The Holiday Season is Upon Us!

 Fall has arrived in the Upstate! The mornings are cool and crisp, but by noon the sky is clear, the sun is shining, and we've warmed up. It really is a nice time of year! 

As you might guess from the photos, every day is a s#!tshow with our "government," or lack thereof! We are constantly bombarded with one act of desecration after another, leading to the destruction of systems that have held us together over the years, centuries. I can't help but feel that the destruction of the East Wing of the White House was a gut punch, with NO regard for history or tradition, and so clearly showing his/their total lack of regard for anything that can't be easily converted to money. It's the ultimate middle finger to the country, the people, the history, and all in which we once took pride. That will be his legacy!

As I look back over the last month, it's been quite busy. One of the nicest moments was a visit by former Crescent/Bluffton neighbors, Becky and Jim, along with Becky's sister Cathy. We had such a wonderful catch-up, and it was so good to see them. Our connection goes way back to when their granddaughters were much younger. When they visited Becky and Jim, they always wanted to play with Rosie. They would visit us, and we would stop in to say hello when we were on our walks. I can still see Rosie having zoomies of excitement when Becky opened the door and the girls were there!! They eventually got their own doggie, and I have to think Rosie had something to do with that! They were delightful, as are Becky and Jim. I was so fortunate to have such good neighbors, and even more so that they would stop in for a visit. 

I don't think I've mentioned that I joined the Trivia Club. It's a fun group of people, and we have a good rapport. Once or twice a year, teams from each community meet for a "Trivia Bowl." This was my first experience, and, unfortunately, we did poorly. We determined that the questions were computer-generated, while we've been practicing with Trivial Pursuit questions. When I got home, I started checking out randomly generated trivia questions and had about 15 pages of questions for our next meeting. That got a very positive response from the team, and now I'm in charge of creating the questions!!

The photo of the young lady in the red shirt is of Jennifer, our activity director. She is a delightful, caring young lady who goes above and beyond (she's also on Rosie's morning check-in list!). In the second group photo, the lady on the left (holding her hands together) is Trudy, our 94-year-old question reader/MC, and she does a great job. She's also part of my dining group. The event was held at Laural Crest in Columbia, and it was located right by the river. It really was a beautiful spot.

Presbyterian College is just s few miles down the road, and I recently attended my first event there, arranged through our community. It was a choral program, which included the full chorus, joined by a high school chorus for several songs, a select choir, and a final program by a local celeb, who sang a John Denver medley. The real pleasure of it was that it was organized through the community; we were driven there and back, with no fuss or worry! That makes everything a little more appealing when you don't have to sweat the details!

This month, we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Clinton Presbyterian Community, and it was a huge occasion - lots of pretty decorations, an abundance of good food, two musical groups, Presbyterian community leadership, local dignitaries, as well as those who had a previous affiliation with the community. Lots of effort went into putting it together, and it was a nice evening. Many of the people in the photos are our daily staff, who put up with us day in and day out! They really are a lovely group of people, many of whom have worked here for 10,20,30. and even 40 years!! And they still manage to have a positive, helpful attitude! That's pretty amazing.

You might guess that I would participate in the No Kings protest! I was disappointed in myself for thinking I might not go, when a neighbor stopped me on my walk to say that she and her husband had just signed up for the one in Newberry. I went straight home and did the same! I knew I would be miserable at home, knowing I should be there! The organizer said about 100 people had signed up, but about 145 or so showed up. We had enough to fully cover four corners of a busy intersection. I think most passers-by didn't know what to think. My guess is it's the first time they've seen anything like it. A few others knew what to do - toot that horn, yell, thumbs up! Most of the responses were positive, with only a few jackasses.

Yes, Elvis was in the building! From time to time, Presbyterian College students visit. This time, they had a Halloween Game night, complete with cookies, candy, punch, etc. Many came in Halloween costumes, but needless to say, Elvis was a standout. He had "thank you very much" down pat and even sang a few songs. He definitely put everyone in a good mood. 

A different group of PC students will be coming over tomorrow night for Trivia night. They've done this once before since I've been here, and we have two mixed teams (half PC students and half CPC residents)....and Trudy is the MC! It's lots of fun.

Halloween is a big deal around here. The photos to the left are of a staff pumpkin decorating competition, and I was so impressed with the creativity and cleverness. We can only vote for one, and I don't know how I'm going to trim it down from my top three! We are also going to have two trick-or-treat visits. A pre-school class will be coming one day, and on another day, the children of staff will be visiting. I'm looking forward to that. 

