it very difficult for me to walk with my Buddy. For some unknown and strange reason, my good leg has become so swollen, especially around the ankle and foot area, that I find it extremely difficult to fit into my new pair of shoes, and I'm unable to do any walking. One answer is to keep my leg elevated, preferably above the heart. Yeah, great! And just how am I supposed to do that? Lie on my back with my leg suspended in the air? And for how long? A few minutes, an hour, or all day, for it to do any good at all? Then how would I get anything else done? True said maybe an ice pack might help. So it’s just a new problem that has to be dealt with the best way possible. I have suggested that we go to a thrift store and see if I can find an oversized shoe to wear until this swelling goes down. We’ll see how soon, or even if that can be accomplished.

Due to the generosity of her brother Dan, Linda was able to spend a week in beautiful Hawaii with him and Cathy. Evidently, it is possible for senior missionary couples to have occasional family visits if it doesn’t interfere with their work. I’m so glad Linda had that chance. True spent considerable time there a while back when she went to visit her friend on one of the other islands, and I spent some time there when I was with Dan on our way to Guam. But this was LInda’s first experience. She was thrilled and bubbling over when True picked her up at the airport. And she was just in time to take True back to the airport the next day on her way to Spokane. Good timing, I’d say.

Through Linda’s knowledge of someone in her ward who knows about appliances, she convinced Elijah to come and take a look at our clothes dryer. It has not been getting clothes completely dry for some time now. True had been hanging things on the railings outside in order to finish drying them. He thought the trouble was the heating element, so he purchased one and brought it with him when he came, only to find out it was something to do with the wiring. He was able to repair it right then, but he may not be able to return the item he'd purchased.

We also told Elijah the door of the washer was not closing properly. Poor guy! What else was going to be casually tossed at him? But he nicely looked at that too, and found that a new door mechanism had to be ordered and would take a week to get here. So that meant no more laundering here, but Diane very graciously offered to do it using her machines. Bless her heart! What a nice thing to do. As we have often heard it said, when things look tough, “Fear not, God will provide.” Sure enough, a week later Elijah was back with the needed part and said he had also been able to return the dryer part and get his money back. So now both machines are working well and everyone is happy!!

Haiku, the cat we acquired a number of months ago, gave True a scare when she couldn’t be found anywhere in the house. It is strictly an inside cat and would be lost if it got outside. True placed a tag on Haiku's collar stating that fact. In doing things outside, True had left the back door open for a while, and was afraid Haiku must have gone out, so she went looking for her and calling her name. But to no avail. She hoped that whoever found her would call the number on her collar. Shortly thereafter, a sleepy eyed Haiku came from the farthest corner under the bed where True hadn’t been able to see her earlier. We were surprised and relieved to have her safe and to know she hadn’t been outside after all. Under True’s bed is her favorite sleeping and hiding place.

Haiku stayed hidden under True’s bed when Diane first came on the scene until she was finally accepted. When my grandson Korey came with his three rather noisy children, Haiku never dared poke her head out from under that bed. I had heard rumors that Dan’s oldest son and his family might come to Grants Pass around the 1st of July, but had heard nothing from Korey himself - until he called that afternoon to let me know they had just pulled in to Grants Pass and would be heading out my way as soon as they got settled in, at where they were staying. When they did come, we immediately brought out the tile rummy game and had a few sessions of that along with some snacks. The two boys, Ian 9, and Scott 7, were really good at playing that family game, while their little sister Paige 3, helped Daddy. They also taught Grandma Ree some of their games.

Korey said the reason they had come was to take me on the fabulous jet boat ride down the Rogue River. Of course, he and the children were very anxious to do so too. So the next day we headed to the Hellgate Jet Boat office. I had put Buddy on that morning, but decided at the last minute to use the travel-chair instead because the walker leaves me with no place to sit when standing and waiting for long periods of time. Having the leg to contend with however, made it more difficult getting into and out of the boat. But the men helped.

These Jet-boats are like very large speed boats, extra long and wide, and can seat 50 people or more. They require only 3 feet of water and travel at speeds up to 35 miles an hour. Being basically excursion tour boats, many things of interest are pointed out along the 18 mile river ride. They often go an extra two miles into the rugged Hellgate Canyon where the John Wayne "Rooster Cogburn" movies were made. The Hellgate Jet Boats are a great tourist attraction for our little town, especially those that also include a homestyle meal with the trip. Their main attraction for kids and people of all ages is the skill of the pilot in making sudden spins that toss water up onto the passengers - just to hear them scream with delight. Unless forewarned ahead of time, it comes to many as a sudden shock, but it’s all done in good fun.

Korey & kids came equipped with rain gear, but even so, their faces still got wet and they screamed and laughed and had a great time. At the end of our river ride, we got to have a wagon ride up the hill to the River Lodge for a scrumptious dinner of barbecued chicken AND ribs, along with potatoes, veggies, salad, drinks and dessert, all spread out on the table before us, and we could have as much as we wanted. I’m afraid I made a pig of myself because I always have to eat all that I put on my plate, I almost made us late for the wagon ride back to the boat and our return trip back to town.

We had looked for it on the way up, but on the return trip we were so excited to spot the Riviera Park and actually see Grandma Ree’s home there, big as life! The family had been down to the river and seen a boat go by and wondered if Grandma’s house could be seen from the boats? Now they knew. Of course the pilot couldn’t resist making a couple more spins before reaching home. Without the rain gear this time, the others did finally get their share of “moisture”. By sitting in the middle of the row, I got sprayed from both sides but giggled and laughed about it along with the rest.

Yes, it was such a fun day! One I’m sure we will all remember for a long, long time. And we owe it all to Korey. He's in the military, and had just a few days of home leave from his assignment in Japan, and had to leave early the very next morning, July 3rd. It was great that he had chosen to spend his little bit of time this way: giving such a grand experience to his children and his 96 year old, peg-legged grandma. Korey, you were so generous with your time, your money, and your love. And I love you for it. And I hope to see you and Metta, and the kids before too many years pass by again. .

And I also send my love to all of you who so faithfully read of my experiences. Even when they are long. 

Marie