Yes, my dear friend Nelda, aka Cheers has moved out of the cycle of pain and suffering into the heavenly arms of her Savior, Jesus.

Nelda was a very special person who was ordained to bless others with her humor, dedication, wisdom and love. She was non-judgmental as she offered up her suggestions and wisdom to those who came to her. She was also a human being, with her own faults and shortcomings, but now as we deal with her death we prefer to see her only in the ways she blessed us.

Have you lost a very special person? Someone who loomed larger than life in your heart? Then perhaps you can understand how the members of the Senior Playground are feeling.  (http://www.seniorsplayground.com/). This woman’s impact on the world around her is much larger than she, and we, ever realized.

For much of her adult life, Nelda was Cheers, the clown. She had a clownmobile called Beaux and she did love that little car - as did the people who saw it coming in parades and special activities. She never really stopped being a clown; she simply dispensed with the clown apparatus as age took its toll on her. Then cancer reared it’s ugly head and the battle was on! Nelda never quit fighting until the very end; but she passed away quietly and peacefully at home. ‘Tis a blessing to those of us who mourn her because we won’t have to watch her valiant struggle as we pray for her.

Nelda/Cheers never lost her positive attitude and she sheperded our forum whenever she could. Fortunately she had prepared for this eventuality and trained two very good people to carry on after her. So the Playground will continue, but right now the slides and swings are empty as we all gather to celebrate the life of our friend and mentor.

May all the blessings and peace of God be upon Cheers, her family, and her many friends. She will receive the royal clown sendoff of balloons at her memorial service next
Saturday.

I’m happy to announce that I’m finally connected to the internet and ready to resume acquaintance with my friends all over the internet world. It took me a week to get connected although I tried to set up services in advance.  It seems I was forced to commit to a many headed hydra of a corporation that has a contract for all such services here in the apartment complex. I do not like that corporation, nor have I ever liked them. BUT in today’s “global” world one is forced to follow the big guys, right?

It took me until yesterday to get my television service and today for the internet. It also took two technicians and my apartment manager to get the various issues resolved. But ’tis done and I’m in business. YIPPEE! Wonder if Andy has any champagne left over from his birthday celebration? (See Archives for February 10 2008,)

The Computer that is. One of the last steps in packing; so the deed will be done this afternoon. Believe everything is arranged now so will be back when move is accomplished and I’m back on internet.

Take care and have a wonderful day.

I’m signing off for now since I will be involved in moving the next few days. Not sure when I’ll have internet service again, but I shall return.

Have a great week all.

I lost one of my hearing aids, then got swimmer’s ear so I couldn’t wear it anyhow.  Result:  very limited hearing ability.

Shortly after that, I accidentally dropped  my lower plate (false teeth) on the tile floor and it broke in half.    We’ve tried gluing it but that didn’t work, so I have an appt. to get new false teeth down there.    Until then, speak carefully and don’t laugh with mouth wide open.

Now, as of yesterday, the lenses fell out of my glasses frame.    The frame is totally unbroken so all I can say is, What Is Happening?     Luckily, I can still see without them, but it’s blurry.

The cost for replacing these necessities is going to strain my savings badly.  Especially with the cost of moving.

See No Evil; Hear No Evil; Speak No Evil.   Remember the three monkeys?       I  wonder how that applies to me?   It certainly is a good analogy for what is happemig.

There must be a lesson to be learned in here somewhere.   Any suggestions?

I write this with my cat lying on my computer desk “patting” my left arm with her paws. That would be great except she hasn’t been declawed and sometimes she digs in~ Ouch!

Well the decision has been made, the perfect apartment located, deposit paid and movers arranged for the BIG DAY. Now it is time to set up utilities and services, along with my endless packing. I HAVE TOO MUCH JUNK! Thought I got rid of a lot of it at my last move but it seems I kept a lot of it.

Anyhow, on Friday I started with electrical companies. We have to have electricity you know. Pulled up all the Texas Electrical Energy Providers for this area on the internet and started phone calling. You see, at today’s prices I want to get the best deal possible. The various issues I dealt with were a 35 minute, “Please hold, a customer representative will be right with you.” Then there was “Our computer is down, please call back in two hours.” Forget that one! Or how about “This number is no longer a working number.” Oops, something did that company in, I guess.

By this time I was so frustrated I gave up and went back to packing. Restarted the phone calls on Saturday, and finally ended up with the same company and the same package I had the last time. Why didn’t I start with them and save all the trouble? I did! That was the one that put me on hold for 35 minutes. That’s why.

Well, tomorrow I tackle the telephone, internet, and television suppliers. You see, way out here in the hinterlands a person is very limited as to what is available. Television is a disaster, and internet services very limited. So we shall see what luck I have tomorrow.

Are you enjoying my moving experience? I hope so, since I’m not! I’ll be back later when I have something new to report.

Most of us have had to say goodbye to a beloved pet, and missed it greatly. I think of an elderly neighbor who lost her cocker spaniel… it took months for her to stop grieving and she still misses it daily.

It seems to me the following was written by an unknown person who had just experienced such a loss and wrote The Rainbow Bridge to allay his or her grief. You may not believe it, but you have to admit it’s beautiful.

“The Rainbow Bridge”

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends
so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine,
our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor;

those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing;
they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together,
but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
His bright eyes are intent; His eager body begins to quiver.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group,
flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted,
and when you and your special friend finally meet,
you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face;
your hands again caress the beloved head,
and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,
so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

(Author unknown)

.

The day is fast approaching while I sort of prepare for my own moving experience. Boxes are being packed; plastic bags loaded down and phone calls arranging for services are being made. The only real problem is that the owners of this property just completed and filled a swimming pool of Disneyesque proportions.

It’s got an 18 foot curving slide, a diving rock dug up from the hillside, a grotto , a sauna, numerous waterfalls, (last count was 10), full night lighting, brick, rock and tile construction, and, oh yes, lots of water for swimming. It makes a delightful diversion from packing and moving plans. As with most people, I’ll take swimming over packing any and every day of the week.

IT’S PRIVATE! No maddening crowds to irritate and discombobulate us, only family members. Of course they can be irritating enough sometimes. Especially the four young boys who tend to “take over’ the pool when their parents bring them over. But hey! What are swimming pools for, anyway?

Oh yes, back to my moving experience. That will occur on July 18th and I’ve made arrangements for the off-duty firemen to do the heavy work. That has become common in many places. Since they have time off from their 24 hour shifts, they make good money and are usually very careful with furniture, etc.

So if you are planning a move soon, think of the firemen. And if you’re not moving, but hate moving with a passion, PLEASE THINK OF ME. Even a prayer or two would be nice.