Along with the Halloween theme, I participated in a pumpkin decorating event. You can see that I'm not nearly as talented as our staff! I also won the candy corn guessing game (guess the number of candy corns in a carafe). I'm really bad a guesstimating anything and was totally shocked to win. I won the candy corn, a soft little blanket (perfect for Rosie), and a Halloween glass with a top and straw. Needless to say, my Halloween is made!

Chef Mark has really taken my vegetarian request to heart! The food tastes better than the photos show. He's done a homemade black bean burger, a delicious panini, something like an arepas with black bean, sweet potato, and guac. In the Italian vein, he's done stuffed shells,

eggplant parm, and a tortellini dish. The one that totally floored me was the Vegetarian Quinoa Taco Salad. The minute I saw quinoa on the flyer, I thought it was doomed. He had planned for 24, and 22 were ordered! He's also done two dishes just for me. Tamieka, our Executive Director, said that several residents had commented positively about the dishes, so I'm very hopeful. Sometime this coming week, I've planned to meet again with the head dietitian and Chef Mark to see where we can go from here. Mark has been the real key to everything, and I've made an effort to see that he gets the recognition he deserves, along with a nice bottle of wine! Keep your fingers crossed that all continues to move forward.

My primary concern this week has been Rosie. On Monday, she was very lethargic and wouldn't eat anything. She wouldn't even take treats from her favorite people! She finally ate late in the day when I hand-fed her. On Tuesday, she was doing a lot of panting and coughing - not severe panting that comes with anxiety, but panting when there should not have been a need. She seemed better on Wednesday, but I had an appointment with the vet, and took her for my own peace of mind. Earlier, they said she had a heart murmur, which I wasn't aware of. They took X-rays and did blood work, which I haven't heard back from yet. The X-rays showed that her heart is slightly enlarged, and she appeared to have something happening in her throat. She was given two medications, which I am trying to get into her with only partial success! You see that little speck by the food bowl? That is 1/4 of a pill. The other blob is a pill that has been wrapped in cheese and mixed with her food! She is like a cat - if she smells it or it has a bitter taste, she will spit it out. If she becomes too suspicious, she will virtually stop eating, so I have to be careful how much I mess with her usual foods. I went to Petco today and bought several things that I hope will disguise the pills well enough to get close to the dosage she needs. She does seem to feel better and is her usual perky self. It's very hard to see her  not feeling well.

With all of that going on, I've managed to see my Nurse Practitioner again after having blood work and a mammogram. All is well. The clinic here provided flu shots. I also attended a farewell gathering for the minister at First Presbyterian Church, who is married to JLynne, one of our favorites here at CPC.  It was primarily for people of the church, but two of us from here were invited, and I felt honored and pleased to be included. She is one of Rosie's favorite people (and mine!), and we will surely miss her. 

I'm sure I've forgotten something, but I'll catch you up next time. In the meantime, I hope all is well with you, and please let me know what you've been up to.  Love and hugs 💖

The BER months!

 As a friend reminded me, we're now into the BER months - September, October, November, and December. The last few months of the year seem to go faster than all the others. It will also usher in a new "winter" season for Rosie and me! Rosie has definitely liked the cooler mornings we're getting, but I'm not sure how we're going to like a colder winter.

I had no sooner posted last time when I suddenly remembered everything I forgot to mention!! One of them was a ceremony held here called Quilts of Valor. The quilts are individually made and presented to veterans in appreciation of their service. The ceremony included about 6 or 7 residents here, and it was very touching. I had never heard of this organization, and I wish I could have provided this for my own father! The Clinton Chronicle did a much better job of the photos, so you can see them and read the story HERE. The quilts were beautiful, and the ceremony moving.

I also planned to tell you more about the activities in which I've finally had time to participate. For the last two Fridays, we've gone to Simpsonville to the movies - Hamilton, which I really loved, and Downton Abbey, which was also good.. There was a small group for Hamilton, so we took the car. The group for Downton Abbey was larger, so we took the bus. Being a new driver in the area, it was nice to be chauffeured so that I could look around a bit more.

There have been two craft projects. One was a floral arrangement with lights in the vase. It was cute, but I really have no place for it, so I gave it away. The other was a door hanging for the fall. This one I'll keep and use on my front door. It was a fun project and I enjoyed doing it.

I've also joined the Trivia group. All six communities in SC will be competing in the Trivia Bowl at Laural Crest on the 26th. That will be an all-day outing. Needless to say, I was concerned about leaving Rosie for so long until one of the cleaning ladies asked if I'd like them to stop in and check on her (when we were going out to the movies). I told them not today, but I'd very much appreciate it on the 26th! They are among Rosie's favorite people, and they seem to love her, so I'll feel much better about going.

