2

Editor’s Notes We would like your contributions for this publication. If you are an artist in any venue, we want to show you off to park residents. No matter what it is you do, we can give you a whole page showing your talent. We have many painters, photographers, writers, knitters, graphic artists, costume designers...and so many more who live here. We will photograph your work or you can send or bring us photos with a descriptive paragraph or two about what you do. Email eileen36@pacbell.net or erlys2@pacbell.net. A quote from Helena Bonham Carter: “I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone, and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How you decorate your home. Or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. And the way you feel. Life is art.” If you do not wish to receive The Magazine, or anything Eileen sends out, let us know via email and we will remove your email address from our eblast list. The black and white copies are printed and paid for by some local residents. Many contributed for the final issue of The Willows with us as Editors. We have received ongoing contributions so that those without computers have a copy of The Magazine. If you don’t want a copy, please let us know. It is expensive considering the cost of ink and paper so fewer printed would help. Of course, we will be delighted if you want to keep receiving it. Right now we are printing 100 copies. Call Eileen at 1-415- 883-7759 If you are not receiving this publication online but have an email address and want it online, again, just let us know. Although we will have a calendar we will not be publishing anything concerning GMI events since that is covered in The Willows and online by LR Management. We have decided to put in an Anniversary/Birthday list for you. Eileen also uses the email list for interesting information you may want to receive concerning the City of Novato, the SMART goings on, things for sale in the park, estate sales and things of that nature. Finally and most importantly, Erlys and I want to see our Social Club and all residents brought together again so that we will all be able to say hello and mean it when we ask “How you are feeling?” This is a wonderful place to live and we would like to see everything fixed. This means accepting the new Officers and Board and getting on with our lives. While GMI Inc. has stepped up to the plate during this period in order to pay for events until the Social Club situation is settled since per Ellen, there is no longer a checking account, it would be so much better if the residents, you and us, have one Social Club as it was in the past and we all attend the events together happily. We want peace and solidarity, happiness and goodness to return to our park.

We Care Nancy Fabian

We lost Jack Stratton in February. Jack was a fine artist and musician. He was friendly and well liked. He came to almost every event at the clubhouse and was a very familiar face for many of us. He will be missed. Get Well cards were sent to Dr. Jim Purcell, Gloria Gragg and Vince Stadlin. A card of sympathy was sent to the Stratton family. Please contact Nancy by phone at 883-1073 or by email at nancy.fabian@att.net if you know of anyone who has died or has been ill or just needs a few cheery words of encouragement.

3

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Exercise with Avis M-W-F 1-2pm

2 Guided Meditation With Maura 6:30-7:15

3 4 Produce Market Senior Center 10am

5Full MoonFull MoonFull MoonFull Moon 6:24PM 6:24PM 6:24PM 6:24PM BRIDGEBRIDGEBRIDGEBRIDGE 7PM7PM7PM7PM CLUBHOUSE CLUBHOUSE CLUBHOUSE CLUBHOUSE EVERY WEEKEVERY WEEKEVERY WEEKEVERY WEEK

Contact Dorothy McNutt

6 7

8 9 Book Mobile 12:30 Til 1:30

10 11 12 13 14

15 16 Guided Meditation With Maura 6:30-7:15

17 18 Produce Market Senior Center 10am

19 20 21 Penelope

Fine Silver

Class

10-5

Clubhouse

See Page 15

22 23 Book Mobile 12:30 Til 1:30

24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 JENNIE 11AM LAST TUESDAY EVERY MONTH

March 2015

FULL MOON ON MARCH 5 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:24 PM……..MEET AT USUAL PLACE IN HAMITON…

4

So You Think a Senior Park is Boring

At about 1:15 pm, Thursday, February 5th, John Lewis was sitting at his desk when he saw an SUV blasting through the park with police cars in

hot pursuit. Robbie was just leaving to walk to the market, so they de-cided to find our what was happening. More police cars and motorcycles

came rushing into the park, some marked, some not. Apparently the bad guys, who had stolen the SUV, were trying to elude the police but made a

big mistake when they turned into Los Robles. As we all know, there's only one way out. The bad guys, with police in pursuit, ran out of road at

the end of Barcelona where they crashed into and demolished the car-port and a shed at 230 Barcelona. They leapt from the SUV and made a

run for it. One was apprehended in the park, the other had managed to

run outside but was caught. Fortunately our police were able to bring the Bad Guys down. Amazingly, no one was hurt.

