Cancer Closet #3

Posted on March 25, 2021 by webadmin

I am not a patient, I am player.

We are incredibly blessed to have top notch medical facilities right in our community. Mercy Hospital has been judged as one of the top 20 rural hospitals in the country. And with the Community Cancer Center nearby they form the arena where I strive to play my best.

The Doctors are my coaches, the Nurses in the treatment lounge are my cheer leaders. Along the way I have acquired a few personal trainers, people who want to  share their valuable life experiences with me making  my game easier to win.  The others, like me, are there to learn and grow and make ourselves and support teams proud. It is up to us to decide just how hard we will play. To be a part of a team where I am listened to, advised but not controlled,  treated as a person with a name and not just a case file is so very beneficial. They make me want to succeed  and I will play my best.

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 13 Comments

Resume’s Wanted for Open Board Position

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Thom Hoch

The Board of Directors has directed the Election Committee to seek resume’s from motivated members to complete the Board term vacated by the recent passing of Gene Fisher.  The term of this position will end in July of 2022. If you are interested in contributing your valuable time, please submit your resume’ to the office no later than 5pm on April 1, 2021… this next Thursday. This position will be appointed by the Board in accordance with our bylaws.

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D.S.T., Benson and Lemonade

Posted on March 22, 2021 by webadmin

by Fred Prout

This is not the story I was going to write today. In fact, Rita wanted it locked away forever.  Sorry, my love, but daylight savings time is here. The bars are rattling, and the laughter (I hope ) is directed at the situation. Everyone has been in a similar situation. Just not as … funny.

The Benson Arizona SKP park is forty seven point six miles from the nearest hospital in Tucson. On a very good day, the rush hour drive from Tucson can be done in just under three hours. On a very good day.

Rita had an out patient knee surgery scheduled for ten AM . This means be there by nine for paperwork and waiting. And more waiting. Of course, no food or drinks after midnight. For her. I very kindly waited until she was wheeled into surgery sometime short of eleven.

Now, the devils who plan such things, made sure she was out of recovery just before the start of rush hour. As I was wheeling her out to our van ( thankfully with a full bench rear seat ) I heard the dreaded words: “ I’m thirsty. Stop at Sonic and get me a lemonade slushee. A big one. A very big one.”

“But”

“ I . AM. THIRSTY. “

“Ok” No fool I .

Armed with a forty four ounce lemonade slushee, we arrived at the entrance ramp for I-10. In rush hour. With a forty four ounce lemonade slushee.

Now, a recent scientific journal found that lemonade slushees have a magical property. They are able to travel unimpeded from the mouth to the bladder with only one change. They increase in volume. From forty four ounces to roughly sixty ounces. Very, very quickly.

The nature of I 10 at that point, was that once you enter, in the right lane, you are quickly shuffled to the middle lane. Rush hour traffic assures that you are trapped. Cars and trucks ( lots of trucks) on either side for the next forty five miles. Armed with a forty four ounce lemonade slushee. Soon to become a sixty ounce lemonade slushee.

Now ladies, if you need to take a quick break, I’ll wait.

 

Okay, I see all but one of you made it ok.

At the time, we traveled with an eighty pound dog named Gunnar. Some of you met him. Gunnar always drank lots of water, so we carried an outsized water bowl with a special lid that prevented his water from sloshing out.

See where this is going?

“Fred”

“Yes ?”

“I gotta pee.”

“Really?”

“Really. NOW.”

Out of courtesy, I will eliminate the discussion involving getting the water bowl, (I am driving and no help) arranging clothes, arranging body, placing bowls etc.

You know, sometimes you try to be nice, and it’s not appreciated.

I asked if she wanted me to turn on the inside lights to help her. On I-10. With big trucks on either side.

She came very close to tossing that water bowl, filled with recycled, forty four, now sixty ounce, lemonade slushee.

We made it back to Benson in silence.

Rita, I hope you forgive me for letting this story out of the cage after all these years. I think you would agree that if it gives someone a much needed laugh, it was worth it.

I love you.
—
Fred

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 11 Comments

Into Each Life

Posted on March 20, 2021 by webadmin

By Jackie Deal

I’ve been had! Shiny black hair, beautiful golden eyes.  And a sparkling white tuxedo.  Love and spunk in one adorable package.  Yes, I have a cat…no, wait a minute.  The cat has me!  Amber, that’s her name, has taken over.  In less than two weeks she owns my heart and home.

I haven’t had a cat since I was eight years old, so it takes some getting used to.  The litter box!  I swear she invites all the kitties in the neighborhood to play in her sand box.  No ten pound cat could produce so many cow pies (you farmers know of what I speak!). All right so they’re “cat cookies”. That nifty little scoop with the holes to drain out the litter and retain the cookies!  The person who invented that should have become a millionaire.  It’s a much more valuable than all the “progress” made by politicians and they all become millionaires or billionaires! 

