Life is busier than ever
The days fill up quickly and I am so thankful for my morning and evening helpers who clean up the kitchen, do the dishwasher and the trash, make the bed, do the laundry. It is a total of only 45 minutes per day, four days a week, but it makes a big difference.
On Thursday, we got a tetanus shot; I guess it was that time. Mike was all right, but I did not feel well for two days. So no chair dancing on Saturday, but I was better again on Tuesday for chair yoga. I do miss the real yoga on my mat, but 90% of residents could not get up if we did it on the mat. We do not have a treadmill either, because even without it many people fall.
My two tomato plants are flourishing. I will pick the seventh tomato today. They are the most delicious tomatoes I have ever tasted, and I am not a tomato girl per se. The little thing you see in the foreground is a solar light to keep the bugs away at night. I got it from my new friend, who has planted a variety of vegetables on her back patio.
Book orders
Out of the blue I received an email from an “Indo cowgirl” on Maui, who ordered eight of my books. After some back and forth emailing about autographing and such, I will be shipping her books this week. She is researching her parents’ WWII background and is part Indo, part Hawaiian, part Dutch, with traces of all three languages in her letters. She also dances hula. Ha! Funny to encounter people like her who heard about me by word of mouth from an Auntie on the Big Island. When she realized how old I am, she started calling me Auntie too: Auntie Makalani.
Article in Moesson International
Any day now I am expecting my copy of Moesson International, in which the story of my childhood in the camps is published. I am very curious how that will look – I wrote it a few months ago and submitted it with pictures as well.
Performances
One of my cottage neighbors, who is from upstate New York, has a very interesting background. We have become best friends, and are making plans to entertain the Community in several ways. She is writing a story and will have a storytelling afternoon on August 26, where she is reading it and will be acting out the various people she is reading about. Afterwards, people in the audience will be invited to reminisce and talk about their own story. It sounds interesting and I will be in the audience for sure.
On August 11 I have been invited to do my Keynote Presentation again, and on September 2 I will be dancing hulas with the monthly singer and entertainer, first in Assisted Living and then in Independent Living. For both the Presentation and the hulas I will have to practice. It has been about two years! I will have to dig up a muu’muu, my long wig, leis and so on. I started practicing and it feels wonderful to dance again to the familiar Hawaiian music. How privileged we were to have lived on the Big Island for twelve years!
May your days be peaceful and happy
Until next time,
Ronny
Your life is certainly “full to the brim”. Who says retirement can’t be chock full of activities?!!!!! You are an inspiration.
Sending you our love, Carol and Terry Thomas
Thank you, Carol and Terry! It’s wonderful to hear from you, and good to know you are enjoying my blog posts.