Along that same line, last week, students from Presbyterian Pharmacy School came over and held a Trivia Night. Two teams were made up of students and us oldies, and it was lots of fun. They've done it in the past, and we're hoping they'll make it a regular thing.

Our most recent event was a concert by the Carolinians Senior Jazz Band. They're out of Greenville, and the band has about 22 members, which includes 2 singers. They have a full schedule of about 40 to 50 concerts a year, so they are dedicated to it. They were very good, and it was enjoyable. It was at 3 PM, and I just walked up to the main building for it, stopping by the ice cream machine (always available!) on my way home!

I've also finally gotten a doctor, rather a Nurse Practitioner, with Self Regional Hospital. She was recommended by several people, and I found her to be friendly, easy to chat with, professional, and knowledgeable. Of course, that sets up a whole slew of appointments - bloodwork, follow-up visit, mammogram, etc. Even so, I'm happy to have it done and to have found someone I think I'll like.

I really didn't think about many of my health needs being met here, but last week, the podiatrist was in, and I had my nails clipped. We're also scheduled for flu shots on the 25th! Some are thinking it will be flu and COVID shots, but the announcement didn't say that. When I saw the NP, I asked about a COVID shot, and she said they had just been told it would require a prescription. So, I asked for one and went straight to CVS and got it! I'll be eager to see if it is given here or if a prescription is required. I've done well to avoid COVID thus far, and I want to keep it that way....and I think I'm in the land of the great unvaccinated!!

I'll spare you my political thoughts because they are disappointing and sad. I'm disappointed in my countrymen that they are willing to tear the country apart, and all for people who would not give them the time of day. Sad! Very sad!

I'll leave you with this little Rosie story. Every morning during our walk, she makes her way through the front door of the building to visit JLynne at the front desk. When she isn't there on the weekends, Rosie runs around the desk, stops, looks, and then turns to me like, "Where is she? What's happening?" I told JLynne about it, but decided to prove it, so I took these photos!  The third one was taken on Monday morning, when JLynne was where she was supposed to be, and all was right with Rosie's world!

Sending love and good wishes!💖🐾

The Year Is Moving Along!

I'll start with my usual lament - where does the time go? It seems that I just turn around and another month has gone by! With the holidays, we all know how quickly the last few months of the year go. The year will be gone before we know it!!

The month began with a visit by Gov. Newsom, whom I'd met before in Bluffton. Needless to say, I was eager to see him again. There was a very good turnout for the event, including a couple from CPC, as well as a few people I'd met at the local Democratic Party meeting. With all of the negative, hateful stuff that's going on, it was nice to hear someone more positive and who speaks in complete sentences. He is also one of the few people who stand up to trump, so he has my support right off the bat! This is my kind of thing and I enjoyed it throughly. I have several other things lined up that I want to do ASAP - one is a ladies' group in Laurens that meets for coffee one Saturday a month. Another is the Spartanburg Drinking Liberally group, as well as the South Greenville Democrats. Slowly but surely, I'm finding my people!

I think I left off last time with my invitation to the Newcomers' Dinner, which was on July 17th. It really was a lovely affair, and the chef outdid himself. The room was beautifully decorated, and the tables looked lovely. Chef Mark made a Veggie Wellington for me, which was delicious! I was seated between the CEO of all six communities and our Executive Director. Jennifer, our Activity Director, gave a brief bio of each new resident, and it was interesting to learn about everyone's background. After that, we were entertained by a barbershop quartet. All in all, it was a lovely evening and I enjoyed it. The photo of Rosie is of her making me feel guilty as I was dressing for the dinner. I had an eye appointment earlier in the afternoon that lasted about 2 hours, much longer than I expected. Then, to come home and leave again was more than she could take! With a little coaxing and a few treats, Rosie forgave me the next day.

The weekend before (7/13-7/16), I had a visit from Melodee. She started with a visit to a friend in the Atlanta area and then came here. Since I have a one-bedroom place, she stayed in the guest quarters in the main building for two nights and then here for the final night - I got the dates wrong, so there was a mix-up. Monday was her birthday, so we ventured into Greenville to have lunch at Pomegranate on Main, which was very nice. Our plan was to browse around Main Street and the park area, which we did a bit; however, it was so hot that our browsing was cut short. It was my first attempt at driving in Greenville, and thanks to GPS, it was not as intimidating as I expected. I'm sure it has a lot to offer, and I hope to explore it more. As always, I enjoyed Melodee's visit, and it was great to catch up!