As days go by, Amber’s full personality shines through.  She wants attention on her schedule not mine.  I try to walk across the floor and she throws herself full length in front of me.  She stretches her front feet up over her head, her tail out straight and presents her fluffy white tummy.  She loves a belly rub until…until…she has had enough.  Then I see that look come into her eyes and if I persist she grabs at me with all four paws.  Her expression says, “Who do you think you are?  My ancestors devoured your ancestors without even chewing.”

In the evening she declares a love fest.  I’ll be stretched out in my chair, feet elevated, practically vertical.  With a thump she makes a two paw landing on the coffee table and parachutes into the middle of my book.  She stretches her paws and face up toward mine and I must pet with both hands.  Both hands.  If I put one hand down she butts her head against it and forces my hand up over her head.  Her half closed eyes and soft murmurings are reward enough for losing my place in the book.

Play time also comes in the evening.  She throws her stuffed mouse into the air, pirouettes beneath it and gives it a good mauling. She also fights with the scatter rugs.  They go sailing across the floor and she tackles the fringes until she gets her claws stuck.  If I try to unhitch her she thinks I’m part of the game and those claws are sharp. 

Cats, as you all know, are not like dogs.  They don’t give you unending, unquestioning devotion.  They give a little, they take a little, and they maintain an arrogant independence that reflects their Ming dynasty ancestry.

.  

 

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 5 Comments

Monsters

Posted on March 18, 2021 by webadmin

by Fred Prout

I have created a monster.

Actually a whole cell block of monsters.

Rita and I had over forty years of adventures. Each one had multiple stories associated with it. I find that it has become very difficult trying to share our stories with you, because as soon as I start writing one, the others start banging on the bars insisting they be the one to get out.

I’ve been trying to decide where to go next. After several false starts, I got some help and inspiration from the most unlikely source.

Joleen

Joleen is the wizard who runs the amazing kitchen at Linus Oakes. (I’m no dummy). Every month the ice cream flavor is rotated for variety. In February she tried to see if we actually paid attention so the flavor of the month was Boudreaux Cherry. I don’t know how many of us caught it, but when I saw it, Lafayette,Louisiana started yelling “ME ME ME !

Soooo, Lafayette, we are here.

Jean Lafitte state park provides many different types of entertainment. The one that stands out was a re-enactment of a Cajun wedding from a hundred years ago. Basic story line: nice Cajun girl getting married to a guy her mother called a good for nothing. Among other things.

This was all performed outside with the audience of one hundred plus standing and watching. I guess we stood out as tourists, because before the show started a middle aged lady leaned over and asked if we would be able to understand the dialogue as it was all in Cajun patois. She introduced herself as Eileen Dover ( of course not) and explained what we would be watching. We didn’t understand a word but the actions spoke loudly.

At the intermission, she excused herself to make a phone call. When she returned she was excited as she had just become a grandma for the first time. We wished each other well as she left to see little Pierre, or whatever.

We stopped at the cafeteria for a bowl of gumbo. Real Gumbo. Make your eyes and nose water gumbo. As part of the entertainment an elderly man was playing Cajun music on a fiddle. As we both loved music, we were very generous with our applause.

As he started walking by us we told him how much we were enjoying his music.
He was more than happy to sit and join us. His name was Marcel Thibedeaux and along with the cousins Fonteneaux were the basis for the song Jambalaya. Apparently Hank Williams spent time with the families when he wrote the song.

Before leaving us for the next set, Marcel said “ I show you someting you never see dis before “ and opened his wallet and pulled out a drivers license. For a Sherman tank. That was his job in the army. Driving a Sherman tank. He was right. I never see dat before.

The next day Rita was looking through the local paper, and saw that the Martin Accordion factory was giving tours. So I called and although they had no tours right then, we were more than welcome to come by. So we did.

The shop was in back of their house, and the instruments were all special order so sit, have some iced tea and we’ll talk. Before long, several cousins and in laws stopped by with various instruments, and we had a three hour concert with our visit with some of the nicest people on earth.

It seems that most people come to look at the sights and leave.They were delighted to be a part of our life and let us be part of theirs

Lafayette, we were there.
—
Fred and Rita

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 11 Comments

CHOICES

Posted on March 16, 2021 by webadmin

by Ruby Bonham

When we look at our world today the words that most often come to mind are: Chaos, Horror, Hopelessness, Fear, Anger, Pandemic. Of all these words Fear is the root that triggers the rest. Fear of the unknown, fear of being out of control and fear of a pandemic that we neither saw coming nor know how to cope with. Anger at people of different colors, anger at being asked to wear a mask, anger taken out on others to hide their own fear. Hopelessness at jobs lost, homes lost and lives lost. Chaos results from misinformation that leads to man turning on man in an eruption of violence. Our TV’s tell us hour after hour, day after day and month after month of the horrors that surround us. Listen and you will hear the sound of tears and unbearable grief around the world of the ones left behind, who could not have imagined for a moment this state of sorrow. Where will it end?

