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November, 2012 Edition
Greetings!
We hope you had a very Happy Halloween! Thank you to all the parents and children who came through our doors here at Sunshine Gardens West and at Sunshine Gardens Country Home for trick-or-treating... it is such a treat for us to get to see all the cute little ones in their costumes. One of our residents reported he had 46 trick-or-treaters come to his room!!! The month of Thanksgiving is upon us!! And so many things to be thankful for... We are thankful that hurricane Sandy has passed and our loved ones out on the east coast are all mostly out of harms way. With daylight savings time ending and the days getting shorter, we are very thankful for our bright, sun-filled Colorado days. Thank you to all the veterans in our community for your services and sacrifices; we will be celebrating you this up-coming Veterans day. We'll also be celebrating our memories this month, as November 13th is National Memory Screening Day, and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America sponsors organizations in our area to provide screenings. (go to www.afascreenings.org for more information) Thank you to everyone for all their contributions to the newsletter this month! There are so many wonderful additions that not all of them would fit into the eNewsletter, so make sure to stop by Sunshine Gardens West on 32nd Street and pick up a copy of our print version so you can get that all this month's addition has to offer.
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Caregiver's Corner
By: Lou Gans Born in Colorado Springs, this new caregiver, Khris Agnos, expresses a willingness to learn every aspect of her position. Her travels have been extensive, as she has lived in Portland, Hawaii, San Fransisco, Austin, Houston, and here in Colorado. Obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from Fort Lewis College in Sociology, she has also completed a certified nursing program in Hawaii and is now studying respiratory therapy with 1 year to go!
Khris' father John is in sales and her mother Erol is a professional tennis teacher. Her brother John Jr. lives in Florida now, but has mostly lived in the bay area. Khris and her husband met at Fort Lewis College 23 years ago, they have 2 children, 11 & 9 years old.
Khris' great desire is to complete school. Your ambitions are endless! Slow down, you've got lofts of time ahead of you, and good luck!
This new caregiver, Tammy Chambers, was born in Hudson, NY. She shows lots of spunk and ability. Leaving NY, she went to Cape Cod, Rhode Island, Germany, Texas, and North Carolina, before visiting a friend here in Durango and deciding to stay because she loves the small town atmosphere. Later, employed as a manager, then CNA and administrative assistant. Her schooling included an Associates in Arts from Pikes Peak & Pueblo Community Colleges. Her parents Margraut & William Stocker are employed as a CNA & a foreman respectively. Tammy's siblings include Lisa, Annette, Jeanette, and Billie Jo, all of whom still live in NY. Being divorced, Tammy lives with her kids Brian and Brennon. Winning a cruise when she was younger, Tammy traveled to the Bahamas. Her desires now include independently owing her own home and finishing her BA and becoming a paramedic. Being shy as a child, she is not shy now! Your life span shows signs of success; the best of everything for you Tammy!
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A Bunch of BS (or Bill's Stories!)
"An Old Man, A Barn and Me"
By: Bill Steinberg
Texas A&M has a satellite campus on Pelican Island, a short bridge ride across from Galveston. I did most of my graduate work there. I had to do the last twelve hours, however, on the campus in College Station.
There was a problem with that.
My coffers were a bit on the low side. I still had four children to worry about in El Paso. They were staying with my wife Mary's folks and she was working for an optometrist. Things were tight. I borrowed a car though, an old Chevy, from my brother. I had a pup tent, a sleeping bag and all of our old camping cookware to take with me. I threw all this junk in the trunk of the car and I was off to meet the wizard!! I didn't have a clue as to where or how I was going to live. It was going to be a very long semester.
Luckily the "old heap" was good on gas but it still needed some from time to time. I cruised around looking for a place to camp or a filling station. I was hungry, lost and almost out of gas. I also wanted someone to talk to. Most of the land was private and emphatically marked. I soon ran across a small "homey" looking Gulf station that filled all my needs.
The proprietor and his wife were a very friendly older couple. They introduced themselves as Mr. and Mrs. Franks. I briefly explained my situation to them. They listened intently.
While we were talking, a weathered Mexican gentleman entered. They introduced him as Ramon, their hired man. He tried to explain what he needed. They were having a problem communicating. I translated for them. Mr. and Mrs. Franks were impressed. "You speak Spanish, young man?" "Yes sir, I speak some. I'm married to a Mexican lady." When they introduced us we shook hands and I knew I had just met an "amigo." He had friendly eyes.
"Do you think you could explain to Ramon what I need for him to do each day? I have a dickens of a time." "Yes sir, I think I could to that." "Well then, why don't you pitch your little tent back there by our barn. Ramon will show you where. He has a room in there, it's quite nice. He likes to cook and every time I've been in it smelled pretty darn good. He'll probably invite you to eat with him, he loves company. I like to help vets who are going back to school. I'll furnish all the grub you guys need and I might throw in a 6-pack once in a while. It might help you study! By the way, you'll have to do that by lantern light as there's no electricity out there."