5

Sheldon & Rosa Dixon 3

Bill & Sybil Hard 12

George & Jenny Francisco 15

Rosa Dixon 1

Lois Arrow 4

James Ford 4

Louis Maffeo 5

Teruko Mercurio 7

Mark Corlett 8

Gayle Hunter 10

Susan Marvin 16

Deborah Rodgers 16

Behrouz Azarvand 21

Anabella Denisoff 21

John Krause 21

Brent Ort 22

Darrell Parker 22

Lois Raynor 22

Mary Reilly 22

June Detjen 26

David Pyles 26

Marie Gurrola 29

Mariana French 30

Mike Giddens 30

Milly Murrin 30

Patricia Sanders 31

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

If you are new in the park and wish to be included in our Birthday/Anniversary list, please provide us with your birthday and/or anniversary and we will add you to it and print it in The Magazine in the appropriate month. Contact me at: erlys2@pacbell or 1-415-883-7544.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS….MAY YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH GOODNESS

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU AND MAY THE YEARS CONTINUE TO GLOW WITH HAPPINESS

Sheldon & Rosa, Bill & Sybil George & Jenny Sheldon & Rosa, Bill & Sybil George & Jenny Sheldon & Rosa, Bill & Sybil George & Jenny Sheldon & Rosa, Bill & Sybil George & Jenny

6

“March comes in like a lion, and out like a lamb” While many sayings are based on observation and are accurate, others are from beliefs of those who came before us. March is such a changeable month in which we can see warm, spring-like days, or late season blizzards, it's easy to see how the saying might hold true. The weather, like the lion, can sneak up and attack with its ferocious strength. The saying, and others like it, should be considered an observation of the seasonal pattern from centuries past. With our climate changing so dramatically, we can’t rely on these patterns to plan from year to year as we did formerly. Water conservation is a must! More recently, astronomically speaking, the stars were a source of the proverb. At the start of March, the constellation Leo (the Lion) is on the horizon at sunset. By the end of the month, Aries (the Ram) is on the horizon. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, some other March related sayings include the following:

A dry March and a wet May, fill barns and bays with corn and hay.

As it rains in March so it rains in June.

March winds and April showers will bring forth May flowers!

Question: If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Answer…..Pilgrims!!!

Master Gardener Musings by Susan L. Miller

7

Spring officially arrives on March 20th. According to Sunset Magazine: “As soon as frosts are past, plant culinary herbs such as chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme in a sunny part of the garden.” Check this link for average last frost days in the Bay Area: http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-california-last-frost-date-map.php Start tomato seeds indoors on a sunny south-facing windowsill early in the month, or about six weeks before the last expected frost. Check out the amazing offerings from the Petaluma Seed Bank by ordering their free catalog here. This is an awesome local place that is great to visit as well! http://www.rareseeds.com/request-catalog/ If you don’t want to start your tomatoes from seed, please plan to visit the Marin Master Gardeners annual tomato sale on Saturday, April 18. You’ll be getting hand raised, organic starts, and supporting the Marin Master Gardeners at the same time. Be sure to get there early for the best selection! For more information visit: http://ucanr.edu/sites/MarinMG/ Peas and potatoes like the cool growing conditions of early spring. In coastal areas, plant early in the month. In other areas, plant peas six to eight weeks before the last frost date, and potatoes four to six weeks before the last frost date. Speaking of potatoes, one resident planted starts in two pots last year, and here’s the result, harvested February 2nd:

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!