The next week, we had an open-air concert at Furman University. It was my first outing with a group, and it gave me an even greater respect for our Activity Director! We were driven up in our community bus, and due to the heat, we sat in the cool bus while they set up our chairs and took in all supplies. We then went to our seats and were served a box dinner. Even though it was hot, it was not as hot as it had been, and about 7:30, it seemed to cool even more. So, we got a break with that. It was a nice outing, and I enjoyed being able to look around more than I can when I'm driving. The music was nice, and there happened to be a national brass instrument meeting of some kind taking place at Furman that week, and we got a special performance by the professional brass instrument players from around the country, which included an Arab lady. I was impressed by that! It was a late evening for me, but I enjoyed it. 

On July 23rd, I was invited to join a luncheon for prospective tenants. There were about eight or so tables of six, with one resident at each table. The luncheon was nice (and Mark made a veggie entree for me), with the usual sales pitch. The guests seemed to like having a resident to ask questions. Unfortunately, it went longer than I expected, and I had to leave early. I apologized to all of the appropriate people, but Rosie had a vet appointment, and I had to go. It was the second time I'd been invited to share a meal with visiting guests, which I thought kind of odd since I'm new myself. 

I've finally been able to meet with the Food Committee in my campaign to get a vegetarian entree offered at lunchtime. Most people seem open to it, though I did hear on lady disparaging it. More recently, I asked the visiting person from corporate, who is on campus weekly, if I might have the address of the corporate dietitian, and what I wanted to propose. The dietitian is on maternity leave and will be back in September, at which time she will set up a meeting/call/etc. But even better, she said they were already thinking of running a pilot program to see how vegetarian dishes might go over! I was very pleased with that news. I'm going to get some ideas on paper so I'll have something to offer when we meet. Keep your fingers crossed.

More recently, we had a wonderful display of seashells. I really wasn't expecting much, but I was very impressed with the number and condition of the shells. There were 7 long tables of shells, all cleaned, nicely displayed, and labeled. The two ladies who put it together told us how it all came about, where they found certain shells, etc. It really was well done and made me wonder why I'd never attempted such a collection, living at the coast as long as I have! Oh, well! It was nice to enjoy theirs.

This past Thursday, we had a "Fine Dining" experience when Chef Mark showed his stuff.  The menu was Oysters Rockefeller, Caesar Salad in a Cheese Bowl, Filet Mignon, King Crab Legs, and Creme Brulee. Needless to say, that wasn't for me. My appetizer was a delicious tomato cheese pot pie, which was delicious. I could have made a meal off that! I normally don't eat much of the crust, but his was so tender and flaky, I ate it all! My main course was a pasta dish with veggies and a nice sauce, like alfredo, but not as heavy. Very tasty! We are so lucky to have Mark, and it's nice that he gets to show his real skills occasionally. He's also open to my vegetarian campaign, for which I'm very thankful.

Last, but certainly not least, Rosie had an episode with her back last weekend. I got her to the vet first thing Monday morning, and she was prescribed prednisone and a muscle relaxer. It takes a while to get the meds in her and for them to take effect, but she is now feeling much better. This just seems to happen periodically, and it breaks my heart to see her in pain. I wish there were some indication when it is going to happen so I could get ahead of it, but there isn't anything I've noticed thus far. I'm just thankful she's feeling better and can get back to her (unofficial) therapy dog duties!

I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the summer.

Home Sweet Home!

Today, our morning walk was lovely. It was clear and cool (at least not yet hot!), and we took a longer walk around the perimeter of the property. Rosie was hopping, skipping, and occasionally running is circles! She seemed to be enjoying it as much as I! Now the sun is out in full, so it will be warming up, and I'm so glad we got out when we did.

I'm happy to report that Rosie is adjusting well. She no longer stands at the door and cries when I walk up for lunch. She stays in her bed and gives me a warm welcome when I return. She continues to make friends, and has begun to occasionally howl when she sees one of her buds! This is something she only did at home when we had company, so she's branching out! 

I'm happy to finally be able to share photos of the house now that memories are on the wall and it feels more like home. All of that is due to the care and work for Maria and Mark, who along with Henry and Felix, came for a working visit. In that time, they hung everything! I couldn't believe it! I felt like a useless knob, but it was amazing to watch them work. I feel like I learned a lot, but I would never get the results they did. My "art" looks like a museum! While it's the same stuff I've had forever, it's combined differently and feels new! Keep in mind that Maria wrapped and packed for me everything that you see on the wall or on display in the wall unit. I don't know what I've done to deserve such wonderful friends as M & M, as well as those who helped me along the way and gave me a great sendoff. It's times like this, making a big move, taking a big step, that you truly appreciate your friends. You know who you are, and I thank you and love you.