After directions, I found the main campus, it was quite impressive. Took me a while to find the Registrar. Due to the help of a special VA program, some meager savings, and help from certain relatives, I managed to have my tuition prepaid. I got my classes arranged and bought some used books. I already had homework and rather than go to the well-lit library I couldn't wait to get back to the "barn." I enjoyed the old man's company and his cooking.
I had some potatoes, spam, tomatoes, and beans in my trunk so I took them in to Ramon so he could work his magic. Mr. Franks asked us each week what we needed. I let Ramon decide, he was the Chef. I was truly studying by lantern light. I felt like a modern day Abe Lincoln, but I think we were eating better. True to his word there was a 6-pack now and then. It did help me study! Ramon didn't drink "gringo cerveza."
One afternoon as I was "drinkin and thinkin," there was a loud commotion. We both ran out to investigate. It was not good news - my pup tent was in shambles. It was not a pretty sight. I ran to the office to find out if they knew what happened. Mr. Franks said an officer stopped by to explain. Some criminal escaped from someplace and the mounted patrol was chasing him. My tent unexpectedly got in the way. All the holes vaguely resembled horses' hooves.
Before I could say "What the hell am I going to do now?" Ramon was in action. A new cot suddenly appeared, Ramon wouldn't tell me where it came from but I had my suspicions. Anyway, I was moved in. Ramon and I became very good friends. He taught me more Spanish, I taught him more English. The weeks went by quickly and I hated to see the semester end. I was more at home in that old barn with that old man than any place I'd been lately.
I said at the beginning of this story that it was going to be a long semester - well, it wasn't!!
I passed all my courses so I finally had the elusive Masters at the ripe old age of 41. It all happened because I stopped in a little country store for gas and directions. More important than the degree was the friendship of the three wonderful people and a barn to live in. What a wonderful gift!
I didn't participate in any of the graduation exercises due to lack of funds and time. I needed to get back to helping raise a family. I needed a job.
I finally had to say "adios" to Ramon - I dreaded it! I went to the barn a final time and when I got there, Ramon already had tears welling in his eyes. "Goodbye my friend" he said in perfect English. That did it, the tears began to flow in earnest. I hugged that old man and he hugged me back - we were both bawling like babies. We all had to say goodbye for good and I knew I would never see any of these folks again. As a graduation gift, Mr. Franks filled the "heap" with gas and Mrs. Franks slipped a 20 dollar bill into my hand. I was on my way to El Paso a much richer man, with my eye on the future.
That's the story of an old man, a barn and me.
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The Gardens at Sunshine Gardens
Another Perk of Living at Sunshine Gardens
By: Laddie John
We still have deer that come in to eat the green grass and just lay around. They did get into the garden that is in the back yard just outside the dinning hall windows. Sometimes three big bucks can be seen laying along the building just as you go down the hall from the dinning room. Just look to the left as you go down toward the Sundance Suites. I have heard that bears have also been seen around the neighborhood. I have never seen one but the they turned over the trash bins and scattered trash about to show that they'd been around.
Cowboy Poetry Day
By: Laddie John
On Friday October 5, 2012 a group of Cowboy Poets came to Sunshine Gardens. Those that came were: John Fisher and Steve Jones who are known as "The Yampa Valley Boys." They played guitar and banjo and sang many songs along with telling jokes along the way. Dick Elder, a local resident of La Plata County read three poems he had written. The only female performer, Linda Simmons, told stories and also read some poems and some jokes. At the end of this performance the group, asking the residents to join in, sang "Happy Trails."
After the great performance we had "Happy Hour." This included drinks and carrot cake, which had been prepared by different residents under the direction of Heather, our great Activity Director. I'm sure all who attended were happy by the performance and Happy Hour.
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW:
by: Bobbie Ledgerwood
To make our stay here happier and to feel like we are part of a bigger world, the following things are for our benefit:
Postage: The post office provides ORANGE envelopes, available at the mailbox counter in the Sunshine Room, for you to order stamps, prepaid envelopes and boxes, etc... The information for this is on the envelope, and you put this orange envelope (after putting the correct amount in it) in the "outgoing" mail slot. You save the expense of a stamp! The stamps will be in the next days mail. USE IT!
Mailing: If you have a letter that needs mailing and you don't have a stamp, they will mail it for you and add the cost to your rent. I used it at Christmastime last year. Applies to packages, too. USE IT!