Please feel free to email me with your garden questions. susanlmiller3883@yahoo.com

8

Life began for Jack Ford at St. Josephs Hospital in the tiny town of Mitchell, South Dakota in 1943. His Moms family lived in Mitchell, so she went back there to give birth before returning to San Francisco. Small world, (“I was born in the same hospital one year later – 1944 – my mother also had family in Mitchell and went back to give birth before returning to our home in Santa Monica”). Jack’s parents were both stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco when they met and married dur-ing the war. Mom was an Army nurse and Dad’s responsibilities led them all over the world. From San Francisco, to a home in Colma before Dad got sent to Korea and Mom and Jack went to be with grandparents in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Some of Jack’s most happy childhood memories come from the time the family spent together in Salzburg, Austria. As a young schoolboy, Jack found himself in Salzburg, an enchanting place, a land of castles, royalty, Alps, Mozart and cobblestone streets. He went to school in what had been the stables of an adjoining chateau. Jack wandered those cobblestone streets and discovered ad-venture, beauty and history that his classmates back home could only see in books. He experienced music festivals, skiing down snow covered hillsides and exploring castles. High up on a mountain he could see a castle, the Hohensalzburg Castle, a fortress, nearly 900 years old. In his wanderings he discovered a water balanced funicular taking people hundreds of feet up the mountainside to the castle in carriages. Jack thought that was always a great adventure, riding the carriage up to the castle and back. He remembers roaming through another castle going down great hallways where mounted trophies of a variety of animals were displayed. It must have all seemed magical to a young American schoolboy. Jack has fond memories of Alisa, their Austrian housekeeper and when Jack’s sister was born, she was also to be named Alisa. Jack was able to go back to Austria years later to visit with Alisa. While living in Salzburg the family enjoyed a Mediterranean cruise which took them to Italy, where he saw the heart wrenching, yet beautiful ruins of Pompeii. He traveled through Turkey, Egypt and other countries on the shores of the Mediterranean. While in Egypt he witnessed a camel auction where he remembers that he got too close to one camel and the camel spat at him as camels sometimes do. When it came time to leave Austria, the family sailed back to New York on a passenger ship. Jack went to schools in Michigan, Kansas and Florida. In Leavenworth, Kansas he went to an excellent school where he was Sergeant at Arms as well as on the Varsity Wrestling team. On one occasion, for some odd reason the school team was pitted against the convicts from Leavenworth prison. About all Jack remembers is that the school team was whipped by the convicts and that the convicts had very scratchy facial hair. Dad was now off to the Middle East and then the Pentagon, so the family went to Florida where he finished high school. After high school, Jack made his way to New York where he was applying for admittance to West Point and in the midst of being qualified, he discovered, at the age of 18, he was going to be a father. Changing his plans, Jack joined the Army. He went to Georgia where he was trained in Jump School and Rigging School and learned all about parachutes and jumping out of air-planes. He was shipped off to Germany to an air station with his new family in tow. He worked there as a rigger and also loading airplanes with food, ammunition, vehicles and personnel.

