----IT"S GOING TO BE A HUM_DRUM DAY-------

We're late today: it's almost lunch time, time to go to the dining hall. Bob spent three hours shopping yesterday, and was gone so long that I was about ready to call the emergency room! He's still tired. Guess we'll start ordering the staples from Amazon--at least he wouldn't have to carry the heavy stuff in. Might try that.

One of the perks connected with interviewing the residents as I am doing, is finding out about things I would not have had I not visited with them. Now I am reading a book written by the husband (now dead) of one interviewee. He was a prisoner of war in a German war camp for over a year, a squadron leader in the Air Force shot down after successfully flying 19 missions. I'm finding it very interesting and very horrifying. I do not understand "man's inhumanity to man!"

It's Friday, our favorite TV Night: Bill Moyers is a special favorite of ours, but sadly, this is his last night doing his Journal. He is retiring. The political world will truly miss him. Have fun today, Marian

OUR FUN DAY

Oh, we DID have a fun day yesterday! We went to the Little Rock Dinner Theater for lunch and a matinee performance of CHRISTMAS BELLES, a beautifully done comedy that really was a laugh a second. Sixteen people and two drivers went from here. I hope we are in the position to venture a trip such as this again.

I interviewed a sweet lady here who told me her story about being a fire warden during WWII. She had interesting things to tell about it which I wrote up, but somebody else told me that she had also met the Queen of England (Elizabeth's Mother). About this time, my sweet friend walked up, and I asked her ," why in the world didn't you tell me about this?" She said that she just didn't think about it!!!!!!!

Anyway, her report was that the fire wardens were told to brush the sand off themselves, line up for presentation to Her Highness who, as she passed down the line, just happened to ask my friend if she had eaten, and what had she had. Just at that time, someone snapped a picture of the two of them and gave it to the fire warden. My friend says that she was very impressed with the perfection and beauty in the way the Queen was dressed, but just hadn't thought to include the meeting among the interesting things of her life!

Have some fun today--Marian

FUN FUN AND MORE FUN

AHA!! We are going to have some fun today------full report -IF anticipation isn't more than realization--------You have some fun too----Marian

INDECISION

Nothing is planned today, though I may interview one more person and take a trip to the storage place for some possible art works that I can sell. I finished the book I was reading last night THE POSTMISTRESS, a novel by Sarah Blake so need to select another. Also might put the blocks to the lap quilt together. I know the flowers our art friends brought yesterday need watering, and I can also make the lemon pie for which I have the ingredients. BUT YOU KNOW what I will probably do? You are right: NOTHING.

The Little Rock Newspaper noted this morning that it is NOT folding, but actually getting more readers both week days and Sunday. This is really good news for us, as although Bob is on FACEBOOK, all the other methods of technical communications are --shall I say?--beyond our reach. Newspapers are our speed, but WE BOTH LOVE TO GET E-MAILS! HINT HINT-----Have lots of fun today. Marian

The Saga of the Cheese Sandwich

The menu for our 8 guests and Bob and me consisted of toasted cheese sandwiches, fruit mixed with whip cream, cookies, dill pickles and M & Ms. But there is a story about the sandwiches.

The group was the art group from Bismarck that ate together each Saturday, then went to Joan's Gallery for show and tell about the art we'd been involved with during the week. Kay and I would order cheese sandwiches, but we always gave the poor waitress lots of instructions about how they should be made. This became quite a famous order among us, even to the extent that Barb (1) make a beautiful, melty-down-the-sides cheese sandwich, (2) took a picture of it (3) had all the members of the group sign the mat when she (4) had framed it, than gave it to me for my 90th birthday!!!! You can believe that it is now on my wall above the computer, and is one of my prized possessions! Long story, wasn't it? But a good one!!! And you can see why the menu included cheese sandwiches!

Several brought BEAUTIFUL flowers from their own gardens. We have nothing in bloom, so it was a great pleasure to see all of the azaleas, irises, roses, in several different colors in the bouquets that they brought. It reminded me that Saturday is May lst----Spring is just getting away too fast. Did you have some fun today? We did----Marian

Fun----

Lunch for 8 here this noon, so don't expect any comments or deep thoughts until THAT"S over! But you have some fun------Marian

Sunday

Yesterday was a busy day. Early in May, they have an Arts & Craft Sale Day, and I decided to enter. I spent the day making note cards, and enjoying the new SMALL paper cutter we got at Hobby Lobby. My new printer seemed reluctant about following my wishes, so it took lots of self-control on my part to keep it in line. The cards still have to be put with envelops and tied up for sale. We plan to go to the storage bin soon where my art is, and choose several pieces to put on my "table". So many "fun" activities here!

And an early evening hour at Ken's with Mary Jo, Bill and Warren added excitement to the evening.

The Storms passed through and today is BEAUTIFUL again. We will spend a lot of time getting ready for the Bismarck Art group who are coming for lunch tomorrow. I truly love and admire the people in it and look forward to lots of "talk".

Of course, Bob and I have to read the Sunday papers and try the big crossword puzzles first-----More about all of this tomorrow. Have fun today

Just another day---

We had BAD thunder and lightning storm early this morning . Scary, but all of this was followed by a much needed, lovely sounding rain.

Another lady and I have been interviewing other residents about the interesting lives they have had. Previously, we had handed out questionnaires that would give us some information about each of them. Forty three of these were turned in, and from these we selected to interview those who's stories appear in our collection. I'm not sure what we will do with them, but rather hope that they can be prepared for distribution and will bring about more friendships among those who live here.