Opportunity Bus: Make an appointment to use the bus multiple days before you need it (they prefer a week's notice). There is no charge for this service. They will take you to a medical appointment, or just take you to the library, etc. Then they will pick you up and bring you home. USE IT!
Recycling: In 2013, the City of Durango will take all recycling (glass, cans, and plastic) in ONE bin. Until then, please put your glass, plastic and cans in a container in your room. A plastic bag from Walmart, etc. will hold a lot of empty bottles, cans, and glass, and every FRIDAY, Jodi, the chef, sorts them and takes them to a recycling center. You may ask a caregiver to put them outside the kitchen to be recycled. You may do this at any time, but be sure it is there by Friday. USE IT!
Recycling Newspapers: Please take your papers to the caregivers at meal time, when they come to your room, or take them yourself. Someone at the dining room will take them or show you where to put them. By the way, they recycle the brochures we got this election time, the magazines we didn't order (big or small), old phone books, grocery ads, anything paper. I use a small basket and take them to the kitchen when it is full. When we say recycle, we mean these things are reused to make many of the chairs, tables, etc. Just watch for the "recycled" tab on a lot of them.
A Fun Story: I was working at the information desk at the Visitor's Center for the Forest Service one day when a small 4-year-old boy was giving his parents a hard time because they wanted to look for brochures for places to eat, see, shop, etc. I asked "Jr." to come and sit on my desk and hear the story of Smoky Bear, who says, "Help Prevent Forest Fires." He listened very carefully, asking a few questions. I told him that forest fires burn up the trees made of wood, and we may not have enough to build our houses, tables, chairs, or even toys.
His parents came back and thanked me profusely. I said to Jr., "Tell them what Smokey Bear says." He looked very intently at his parents and said, "Don't burn up my furniture." We laughed, but Jr. was sober, and I believe he got the message loud and clear.
A Joke: A bum came to a farmhouse late one night asking for a place to sleep. The man took him to the barn, got him comfortable with a blanket and said, "If you want anything, let me know and I will come and show you how you can get along without it." Hahahahaha!
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Conversations With Charlie
A New Series For the Blossom
By: Charlie Mitz & Christie Schler
Introduction:
When I began working on the Blossom, it was rumored to me that Charlie might be a good candidate for contributions to the newsletter. What proceeded from that rumor, and my approaching Charlie, was what we will call, "Conversations With Charlie."
The conversations began with discussions of aphasia (please look it up if you are unfamiliar) and how, if we were to collaborate together, there might be much greater success than if Charlie struggled alone with attempting to construct a contribution. Since that initial talk, we have explored the world of neurology literally and experientially and we are prepared to begin presenting our conversations as contributions to the newsletter...
Stay tuned... the first conversations centers on how one might generate endorphins without having to use chemicals... and it includes Disney songs... so keep an eye and an ear out!
Upcoming November Events:
2nd: Harvest Party for the Tree of Ideas! The tree was full of ideas when it left Sunshine Gardens and now we're ready to come together as a community with our harvest and see where we're going next! Join us at 3:45pm in the Sunshine Room on Friday the 2nd.
4th: Daylight Savings Time Ends, Fall back one hour!
9th: The Capitol Christmas Tree will be displayed downtown Durango from 5-7pm while it is on its way to Washington, D.C.
11th: Veterans Day, Thank a Veteran for their service
13th: National Memory Screening Day (www.afascreenings.org)
21st: Senior Programs Advisory Committee Meeting
Would you like to be a voice for Senior issues in La Plata County?
The Senior Program Advisory Committee (SPAC)
is seeking new members!
The group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10 AM.
Most meetings are held at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Extension building.
This year's focus is Senior dental resources and the Nurse Navigator program.
Call 382-6429 for more information.
22nd: Thanksgiving
29th: Country Home Thanksgiving Celebration
Every Thursday Evening (except Thanksgiving):
Fort Lewis College holds FREE Life-Long Learning Lectures
starting at 7pm in Noble Hall Room 130
1st: Mining & Metals: Water Quality and The Animas River
8th: The Binding Power of Promises
15th: Natural Products as Inspiration for Drugs: Aspirin to Zocor
29th: Transitioning into Resilience in Uncertain Times
visit: http://www.fortlewis.edu/professionalassociates for more information
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Thank you to everyone for contributing to the newsletter this month!
Take care & lots of love!!
Sincerely,
Christie Schler
Marketing Director
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Our mission is to create a forum about senior living topics,
as well as other adult assisted living news that matters most to you
(you being: the residents, staff, family & friends of Sunshine Gardens).
-Editor: Christie Schler
-Assistant to Editor: Lou Gans
-Monthly Writers: Bill Steinberg, Laddie John-Freelance Writers: Charlie Mitz, Bobbie Ledgerwood
*Other residents wishing to contribute, please contact Christie Schler
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