There are many things in life, and always have been, of which we have no control. What we do have are choices of how we react to them. We can choose from the emotions above or we can choose, Compassion, Helpfulness, Support, Good Deeds and Love. Our health care workers and hospital staff are exhausted and emotionally depleted by what they see and experience every day and yet they move on to the next patient and the next. They do everything in their power to save each one and when that isn’t possible they hold them and love them and ease them into the next life. They choose to do these things at great cost to themselves and their families. Store employees go to work each day to insure that we have food and necessities for our health and well being. School children create businesses to give to those less fortunate than themselves. People wear masks and distance to not only keep themselves safe but to protect perfect strangers that they might meet along their way. Choices: Positive or Negative?

Words and thoughts are very powerful. They can hurt or heal. Although it doesn’t seem possible right now, good will come out of this time in history. If you are unable to physically help then use your power of words and thoughts to strengthen our Nation. See the disruptors as fearful little children and send them love not anger or retaliation. Words and thoughts are powerful; choose the right ones.

Ruby Bonham
2-14-2021

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Opinion/Editorial | Tagged | 6 Comments

Thank You, Dixonville Fire District

Posted on March 15, 2021 by webadmin

On behalf of Timber Valley, Kate Bright and Elaine Teague presented this cake along with a card signed by many to the Dixonville Fire District. They really appreciated our thanks, loved the cake , and were happy they were able to help many of us get vaccinations.

Posted in Featured, General Interest | 4 Comments

Doctor Seuss

Posted on March 14, 2021 by webadmin

A creative work by Fred Prout

It seems like everybody’s getting mad
What used to be good is now seen as bad
The things you used to read to your child
Are now getting everyone terribly riled
They’re making a noose to kill Doctor Seuss
But what did he do
I’m asking of you
If you look hard enough
You’ll find plenty of stuff
That once was okay
But now is “NO WAY”
Internet porn is allowed
With from one to a crowd
But they’re making a noose to kill Doctor Seuss
I don’t like to complain
But would someone explain
Why we willingly buy
Political lies
And then get a noose
To kill Doctor Seuss?

by Fred Prout

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 18 Comments

REMEMBERING

Posted on March 12, 2021 by webadmin

by Ruby Bonham

March 1, 2020, the day one life ended and another went into a tailspin of grief. Sometimes it seems like yesterday and others a long time ago. The mind fluctuates in its ability to cope. Looking back.

I had known who Ed was for several years. I had been to see the Traveler’s perform and bought a couple of DVD’s. I had even taken pictures of him and a number of musicians to make a photo album for a handicapped girl who wasn’t coming back to Quartzsite. The photos were of her favorites. It wasn’t until September of 2014 that I talked to him. After a music Jam, he came to me and offered to help me with my budding music. I pretty much blew him off because I knew he had a reputation of being a “womanizer”. Finally in January I agreed to let him help me. He invited me over to help me with my guitar. He was complaining about my strumming. Finally in exasperation, he said “let me show you”. He came behind me and told me to play the chords and he would strum. When he put his arm around me I forgot everything I was doing. I was twitterpated. Stunned, I asked Harlan what happened. He laughed and told me I forgot to play. Ed loved for me to tell this story of how we met. From then on we were a couple – complete. We made our commitment to each other and started on a beautiful life together.

Although we only had 5 years we crammed a lot into it. We were never apart in that time. He completely accepted me and my Asperger quirks because he had a grandson and a great-grandson with Aspergers (high functioning autism). He was living a life of not caring after losing his wife to cancer years before. I had spent a lifetime looking for him but it was worth the wait.

I became the Cookie Lady for his band The Traveler’s and supported him while continuing my own music. Ed had Arterial Heart Disease, was Diabetic and suffered from Neuropathy. I had a lot to learn but gradually his health improved. We traveled, played music lived and loved and were grateful for every day we were blessed with. People who did not know us thought we had been married 30 or 40 years. Sometimes things just work.
So now it is a year later and I still struggle to find who I am without him. He’s still is a part of me. I play our music and have started writing again. Life goes on.

Ruby Bonham 3-1-2021

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 10 Comments

Lot 205 1/2

Posted on March 10, 2021 by webadmin

If you’ve taken a walk along the trail near Happy Hill you may have spotted a recently added new lot, complete with new residents. Because it’s small and due to it’s location near lot 205, it’s been dubbed lot 205 1/2.  Where did it come from?  Who built it? For the full story keep reading below:

In Bob Feiler’s (Lot #143) own words…

I guess you can blame some of it on Covid 19 and the weather. Really though it was inspired by the back an forth discussions about our park logo. A few want to change it because they think it is outdated. Most are nostalgic about it and think it reflects an adaptation of the Escapee logo. I just took the logo idea a little further and kept the original idea and updated it some. It took a while to find the logging truck online and I was happy to see they still make Lincoln Logs. The base is made from the old sign with the square dancers on it and the frame is made from composite wood (Trex) taken out of the burn pile. The whole assembly is secured to one of the concrete monuments Jim made for the storage area upgrade project. The Minion characters where added for fun. I decided to put it on the trail by a bench so people could enjoy it. It was designated Lot 205 1/2 since it located near Lot 205 and 206 is taken. Eventually I want to add a little plaque to dedicate it to the workers of the park, past, present and future who have, are and will make this a wonderful place to live.

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | 9 Comments