LIFE

Some of the joys and sadnesses of life living in a retirement community in Florida is the wonderful people we have met in our last 13 years in our winter home here. We have laughed, dined, borrowed, lent and such together and every year when we return I am always so eager to see all our neighbours and friends and know they are all still here. We have had a lot of sadness in the past two years. One very good friend lost her husband last year. This December our neighbour across the road passed away with a heart attack. This gentlemen was a very good friend of my husbands and he used to come over when Harv would be outside and they would sit and chat and solve all the problems of the world. He also was a volunteer with Harv. for the AARP - IRS program doing taxes for seniors. He received his 10 year pin with Harv then gave it up about 2 years ago. Harv continues to do it and hope he can for a long time. 2 doors up from us the gentlemen lost his wife 2 years ago then he came down last year alone and not doing very well. No one could determine exactly what was wrong with him. Well this summer going home to Ohio he went to the Cleveland Clinic and they diagnosed him with ALS. A horrible disease. He is still with us but declining rapidly. He did not come down and has sold his house. A very nice couple are moving in mid Jan. and so the cycle goes on. The gentlemen that passed away a year ago has a wonderful wife and friend to all on our street named Janet. She is 86 years old but still plays bridge a couple of times a week, belongs to the lawn bowling club and goes to the club for dinners, etc. Very active gal. She underwent surgery and is now undergoing radiation. She has 2 great daughters who have taken turns to come down and stay with her since Oct. when this happened. One lives in NY state and one in Seattle. Both a long way but they are here. One or the other will be here until radiation is finished and their Mom is okay. Janet knew of my silk tie wallhanging and came down one day with silk ties of her husbands that she thought I might use. I thought of making something for the girls and this is what I came up with. I made two hearts with lace trim and hanging ties and gave them to them the other day. T

hey were so appreciative that I was glad I had made the effort. Hope you don't mind my rambling but this is our life now and in the future. We try and live for the day and enjoy ourselves as much as we can. The