You will notice that I need pinestraw in my front yard, but that is done periodically for the whole neighborhood, so I'm waiting. As I look at the slideshow, I notice everything that I left laying around....hoping you won't notice. As you look at the hallway, the first door on the left is the stacked washer/dryer. The folding doors are another closet, which I plan to put shelving in to make if more useful for my needs. The bathroom is smaller than I'm accustomed to, but I spend as little time as possible there. I also have the largest back porch of any patio homes on the circle. I haven't had time to give it much attention, but I look forward to sitting out there when the weather cools. Anyway, it's beginning to feel like home and it's as much as I need or want to deal with, so all is good!

This is what I see when I look out my front door. There are three long lines of muscadine grapevines, and they are loaded with grapes.  The house at the end of the line is mine. It makes me want to put my winemaking skills to work again, but I think that's a thing of the past.....and I'm not sure muscadine is the grape I would want to use. Anyway, the "vineyard" is very lush looking at the moment.

After Maria & Mark's visit, I worked on getting rid of the last few boxes so that I could invite the ladies at my lunch table over for a visit. Anna had lived in my place before it was renovated for 2-1/2 months while her house was being renovated, and she had not seen the finished product. Shown here is Jan and her daughter Margie. Margie is a very caring daughter to Jan and a liberal thinker who had attended the No Kings protest in Greenville. So, we had lots to talk about. Trudy could not attend because her sister and our other table member Betty had passed away and it was her funeral. Betty would have been 102 in December, and I'm honored to have known her for a short while. My fondest memory is when Trudy (94) asked Betty if she needed dressing on her salad, and Betty said, "No, I'll eat it naked!" I laughed out loud and told her to  be careful becuase that could be taken two ways! Once when her husband asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she is reported to have said, "A hysterectomy!" after having 6 childen in 10 years!! Again, that can be taken several ways. Anyway, it was a good gathering and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

It looks like July will be a busy month at Clinton Presbyterian Community, including this Newcomer's dinner to introduce the newbies. I've been told that it's a very nice four-course dinner with entertainment. Also this month will be several craft classes (not sure what the crafts are), several dining out opportunities, line dancing, as well as the usual clubs and ongoing activites. I have to confess that I would never consider line dancing, expecting there to be a lot of young people showing me up, but in this setting, I'm looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it goes. There is also an outing to Furman University Music By the Lake, which I plan to attend, as well as a Mill Town Players outing, which I'll have to fine out more about. I'm sure there have been lots of things happening April - June, but this is the first month I've actually had time to consider them. It's nice to have some options wothout having to plan for myself.

Outside of the community, I've been looking for my people - I Googled and attended the Laurens County Democratic Club's monthly meeting at the Laurans library. It was a very welcoming group, and when I mentioned that I had recently moved to CPC, they immediately informed me of a couple who lives here who had been active in local democratic politics. Needless to say, I talked with them the next time I saw them. In the process of the meeting, someone mention that we (Dems) were outnumbered 7 to 1 in Laurens county. I knew it was more conservative here, but that paints a clearer picture! Gavin Newsome is to be in town this week, so I plan to see him again, as well as to get to know more of the local Dems. I did meet another lady who lives in Clinton proper and also attended the No Kings protest. She let me know of a monthly ladies gathering in Laurens, which I hope to tap into soon.

I also participated in the Greenwood No Kings protest. I wanted to attend to the one in Greenville, but it was earlier in the morning and further away. I was happy when the one in Greenwood popped up at the last minute. The organizers were pleased that over 250 showed up!  As always, it was a good group of people who know how to get along and have a good time. As luck would have it, the Juneteenth celebration was going on across the street, so we had good music the whole time. 

I'll close out with our July 4th bash. You can tell by the menu that it was a meat-lovers delight......not so much for vegetarians! There was actually a smoked pig - the whole carcass! The food here is good, but for a vegetarian, it's mostly plain vegetables, not dishes, casseroles, curries, etc. I've planned to attend the Food Committee, but it has been cancelled twice (Do they know what I'm planning?). I have noticed that this week they have black bean burgers and eggplant parmesan on the menu, for which I will thank the chef. Everyone at our table (and most that I know) loves the food and rave about Mark, the Chef. So, a little menu tweaking could go a long way. You may also notice the price. We are given an allotment per month for food in the dining room, and with prices like this, it goes a long way. Being vegetarian, I have to work at breaking five or six dollars, with desserts (which I don't need) being my most expensive item. We have to pay for anything over the allotted amount, but I can't imagine that happening.

With that, I'll wish you a Happy July with lots of sun and fun. Let me know how your summer is going.

Settling In!

