February 14, 2009
Happy Valentines Day! I hope everyone had a nice warm, dry day with their special person(s), but if not, I hope you at least had a dry relaxing Saturday. Not everyone observes the 14th as anything other than another day, so my wish is you were all safe, warm and content.
It is regrettable that I missed the January meeting. To explain, I was on call for support duty. My granddaughter was to be a home birth, and she was trying to get our attention to starting the birth process, but was really just fooling around. I needed my car in case she got serious, so Buck left in his vehicle to set up the raffle. It was storming as I ran to my car with my head down (I hate getting rain drops on my glasses.) As I started to back out of the drive, the car sounded and felt strange. I stopped, got out and there was the flattest tire I have ever seen. I debated trying to change it myself, since I am not supposed to be doing ANYTHING more strenuous than washing my face with the left hand. For once, common sense won out over my “just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I can’t do it” usual reaction. I called Buck, and then I called AAA, which was pretty backed up with other stranded motorists, so a tire change wasn’t high on the priority list. They asked if I had a good spare, and I answered “yes, of course!” Buck called back to be sure help was coming, and Richard offered to come get me (and the warm chocolate chip cookies I had just baked). Since I was still on call, I needed my car in running order, so I declined their help. A tow truck arrived 30 to 45 minutes later, and this guy was great. When I volunteered to ‘help’, he ever so politely and tactfully declined my assistance and suggested I wait in the house. I felt somehow responsible for his working in the rain, which makes no sense ( I’m not so powerful that I can control the weather, but I am pretty full of myself at times.) But back to the story. I showed the driver where the spare was hidden, and he thanked me as if he hadn’t known where spares were kept. And, of course, the spare was flat too. I did not know that those bicycle-like doughnut tires lose air rapidly, and 99% of the time need to be re-inflated. Again, my rescuer made light of it and explained there would be no reason for me to know that. To make this long story a little bit shorter, the spare got air, the flat got changed, he even put the trunk back together and wished me a better evening than it started, and was gone. I was needlessly soaked, but feeling less stressed when a masculine voice startled me by asking if I needed any other help. It was my neighbor, a young man I had lived next to for several years, but not said more than a hello, or good morning to in all that time. He was just home from a long day at work, wanting to be with his wife and son, eat his dinner and relax but he took the time, in the downpour, to be sure there was nothing else I needed. He even told me where to get my tire repaired at a low rate with the work being guaranteed. So even tho’ my evening had some bumps in it, I did meet a nice young man, not at all put out at having to do the job he was being paid to do. And I learned that the neighbor I thought was young and stuck-up was really a nice person minding his business, but there offering his help when he thought I might need it. He seemed genuinely surprised when I thank him so profusely for trying to help. His face said, “isn’t that what everyone is supposed to do?” Then there’s Richard, who volunteered to come get me when he really wanted to be at the meeting because he really really cares about the club and the members. I think I needed this experience to remind me that there are a lot of really nice people in the world, not just the people I already know; I’m not the only one who cares about others. (But I still think I should have more control of the weather!!!!!!!!)
I have spoken with several members and all are very happy with Ben and his presidential skills. I heard the meeting covered everything needing to be covered, and everyone got to have their say in things. I may not be reporting this very well, but the general consensus is that Ben did a very good job and members have faith that he will continue doing a good job. In other words, everyone is happy that Ben is presiding and with the way he’s doing it.
Get well wishes from the club to our vice president Dave. I hope your pain is under control. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but we all wish you a fast recovery.
I’m told there are some who think the money spent on the park for our annual picnic is excessive. We aren’t having to pay the Vet’s rental that month, so we save approx. $100.00 there. And with no insurance to pay the City, we’re saving about $100.00 here, too. So we’ll actually be out about $50.00. For me, it makes sense, and we aren’t using gas and time trying to find a place last minute, or missing the picnic completely. I’m glad most members feel the same, but I’m also glad that those who don’t voiced their opinion too. It would be terribly boring if everyone just went along with out offering differing opinions.
I almost forgot! Richard has a Coleman Powermate Electric Generator he’d like to sell. Here’s the specs: Model 542000; 2500 Watts; 120ACVolts; 20.8 Amps; 60 Hz; 1 Phase, Insul. Cl.F; Amb. Temp 40° C. Price $200.00 See Rick (Richard Giddens)
As always, if anyone has an ad or story or comments of any kind, that person can contact me by home phone 707-575-8915, or letter: 903 Santa Barbara Dr Santa Rosa, Ca 95404-6146 or email: katheclose@att.net. I also need jokes or fun stories, or even not so fun stories. Anything you want to say or see. I’ve kept things confidential in the past and will continue to do so if you wish.
Hopefully, my Feb. 12th surgery will be the last. No more missed meetings; no more casts. (What will I blame my bad typing on though?) Grandbaby Vivienne is here, and none are expected, at the moment. Buck will stay well. Life as the newsletter writer will return to as normal as I can get. Thanks to everyone for letting me off the hook so many times. You guys are great, and life is good.
Rose submitted this story instead of a poem this month. I’m enclosing it verbatim. Enjoy.
This is not a poem as I usually write, but something that happened to me in August of 2008. Because I am not as agile as I use to be, just getting down to the river is quite challenging. There were a few places that my son or Paul had to help me, but thankfully with the rope they put up for me, I was able to stumble my way to an outcropping where I changed into my water boots. I used a small narrow shovel as a walking stick for stability. I also tried to make a more suitable trail for the many other times that I would make this same trip back and forth. When I got to the shallow water that I needed to cross, I was extra careful because the green algea on the rocks was rather slippery. Then I reached an area where the water was swift even though it was shallow. Here I found that I could lose my balance very easily, so I had to walk very slowly until I arrived at the other side of the river and at the bank where my son dredged and where Paul assisted him.
As I walked I always picked up any crystal that I saw because I knew that it can contain gold pieces. It is so beautiful and it really shines especially when it is wet.
I always had either Paul or my son walk in back of me while I crossed the shallow water just in case I lost my balance.
Before me was a small piece of crystal about 3/4 of an inch wide. I picked it up and it bad a hollow piece in the center. I looked inside and I could see a shining piece of gold in it. (This find made my day.) I showed it to my son and to Paul and then I stuck it in my pocket of my old western shirt that I wear down at the river.
Several times I pulled it out to admire it. Then I bent over to fill my pan with the material that was given to me after the front pan of our submersible dredge was cleaned out. I kept an empty vial at that same pocket to put our days find in.
That evening after dinner and dishes, I pulled out the vial to remove any remaining black sand that I had hurriedly put into my vial so as to ciean it better. This gold wouid be divided with my son at the end of the season.
I had completely forgotten the crystal piece in my pocket. Just hefore going to bed, I remembered it. I went to the shirt to retrieve it. It was gone. I searched the other pocket of the shirt, but it was not there either.
This incident ruined my sleep and the next day I looked everywhere, but I never did find it. This plagued me for the rest of our dredging season. Everytime I went to our claim I looked for it but it was not to he found. It was like that piece of gold was a tease and it is still laughing at me.
Hoping to see everyone at the meeting on February 18, 2009 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building 7:00pm in the North Room. And rememher, bring refreshments and receive a raffle ticket. Bring something for show and tell and receive a raflle ticket. Donate something and, you guessed it! Receive a raffle ticket. Come, join us and receive an enjoyable evening.
As always,
Kathe