10/12/06

Welcome to my life in the desert!

I have been enjoying life here & have made a number of good friends through church. Life has moved along at a fast pace since I've been out here in the "Wild, Wild West".

Click here for pictures.

Here are few highlights to catch you up:

My Personal This & That

• June 2006 Living at Wellington Place (an assisted living facility) for 3-6 months in Rancho Mirage, while my home is being converted into a small living facility. Jeanne & Gary have friends that run Wellington Place and watch out for me. It's the best of both worlds.

  • I need to be around people more frequently (roommates) & live-in care giving assistance

• Moved to high desert of Yucca Valley (3000') with Marjorie September 2003
   

• Lived with Jeanne & Gary while our new home was being built next door

  • I observed the construction everyday from our bedroom
     

• Joined the local United Methodist Church.
   

• October 2003 with Jeanne & Gary, we adopted a dog. His name is Zion and he is a Chow, Akita & Lab mix. He is very animated with a great disposition. He is a rescue dog that I found in the paper. I love this dog, he is a good one.

  • I still think of Chipper (my bird that Lorrie adopted) often.
     

• March 8, 2004 I had full knee replacement surgery to repair my WWII injury
   

• August 2004 move into our new home

  • Margie's comment: "I feel like I live in my own museum and I love being in my dream home."
     

• November 2004 right hip replacement surgery to repair the arthritic damage as a result of over compensation from my knee problems
   

• Guess what?

  •  I Walk Without Those Old Canes!

  •  I use a wood hand cane & occasionally a walker when watering yard plants or doing a few chores around the house
     

• November 11, 2004: An unusual Snow Fall of almost 2 feet
   

• December 2004 I receive full 100% pension/compensation approval from the VA, after a year of filing for the claim.

  • Jeanne & Gary helped & managed the claim process for me

  • This pension change took me from an income of $203.00 a month to $2300.00 per month.
     

• Easter eve 2005, Margie's spirit departed her body.
   

• May 5th 2005 (my birthday) Gary, Jeanne & I spread Margie's ashes in Joshua Tree National Park, CA. We had a picnic and celebrated her with us.
   

• Even though I have my moments when I really miss Margie, my life is good.

  • I continue to carry on conversations with her, I know she is still with me in spirit.

  • With Jeanne & Gary's help I continue the great health regimen she dedicated her life to (primarily on my behalf our last 15 years).

  • I live day by day.
     

• As many of you know Margie was constantly studying health and in search of something to help me.
   

  • An amazing thing is shortly after Margie's passing, we found the something to help me that Margie was always looking so hard for! I believe she is the one who has led us to it.
     

• I continue to live in my comfortable senior/handicap friendly home.

  • It sits on 1½ acres, right next door to Jeanne & Gary.

  • I have surrounding views of Joshua Tree National Park foot hills & San Gorgonio Mountain & back side of Big Bear Mts.

  • I watch the horses at the edge of my property & have names for all of them.

  • One of the best things is that I don't have to mow or shovel snow!

  • I go out with nothing more than a light weight jacket. NICE!
     

• Jeanne & Gary have a senior business, so they arrange a lot of things for me.
   

• I checked into a great Palm Springs resort like senior living facility for a week in July while Jeanne & Gary were in Mexico.

  • I made new friends

  • Played miniature golf

  • Walked for exercise everyday

  • Attended the dances

  • Ate my favorite food "hotdogs" even though the chef came from the famous Cordon Blue in Paris, France.

  • and so much more that I can't remember... it was great!
     

• Since my return from vacation Jeanne & Gary arranged for me to have a caregiver come into my home on a regular basis. In addition:

  •  I receive "Meals on Wheels" once a day Monday - Friday. They are very good meals. I like them. Outside of that I actually prepare many of my own meals (part of my exercise).

  •  I have a life alert that offers a good sense of security

    • It works! I had the chance to use it when I fell one morning getting ready for church.
       

• The morning I fell Jeanne, Gary & paramedics responded to my life alert right away.

  • I am OK

  • I was getting ready, slipped off the side of my bed & hit my head on the edge of my Hope Chest. Some "Hope".

  • When they took me to the hospital & ran tests (MRI...) they thought I had a neck fracture. I was hoping I did not.

  • The doctors kept me a week in the hospital.

  • Prayers were with me... no fracture, everything good, I am home!

  • Hallelujah!!! 
     

•  One of the things that I have been doing regularly is taking my SeaBiotics.   It has been helping me in so many ways that I have my own website.
   

I spend holidays & special occasions with Jeanne, Gary & Jeanne's family. It sometimes seems a bit crazy to me but it is enjoyable.
 

These past few years I have had more activity going on in my life than most of you have seen me have in a long time. It is working out very well. I hope there may be one, two or more of you that would venture out this way for a visit. I have a beautiful home with plenty of space for you to visit. In the meantime I really look forward to hearing from you & what's going on in your life....
 

My e-mail is: Charlie@wyseangel.com

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