There aren't a lot of exciting things to report as we are still feeling our way around and getting settled. I'm no longer in our "curated bubble of perfection" that was Bluffton, but am now back in the real world!  I've seen more piercings and tattoos these last few weeks than in my entire life, but those wearing them have been friendly and helpful. Grass is allowed to thin out under trees, as Monther Nature intended, and pine cones can lie around indefinitely! The grass, rather than being rolled out by the truckload, is a combination of green growth with lots of things mixed in, including clover. You can see that the pinestraw is thin at my place, but everyone's will be replinished at the same time, anytime now. All of the planters around the neighborhood have been planted, and after lots of rain, are looking much better than the photos here. They really are pretty. There are also some lovely trees, not that I know what they are! 

One of the adjustments for me is eating in the dining room. I avoided it for a while, but am now getting into it. The tendency is for most people to show up at lunchtime, wiith fewer attending breakfast and dinner. Being vegetarian, there isn't much of a selection for me other than the vegetable side dishes, but I can bring home veggies to supplement whatever I make for myself. I lucked out to be sitting with a lovely group of 4 ladies and a male trumper, with whom I've had one minor skirmish. All of the ladies are like minded. I'm not sure they are all Democrats, but they are definitely anti-trump, which is good enough for me! So, I enjoy showing up for lunch to connect with the ladies. If there is anything for me on the dinner menu, I walk up and get it to go. We are given a quarterly allotment to use in the dining room. Anything beyond that, we pay extra. Since vegetable portions are $.89 each, and I rarely have an entree, which is usually meat, I don't ever expected to use my full allotment!

Thus far, Rosie and I have venture into Simpsonville several times, the edge of Greenville once, Laurens frequently, and Newberry once. It has been cool enough that Rosie can go with me, but I think that will end soon. Even so, I want to take one day a week to explore something new, even if it means leaving Rosie behind. While Clinton is a small town, it has some lovely brick building, especially around Presbyterian College. Across the street from that is Thornwell, which began as an orphanage after the Civil War. It's buildings are granite (I think), and they are quite impressive. Sometime soon I hope to take some photos. My closest grocery is a couple of miles away. It's a Food Lion, and is larger than the one in Bluffton. The WalMart is Laurens (6 miles away) is go large that I was total disorientated! We also have a small Ingles (comparable to Publix) here in Clinton, and a larger one in Laurens. Even so, what I have missed is Kroger's cheese counter!!

Overall, it is slower and quieter here. The first thing I noticed was the traffic, or lack thereof! There is a dual lane road from here to Laurens with light traffic - just a comfortable, easy drive. I was also happy to find that Hwy 385 goes into Greenville without having to get on I-26! What a relief! I'm sure it's busy at work times, but when I've gone into Simpsonville, it's been a comfortable drive. So, slowly but surely, we are finding our way around.

Another thing that is new to me are trains! I've never lived where you can hear the train whistles as they pass through. We're far enough away to faintly hear them in the background, and I really like hearing them.

I've also participated in a few activities offered, such as the Trivia group, which I've attended several times. There's a weekly QuickWitz activity, which I hope to attend this week. The physical therapist at the Wellness Center met with me to access my needs, which are minimal at this point. I hope to develop a workout routine using the machines there instead of trying to walk during the heat of summer. I've been meaning to do that for weeks now, but haven't actually done it yet. This past Friday I attended Happy Hour for the first time, and this week I may even try Bingo!!

True to their word, Tippy and Kieran stopped by on their way to Franklin. Unfortunately, they were delayed getting through Columbia, which made their visit shorter than I'd hoped. They planned to make it for lunch, but as the window was closing, I went up to the dining room and made three salads for us to have at home (We had a very nice salad bar that is available through the week). It worked out fine, but their visit was way too short. I'm looking forward to seeing Maria and Mark this coming weekend, and Melodee in July. I'm thrilled that friends are visiting.

Shortly after I took Rosie to the vet to get her on their radar, I had to take her again for back pain. The vet's practice is made up of three female vets, and is within walking distance of our community. Dr. James prescribed a round of steriods and recommended a monthly injection of Labrela. She is due her second injection tomorrow, and I'm hoping this will be an easy

solution. We've also had days of rain forecast, which makes her anxious. It hasn't rained all that much, but she senses the barometric changes whether or not it actually rains. Another thing I've noticed is that vet bills are much less expensive here, as are most things.

Otherwise, she is doing well. She has figured out that there are lots of people in the main building, and she takes the automatic doors as an open invitation! She will take me in the back door, prance down the main hall greeting everyone she sees, take a left and go down that wing, out that door and back in by the front door. She will then take two right turns and go down the other wing. We basically cover the whole independent living floor! So far, most people seem happy to see her, and of course, she loves the attention!