Anyway, it is a great project for me as I love talking to people, and listening to their lives. Today I hope to talk to a lady whose daughter was Miss Arkansas once. Yesterday, my interview was with a lady who won second place in a skiing contest--only lost first place by 10 seconds! Have some fun today-----

Just another day---

I just finished another perfect breakfast: sunny-side egg on a piece of toast made from my Mother's recipe, a banana, a strawberry and 4 raspberries, AND a sausage! Bob makes me one like that every morning! After that my interest in food for the rest of the day just plain deteriorates!

The chair DID come yesterday, and although we aren't used to it yet, it is VERY comfortable. It will be hard for me to wait those six weeks for mine to arrive.

Yesterday was also "get beautiful day"--well, we TRIED to do so--as we went to the Beauty Parlor provided here. Bob got a hair cut and beard trim, and I got a wash and a blow-dry. Well, you don't care if we did that, but it was a much needed activity for us both.

We're to have storms today. We're beginning to get ready for big company Monday. Have some fun-----

Another Day in the Nineties

Exhaustion lasts longer in the nineties, and that always surprises me. It's hard to believe that I can't do what I want to, when I want to.

But two nice things happened yesterday, and one disappointment. The Cleaning lady came (she comes every two weeks), and we watched THE BLIND SIDE last night. It was excellent, both because Sandra Bullock did her part so well, and because it was a positive--for the good--type of film. Hope you get to see it. The disappointment: the chair didn't come. They said that it would be today. Oh well, something to look forward to.

Before we came over here, I was warned that I wouldn't have anything to do--that I'd be bored. Ha ha. My projects include piecing a lap quilt (all blocks are ready to sew together, WHEN I HAVE TIME; working on a dry-point etching, and interviewing and writing about people here for a possible treatise about some of the ones who have done interesting things. I'M NOT BORED. Have some fun today!

A Nineties Shopping Day

You know about where we live now, so let me tell you about our day yesterday. We went shopping. We wanted two new light brown Recliners that would replace our green comfort chairs. These old ones had been used at least half a day each day we'd been at home in Arkadelphia since l998. Here in our light and different quarters, they looked USED, SHABBY, and DIRTY. Well, we found ONE just like we wanted at the very first store we went to, but our nice saleswoman talked us into letting her order another--said she, "It'll only take 5 or 6 weeks!". So, we said yes (I'm sure we were already worn out and ready to stop shopping), and the one chair will be delivered today.

After that, we thought we'd make quick stops at Krogers ( the store here, Bob just loves) and Walmart. Well, Krogers took 30 minutes while I sat in the hot car. Walmart took even more as we kept getting lost--it's a BIG store here. However, I rode around in the riding carts (my driving leaves quite a bit to be desired) and had a great time--got 5 pairs of anklets only.

We are just plain "out of it" today. But we got a chair, something to eat and some fun----

About the people here-----

Good morning, and to continue with life here, I want to tell you about the people in general. They are of Tom Brokaw's GREATEST GENERATION, in that most of the men were in the Service during WWII, and the women either were housewives and mothers, teachers, librarians or secretaries. They have traveled widely--all five continents have been visited more than a few times, but Hawaii was by far the favorite destination. They tell you that they were and are involved with their families, and when asked about their good and bad experiences, many also mentioned their hatred of the loss of physical abilities. Most have been here less than five years.

A few examples of unusual experiences residents have mentioned are: Pres. Ford visited a teacher's classroom; one lady was involved in christening a ship at the end of WWII; one played piano and organ for a band for 10 years; and one person worked on the Alaskan Pipe Line, to list a few. I suspect the reader can see why I'm enjoying getting acquainted with these people.

Both of us miss our friends in our old home town, and we miss our old home. However, we are working hard to make the adjustments, and because of the nice and interesting people here, it is easier than we anticipated.

More on the basics of our living arrangements.

The social room, dining spaces etc building is just about 500 ft from our front door, and as we eat the noon meal there, it is very convenient, and lots of fun. (Bob makes the most perfect breakfast, so why would we eat that meal away from the cottage?) The clients line up in two lines to go through the buffet for food, and this is where Bob and I get acquainted. "Our names are Marian and Bob----?", and we always get an answer which leads to conversation. (I will write about the people later.)



The food is good: many choices of fruit and salad; several choices of vegetables and at least two choices of meat. You can tell they are cooking for us as things are cut up, well cooked, and I'm sure they use no salt! They also fix desserts for Diabetics! Can you imagine the job of pleasing 140 people about food? I don't see how the cooks could do a better job than they do.



It is during this meal that the entertainment director announces the activities of the day. So there is a book club or craft group or taking their bus to Walmart just to name a few. The inevitable bridge players are all around too. So far, we have not joined any of them, but give us time.



Tomorrow (3-3-3) I will tell you something about the people here----There are 140 people here in their later years, and so far, each one I've talked to has a story to tell.

The Beginning--or Setting the Stage

When we got to our nineties, we realized that we needed a little more help, but to make the change, we had to find a retirement home, move, have an estate sale, sell our house and my car. By luck, hard work and lots of help, we did all of this in one month's time.

We have three rooms and a kitchen in our cottage, and by taking two sofa beds, and furniture with drawers and shelves, we were able to take the things we thought we needed, and have places for at least four overnight guests. No small accomplishment!!!! I'll admit that we forgot some important things: my own favorite oil painting, and a can opener, to name a couple. We also had to buy four small chest pieces so that we could have more drawer space. We were all in, with a place for everything we brought,and all our pictures and favorite art work up within a week.

Since being here, we have entertained overnight guests twice for a total of seven nights, had members of two of my clubs for their monthly meeting, and many drop-ins. From now on, I shall try to tell about life in our new circumstances.