At the request of one or two, okay a hatload of readers, this piece will be brief.
I have been a long time devotee of the art of observation. And education. And conversation. And all the other tions that allow us to study the world around us. I’ll call us the Tion Society. We watch, learn and discuss the events and changes caused by our spinning orb. Many changes are gradual and occur over eons . Many are radical and happen quickly. Continue reading
The fairies were asked to leave the window box in the Office. While decorating for the Autumn months, Henrietta moved back into her cozy home. Upon settling in, a new friend joined her amongst the leaves and pine cones. We would like to introduce Samantha “squeaky” Squirrel. She arrived via special delivery from John Froyd #106. The Office has turned into a wishful place for cooler weather and the turning of the leaves. The wise owls, Bob, Bruno and Bert, keep watch so those pesky fairies don’t return until Spring.
Adding to the security in the Office, guarding the window box are Hoot, Hootie and Whooty.
Happy Fall, Y’all.
~ Kim
Timber Valley lost a long time and treasured member on August 31, 2024 when Helen passed away. Helen was born in Chicago on December 13, 1936. She and her family moved to Bandon, Oregon in 1949 where her father and partner built and operated the Bandon Wayside Motel. She would graduate from Bandon High School and marry her sweetheart Gene Schrader in 1954. This past June 12 th Gene and Helen celebrated 70 years of marriage!
Helen’s passion in life was her family and music. Many of us know Helen because of her love of playing the piano. She began playing when she was 3 years old and could play just about anything by ear. She played on Sundays for her church, the Calapooia Free Methodist Church in Sutherlin for many years. She also enjoyed playing at area assisted living facilities, sharing her upbeat songs with so many. Helen was a lifetime member of Eastern Star and served previously as the Grand Pianist for the state of Oregon playing for audiences up to 1000 people.
Helen also loved to travel. Special trips included a trip to Germany and another to
Hawaii. Upon retiring Gene and Helen bought a 5 th wheel and began traveling the
United States and spending time hosting in state parks in Oregon. In 2007, they
became permanent residents of the Timber Valley SKP park, eventually settling in #70.
Mom loved their SKP home and felt loved and supported by all who knew her. They
remained in the park 17 years until this past August when they moved into Callahan
Village in Roseburg.
Helen is survived by her husband Gene, sons and daughters-in-laws Don and Jeannine
Schrader (Gold Hill), Ken and Julie Schrader (Colorado) and daughter and son-in-law
Mindy and Mark Rund (Sutherlin). Mindy and Mark are Timber Valley members and
have just moved into the park, renting #57. She is also survived by her brother and
sister-in-law Bill and Lora Wehner (Bandon). Helen has seven grandchildren and ten
great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. Helen was loved by all.
There will be a celebration of life for Helen on October 19 th at 11am at the Calapooia
Free Methodist Church in Sutherlin.
How long has it been since you laughed until tears ran down your cheeks – happy tears? Laughter is not only good for the soul it is good for your health. Laughter releases endorphins known as Continue reading
DICK RAUSCHER, MEMORIAM
Timber Valley lost a very important and valued member on August 20, 2024 when Dick Rauscher passed away. Although he and Melinda were only in the park about two years, he was a positive influence in many lives. Dick started the Support Group and helped many who were struggling with the grief that comes from losses.
Dick and Melinda were very active with the Timber Valley Garden, helping the infant group to develop and grow into the great asset it is in the park today. A Group member says, “Dick was the perfect facilitator for our group. He will be greatly missed for his caring and gentle approach.”
Dick was born in upstate New York October 3, 1942 and obtained a BS in Engineering there. He soon discovered he wasn’t happy with that lifestyle. At thirty year of age, with a wife and three children, he moved onto 27 acres and began what he termed a “self-reliant living” style.
Subsequently, he decided to become a pastor and was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church. To that he added becoming a “psychology and mental health counselor”.
He wrote and published three books on his counseling and mental health philosophies. He also wrote the “Stony Hill Newsletter” blog.
Dick and Melinda were married on New Year’s Eve 1990. They traveled extensively in the USA and did many years of volunteering for Oregon State Parks, the BLM in Utah and Ochoco National Forest
Dick is survived by his wife, Melinda, sons, Tom Rauscher, Conrad Rauscher and daughters, Kristine Bianche of Rochester, New York and Jennifer Stuckless of Portland, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers, the family of Dick Rauscher has asked that memorial contributions be sent to CHI Mercy Health Medical Center in his name.
Visit https://mercyfoundation.ejoinme.org/…/818297/Default.aspx and request that your
donation be given to the ICU is his name.
Melinda will be staying in the park.
Sometimes a full table at The Ratcheds Senior Center is comprised of just one person. Now don’t get me wrong. T Rex (fka Thomas King) is a good friend. We’ve had some really great conversations and he’s a brilliant thinker. But every once in a while he can get so wound up a conversation can become a soliloquy. He doesn’t try to dominate the agenda but his energy and enthusiasm kinda hangs over the table like a force field. Sometimes he’s a scholar. Sometimes a curmudgeon . Sometimes his words are profound and you are back in school. Hanging on every syllable. Other times they are so shocking and off the wall you stare in disbelief. Either way T is heard. Today he’s a little more wound up than normal because Wanda is out of town and he has no adult supervision.