There was one major snafu that sent me reeling! About three weeks before I moved, I put in a change of address online, to be effective April 9. From that day on, I never received a piece of mail. With everything going on, I didn't think too much about it. I figured they may have sent it here, and it would be waiting for me, which wasn't the case. Anyway, my car insurance bill was sent during that time, which I did not receive. My car insurance lapsed!! I wasted no time in requesting a new license with my new address, registering my car, and also registering to vote. Then one day a few weeks ago, I received a letter from the DMV regarding the lapsed insurance! I was mortified!  I went straight online and renewed it before the end of the day. My insurance rep in Bluffton had to send the required information directly to the DMV, and I had to pay a fine. I showed up a the DMV and was taken within 5 minutes (that would not have happened in Bluffton!), and all was resolved. Had I known I was not insured, I would not have driven at all. The fact that I'd been driving without insurance made me trimble! I have no idea what happened to the mail. I had also ordered some checks for my new account which never arrived. I keep meaning to call the Bluffton Post Office to see if they can figure out what happened. I am just so thankful that nothing happened!

I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying life. Take care and let me know what you've been doing.💖

Alive and Well in Clinton, SC!

Well, it has been a non-stop whirlwind! So much has happened that I don't know where to begin. After months of waiting for something to happen, I finally received a workable house offer. The buyers requested a relatively short closing date, which seemed workable then, but when the inspection bickering dragged on, it cut into my packing time. I had about 3 to 4 weeks to get it all together. I was packing, trying to sell some things, organizing an auction company to pick up some furniture, and ReStore (Habitat for Humanity) to pick up the rest, as well as a final crew to come in and take away anything that was left. My sincere gratitude to Maria and Mark, who did all of the heavy lifting for me. Maria came over for several hours every day until she had wrapped all of my wall art and fragile items - and I mean all of them! Mark came over on short notice to retrieve items for high places, help purchasers get items in their cars, and assist with any unexpected event. I could not have gotten it all done in time without them. They were amazing. In the rush of it all, I had to cancel several lunches with friends, which I really hated, but I just couldn't take an hour or so out of the middle of the day. I hope they understand. Chris was kind enough to bring lunch over one day, and that worked really well. It's something to keep in mind when friends are moving. On packing day, Ann kept Rosie, and when I went to pick her up, Ann fed me, too!! I really could not have done it without the care and assistance of friends. Thank you all!

Another thing Mark did was create a floor plan of my new place so I could have an idea of how furniture would fit, etc. I had contacted Liberty Auctions to pick up my bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, and a few individual items to be auctioned at a later date. Once he did it, we realized I would have room to use my bedroom furniture, so I called Liberty to let them know I would not be including it. They informed me that if it was not included, it would not be worth their time to take the dining room furniture (and I would be left with dealing with it all somehow!!). I was also surprised when they would not take any of my living room furniture, because the pristine sofa was white!! The leather recliner had cat pricks on the top pillow, etc!! I relate this story as a reminder to expect the unexpected. I was able to sell all of the living room furniture, but for pennies. You can imagine the difficulty of getting rid of things you've had for years, especially if they are still in good shape, but it gets easier as time goes on, and by the end, you just want it gone!! I was also reminded of how much money I had spent/wasted on frivolous items, things I never really used, and just things that took up space. In my next life, I'm going to know and do better!!

This was my last night with Drinking Liberally, a group for like-minded friends with whom I'd been affiliated for years. As you can imagine, leaving friends was the hardest part of it all. Even so, I was usually so brain-dead by the end of a day of packing, my energy waned and I felt like I was swimming in jello, mentally and physically! Even so, this was one group I really wanted to be with, and I know I'll be seeing them again.

Moving day arrived, and it was all done. Even so, I wasn't convinced it would all fit into a 16' POD. These young men worked wonders! I called them the Miracle Workers because somehow they were creating space inside that box! It was amazing and impressive to watch. I was so doubtful that I left all of my Christmas items with Chris, which will give me an excuse to get back and visit friends before the end of November! At this point, the house was basically empty. Rosie and I had a few nights with just the basics, but we spent our remaining nights until the closing with Maria, Marie, Felix, and Henry. It was there that I got my first real night's sleep (7+ hours) since this whole process began. When I was trying to decide whether or not to do this, and if so, where, I wasn't sleeping. Then, once the decision was made, there was the waiting and waiting, an ongoing list of things to get done, etc. If I woke up for any reason during the night, my mind would start racing, and I couldn't go back to sleep. It was awful. I'm happy to be less anxious and sleeping much better.

The day after the POD was packed, I was given a wonderful going-away party by Chris, Tippy, Lynn, and Maria at the home of Maria and Mark. It really was a fun gathering, and I think my friends who didn't know each other enjoyed meeting new people. David summed it up when he said, "Boy, I loved your going-away party. The perfect mix of crazy!" That made me laugh!