JACK FORD’S LIFE STORY -by Robbie Fleming

9

The day after Jacks 21st birthday, while stationed in Germany, a life changing event took place that forever altered the path he would have been on, and took him on a completely different journey through life. He was involved in a horrendous vehicle accident and ended up having his head crushed between a tree and the vehicle. He was taken to the hospital with severe injuries and near death. He was given last rites and his family was inexplicably told that he had died. Well he didn’t, he was in a coma for three months and survived only to have his family now told he would always be in a vegetative state. Well, Jack didn’t agree with that. He was young, he was strong and he was going to live. He knew it was his responsibility to his family not only to survive, but to fight his way back to a full, happy and normal life. He spent the next three years of his life in hospitals. He was in hospitals in Germany, France and eventually Walter Reed and Forest Glen. Jack was presented with an unexpected challenge, a challenge he not only met, but he won against all odds. He was completely paralyzed on his left side and had massive brain injuries requiring four surgeries. After three years of hospitals and rehabilitation, and now single, Jack went to Monterey where his parents lived, and enrolled in Monterey Peninsula College. He found himself amongst younger stu-dents that couldn’t possibly relate to what he had just lived though and what he was still struggling with. It was difficult for him at first. He moved on and continued his studies at College of Marin where he enjoyed a brief relationship with a “flower child” at about the same time as the “summer of love” was taking place. He went on to the University of San Francisco and graduated in 1972 and then to Sacramento State for graduate studies where he received a M.A in Rehabilitation Counseling Jack has spent a great deal of time studying, researching and understanding how the brain works and finds it amazing that the brain continues to work even after an injury such as his. After his graduate studies, he went to Hawaii. While living in Hawaii, he had a small house built on the slope of an active volcano, Kilauea. It was there that Jack met and was accepted by several full blooded Hawaiians. It was an honor not normally given to a “Haole” (white man) While living in Hawaii, Jack began a correspondence with the woman who was to become his wife. She had serious medical issues with an auto immune disease and found that living in Hawaii, which was lacking in nearby medical facilities prevented her from getting the medical care she needed so they moved back to Sacramento. Jack and Bonnie had two children and as her health deteriorated, Jack was kept busy being, Mom, Dad, caregiver, chauffeur, maid and chief parent. Sadly Bonnie passed away after 14 years of marriage. Jack was feeling angry and sad. He was disappointed that he wasn’t able to make her survive, to live, though he is grateful that even with her life threatening illness she was able to give life to two children. His sister-in-law realized his pain and after a phone call to her Filipino family, he received a phone call from Anita, his present wife of 15 years. A pretty, happy and energetic woman. A kind, intelligent and very capable woman with all the qualities he wished for in a woman, he had now found. They be-gan a prolonged courtship via telephone, letter writing and flights to the Philippines giving him a spiri-tual connection which has provided him with a wonderful life he had only seen in his wildest dreams. Jack says, “After all that’s been said and done, it was well worth waiting for indeed.”

10

GSMOL NEWS

by Joan Ripple, Correspondent

Clubhouse Use and Availability: “Whose ‘Living Room’ is it Anyway?”

This information is adapted from an article of the same title which was published in The Californian, November/December 2014. The article was jointly authored by Bruce Stanton, GSMOL Corporate Counsel, who has been representing mobile home residents and homeowners’ associations as a specialty for over 25 years and William Schweinfurth, WMA/ Vedder Community Management, LLC. This is the first in a series of articles jointly authored by representatives of GSMOL and Western Manufactured Housing Communities (WMA) on issues of interest to both park managers and homeowners. WMA is the trade organization which represents owners of mobilehome parks in California. A similar version will appear in WMA’s membership publication. Most mobilehome/manufactured communities in California have a “clubhouse” or “recreation hall” to host resident functions such as meetings and social activities. Modern clubhouses contain an office, restrooms, a meeting room, a commercial kitchen and dining room and perhaps other rooms for various activities. The clubhouse is typically the most impressive and most often used common area facility in a park. Bill Schweinfurth pointed out that in the 1980’s many clubhouses were outdated and WMA worked on major upgrades to modernize them. During that process, one of the firm’s general partners told him that he regarded a community’s clubhouse as the “resident’s living room.” He continued to say that clubhouses don’t exist as a park owner’s trophy. They were built to host resident activities and marketed to prospective occupants as a resort amenity…. Over time the clubhouse became a prime advertising feature. The clubhouses brimmed with a whole host of varied activities. Mr. S. pointed out that while the benefits to park owners and residents alike are great, controversies can arise concerning clubhouse use or availability. He stated, “Typically these involve what type of meetings can be held, whether residents must have insurance coverage or pay a deposit to host the event, when and whether a reservation must be obtained or whether reduced clubhouse hours of availability are reasonable.” Bruce Stanton added that the clubhouse also is a meeting place for the community. “Residents need a

