Humpty Dumpty had a great fall…
Me? Fall? Well, yes. Last Thursday evening, getting off of my step stool in the coat closet, after looking for a pair of pants that had my Fitbit in it, I tumbled down, because I did not keep my feet in the center of the top. It was very, very painful. My right leg was crushed between the steps, but I was finally able to free myself and get to the bed. I was wearing leggings and dreaded the moment I would take them off. Mike came to sit next to me for moral support, and when I stripped down, we saw a 6 x 2″ strip of bare leg: the skin was hanging in shreds, unsolvable. Ouch, such pain! The legging was undamaged. I had a large supply of first aid stuff from the treatments of Mike’s leg wound and took care of it. After a week, it still hurts a lot. But there are two good sides to this fall: I landed with my head in a wall of skirts; and the next day we had to go to the wound clinic for Mike’s leg anyway, so his doctor could give me advice: “Only the epidermis is gone, it is not a deep wound and it will heal in time.” So now we are both hobbling along. But Mike’s wound looks almost closed and so we are pretty sure we will both be happily striding again when Christmas comes around.
Mele Kalikimaka
I was looking forward to dancing hula again at the Christmas show with Caroline; but I just cancelled, because if my leg hurts so much still to walk, dancing will be out of the question next week. But another plan formed in my mind: I would like to tell Christmas stories. It’s all arranged, starting next week I will do a one-hour Christmas program with a friend, Paula, who plays the violin. She has been playing Advent carols on Sunday mornings and is looking forward to three weeks of doing a Christmas show together: I will tell a story and she will play carols to fill in at the beginning and the end, with the theme of the story in mind. Another friend said, ‘Ronny, you just retired! And here you are doing another project?” Well, yes. I know some beautiful Christmas stories, and it is only once a year that I can tell them.
A funny occasion comes to mind. We had moved from Hawai’i to Prescott, Arizona in 2001, and had been visiting a particular church for a few months. When Christmas services were discussed, I said to the Pastor that I would be very happy to tell a Christmas Story instead of his sermon. The Pastor agreed, and when the time came, I went on stage and told my story. At that time, I still had it memorized, so I could act it out. But it is a lengthy story, about 25 minutes. I saw the Pastor from the corner of my eye getting red and restless. I had everybody’s attention and continued to the emotional end. The Pastor was clearly upset: there was no time left for him to do a sermon! “I did not know your story would take that long,” he said. But I had told him ahead of time I could do it instead of a sermon, so I did not feel bad.
A Christmas Program…Stories and Carols with Ronny and Paula
…is the title of our program. The Activities Director will design and print and circulate flyers each week and the only thing I have to do is practicing my reading and check the sound system. At my age I do not dare tell stories from memory any more, but I can do a lot with my voice, and that will be so much fun. Well, I also printed and stapled 30 x 4 music sheets and added stickers. Because I could not very well let Paula do all that alone.
A Wedding in Waltonwood!
My new best friend is getting married! Her fiancé moved to the Cottages in July of last year, and she came in October. We quickly became best friends. And recently, finally, he asked her to marry him! They are having a reception in the Private Dining Room, invited 8 people and asked me to be their MC. Only the Chef and the Dining Room manager know about it, so they can plan ahead with food and drink. He is 82 and she just turned 72 last week. And now I am so incredibly busy with things to do that I will stop right here.
My leg wound is hurting a lot, but getting smaller, so I’m hoping I will soon be well again. And how wonderful it is that I have all those wonderful long skirts from Anna to cover my injury!
May your days be peaceful and happy.
Until next time!
Ronny
Love that you put the whole presentation of Christmas stories together with Paula, you are such a pro. Have Mike make a video and post it privately on YouTube, please. Then we near and far can enjoy it.
Your story about your fall made my teeth ache. It was a big deal for this time of your life. Wow! Did you have your leg x-rayed?