On the 10th, Rosie and I departed mid-morning for Clinton. Maria and Mark had housed us for a few days, and I'm sure they were ready for a rest after devoting a month to helping me!! Since my POD would not arrive until the following Thursday ( I didn't know that they only

deliver and pick up in that area once a week!! Originally, the first week was already full and I would have had to wait 2 weeks! Yikes! I kept checking, and an opening occurred so I could move it up a week.) Rosie and I were offered the guest accommodations, but since it was on the second floor, with a very high bed that Rosie should not jump off, etc. I decided to rough it for a week in the house. I ordered a large chair that could be used as a chaise lounge or a small bed for future guests. By the time we arrived, it had been delivered and assembled. I wouldn't want to sleep on it for a month, but it was good for a week. Once we got in, I realized there was no hot water. They didn't get it repaired on Friday, so we went four days without. The next issue was that the house had not been wired for cable TV. So, that had to happen. Throughout it all, I was complimented on my patience and good spirits. What else can you do?? Anyway, it has all come together, or more accurately, is a work in progress. I still have lots of boxes to unpack, but that will take a while.

And we arrived at a lovely time of year! Azaleas, irises, and more were in bloom. It has since rained, and many of the blooms are gone. There are huge rosemary bushes, as well as a small vineyard right outside my front door. Rosie and I can walk the whole neighborhood on our morning walk. Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming. Miss Erna brought over blueberries and Tate's cookies. Catherine provided a strawberry loaf. Anna gave me a lovely plant, and the office sent a welcome mat, a lovely bouquet of flowers, and a huge welcome basket. I've also made some liberal connections. One neighbor has a "Resist" bumper sticker on his car, so I immediately struck up a conversation with him. There is a presence here, so I'll be on the lookout! That gives me hope that I'll find my people.

And, I've had company! I received a text from Rhonda saying they, who live in Missouri, would be in the area and would like to stop by. I hadn't seen them since 2018, so I was delighted, though I didn't even have a glass to offer them water!! The POD had just been unloaded the day before, so I was knee-deep in boxes. Even so, it was great to see them and to catch up. Brian managed the golf course at the Crescent, and Rhonda worked there. She would always stop for a chat and a play with Rosie. We have kept connected all these years via this blog, texts, emails, etc., and it was great to reconnect in person. I hope I can be more hospitable next time!

Just yesterday, Mark stopped by as he was on his way to a whitewater rafting trip with his brothers. I'm angry that I forgot to get a photo, but we were busy catching up AND putting up my decorative door. It doesn't have the display space here as it had in the other house, but I am so glad I can use it - it really is my treasure! During his visit, we made a trip to the hardware store and had lunch with four ladies, the oldest of whom was 101! We joined the table as they were finishing up, but not one person budged. There were lots of laughs, and I hope Mark enjoyed it. I'm sure the ladies did! It was a short visit, but both Rosie and I enjoyed it. I was instructed not to hang anything until they could come back up to help. I'm not sure what I've done to earn this generosity of spirit, but I am so thankful.

I've also been told that Tippy and Kieran will be passing by on their final trip up to her cabin, which she just recently sold. I'll be looking forward to seeing them.

It may be a while before you see photos of the house. I will take a while to get rid of all the boxes, pictures hung, etc....and I'm still going to have to get rid of a lot of stuff!  As soon as it's ready, I'll share.

The last six weeks have been rough on Rosie, and I'm sure she misses her neighborhood buds. During the packing process, I was much more active than usual, and every day, something went missing from the house! Since being here, we've run into one other dog in the neighborhood. It was in an abusive situation and is very withdrawn. Just yesterday, another lady moved in with an adorable Jack Russell. We've run into them three times since then. Rosie snarled at her on their first meeting, but I hope they will warm up to each other. I'm also happy that there is a veterinarian practice with three female vets within a mile of us. We're already checked in with them and set! This is a cute presentation that Lynn did for Rosie's going away. How sweet! Thank you, Lynn.

Saudi friends were saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend Lyn Thomas. He was a major player in many fond memories of my time in Saudi, and, oh, the stories we could tell! On my last trip to the UK (too many years ago), I was fortunate to touch base with many friends from those days, including Lyn and Jacqui. I'm thankful for that, and my thoughts are with Jacqui and the entire Thomas family.

I'm sorry this is so long, but there was a lot to cover. Even so, as soon as I publish it, I'm sure to think of something I forgot. I'm glad we are this far along in the process, and things are settling down each and every day. I hope this finds you healthy, happy, and enjoying life. Love to all.