“There’s just too much stuff that’s too hard to understand. Last week I accompanied Wanda to a visit with her heart doctor. We sat in the waiting room where they have a closed circuit tv so you don’t get bored and realize how long you are waiting. Now this particular loop is telling you how to avoid coming here in the first place. Eat the right food, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and eat a bunch of fiber to keep you going. Literally. I don’t get it. Why on earth would you spend beaucoup bucks getting your degrees and learning your trade. Beaucoup more bucks buying or setting up a practice, buying equipment and hiring staff so you can tell people how to put you out of business. The old time dentist had the right idea. Get a checkup, you get a lollipop. Repeat business guaranteed.
I hate when people or companies do stupid stuff. I mean, for crying out loud,
THINK!!! For example, I got a mailer the other day from the Pluto Society. The cremation people, not the Disney dog. Well guess what. They invited me to come to a sales pitch for their services. THEY WERE HAVING A BARBECUE. The cremation people wanted to pitch cremation at a BARBECUE. I guess nobody remembers Soylent Green. Boggle it if you want a chuckle. I say again, THINK. Watch tv and you’re gonna see a commercial for a weight loss drug. Followed by an ad for pizza. And one for beer. But pay attention and you’ll see nobody drinking the beer. It’s gotta be really crappy beer if nobody’s drinking it. So why buy it in the first place. What’s that all about?”
T takes a long slug of coffee and our vegan chef, Sue Keeney, sticks her toe in the water. “T, I agree with you one hundred percent. I get frustrated when supposedly educated and intelligent people butcher the English language.”
“Sue, you have no idea. I was talking about this with Sister Mary Annette the other day. You know her, she runs the puppet show over at the church. Somebody makes up words and put in letters at random so you can’t figure out how to pronounce them. Phlegm for example. Ghoul ! PSEUDO! Who in the world decided on that. And another thing,” he rants,” The other day I was reading about the Flat Earth Society. I mean supposedly smart people think the earth is flat instead of round. Flat is flat and round is round. I bet those are the nitwits that invented the word FLATulence. Well I know where it comes from and it’s for sure got to be round. Think about it ”
Stay tuned for further adventures from Ratcheds By The Sea. A beautiful town on the coast. Where everyone is beautiful and at least one degree off center.
Fred Prout
The Communications Committee is concerned about the growing number of
announcements, notices, and signs that are posted at the Clubhouse and the
office/mailroom. At times, there is little, if any, room to post things that should be posted.
Therefore, we have come up with a set of standards to help guide our members in this
regard.
1. Do not post anything on any doors. The problems are that tape can damage the
finish or painted surface of the door and signs/posters on glass doors interfere with
the ability to see through the door. Many doors have bulletin boards nearby and
that is where posting should go.
2. Please refrain from posting notices of regularly scheduled meeting or events.
Timber Valley has as many as 30 or so regularly scheduled meetings or events every
week. Our bulletin boards would be quickly over-run if all events had signs or
notices.
3. If you put a poster or notice on a bulletin board, you are responsible for removing it
after the event.
EVENT POSTING LOCATIONS
CLUBHOUSE EXTERIOR
1. Bulletin Board front door to big room at North parking lot.
2. Bulletin board at rear door to dining room from South parking lot.
3. Bulletin board at door to big room from laundry room alcove.
CLUBHOUSE INTERIOR
1. Bulletin Board in dining room.
2. Bulletin Board in laundry room.
MAIN OFFICE/MAIL ROOM
1. Outside double door bulletin board (the key is obtained inside the office-during business hours)
2. Bulletin board inside the mail room
** PLEASE Do not post on the East and West side of clubhouse.
Communication Committee Chairperson
Marc Stalnaker
All that glimmers is not gold. Actually that’s derived from a Wm. Shakespeare line “All that glisters is not gold.” There may not be many golden “glisters” in daily life, but how about small “glimmers”? Little tiny moments of joy. They may be unexpected but they’re all around if you look for them.
Driving out of the park on a horridly hot day I spotted three turkeys, wings spread out, lolling in the shade of a tree. “How like three humans”, I thought. Relaxing in the shade. Just being sociable. I smiled the rest of the way to town.
The early morning silence is another glimmer. You can see it and feel it; an invigorating start of your day. Something to remember if your day gets too hectic.
Notice the lights and shadows in the trees. This time of year we can see the range of warm yellows and reds beginning to burst through the usual green. There’s one tree that’s especially beautiful. One year it was absolutely orange. Since then it’s been various shades of red and burgundy. It seems to lead the other trees in the color race. We’ll see what it is this year. Now that’s a real glimmer.
And think how quickly our green hills have become golden. It’s like overnight and we have a new landscape. Many of our oaks turn a dejected brown before giving up their leaves. Are they anticipating a long winter?
Someone smiles and waves as you drive by; do you smile and wave back? You just received a glimmer so give it back. I was greeted in the store the other day by a woman I didn’t know who said “Hello, Sunshine”. I thanked her and said “You just made my day brighter.” That was a glimmer; she walked on smiling too. Perhaps I shared a glimmer with her.
I needed new winter gloves; steering wheels can be frigid in the wintertime. I found a beautiful pair of softest blue, beautiful, but they had a tiny hole. I bought them cheap, mended the hole and now I fairly purr when I look at them. Tomorrow I can wear them, the weather man promises temps in the 50s in the morning and boy, will they feel good.
There are lots of glimmers; I’m trying to accumulate at least three each day. They may not be pure gold but they add up to a lot of glistening, glimmering good feelings.
Jackie Deal