place where they can hear speakers on mobilehome issues, meet to discuss rent increases or park maintenance, or meet political candidates. While many clubhouses are open to residents at all reasonable hours, as required by the Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL), there has been an increasing policy of some parks to restrict or limit times of usage or deny certain types of usage, such as GSMOL meetings, altogether.” Mr. Stanton pointed out that a park owner is entitled to reasonably regulate clubhouse use. “ But the MRL requires that the clubhouse be open and available at all reasonable hours, and further guarantees the right of residents to assemble for certain purposes. While these competing rights can sometimes come into conflict, the law is actually drafted in such a way that conflicts need not occur. A park owner who operates common area facilities correctly will not impinge upon any of the usage requests of the residents provided they are reasonable. Park owners and residents alike can and should agree upon clubhouse usage rules which both side can embrace. Unfortunately, clubhouse usage can sometimes become a bone of contention which may even require legal intervention.” In April we will cover the emerging series of jointly authored “Best Practices Article” which will address the competing rights of residents and park owners with guidance on how conflicts can be avoided. GSMOL North Now on Facebook. If you are on Facebook check it out for the latest information. www.gsmol.org/gsmol Membership Not yet a GSMOL member? Contact Nancy Fabian for a membership form at nancy.fabian@gmail.com or call 1-415-883-1073. Membership is $25 a year, plus $10 for an additional household member who may want to vote. This is a real bargain insurance policy to protect your rights. The next Regional Luncheon will be on March 27th at the Boulevard Café, 1096 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma. If you are already a member great! You will meet some of our leaders whom you read about in The Californian, the magazine which comes with your membership. If you are not a GSMOL member and attend the luncheon, you may win one of the free memberships that are given out at each luncheon. Contact me or one of the officers (Bruce Nelson, Maura McLane, or Nancy Fabian) if you would like to carpool.

11

The Demise of a Loquat Tree

Sometime overnight on Friday, February 6th, it

appears the wind gusted enough to shear off one

part of a loquat tree behind Joan Ripple’s house on

Ensenada. John and the crew came over quickly

first thing Monday morning and sawed up the one

part which had split and then checked for the

stability of the remaining half of the tree which

you can see in the photos, to find that it was almost

out of the ground. It became necessary to

remove the rest of this loquat tree much to Joan’s

distress since it looked so nice and the fruit from it

in the summer was sort of tasty as many of us

know here on Oceano Place. Job well done by

John and his Crew. The Beginning

The End

Photos by Eileen

12

Touching the Moment Through Meditation -by Maura McLane

There are many ways for us to experience present moment awareness. One of those ways is through meditation. But first let’s explore the many definitions of meditation and then, perhaps decide which practice resonates with you in your everyday life. The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices that includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy or life force (qi, ki, prana, etc.) and develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness. A particularly ambitious form of meditation aims at effortlessly sustained single-pointed concentration meant to enable its practitioner to enjoy an indestructible sense of well-being while engaging in any life activity. The word meditation carries different meanings in different contexts. Meditation has been practiced since antiquity as a component of numerous religious traditions and beliefs. Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health concerns, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. It may be done sitting, or in an active way—for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training. Religious and spiritual meditation can be found in: Baha’i Faith, Buddhism,

Christianity, Taoism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, New Age, Pagan and Occult Religions, Sikhism, Prayer beads. Secular meditation in the West includes: Open Source Meditation, Sound-based meditation, Mindfulness. (information source for above: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) The type of meditation we are practicing on the 1st and 3rd Mondays here at Los Robles has its origins in the Buddhist tradition of Vipassana or Insight Meditation. It is 2500 years old and proven by both meditation practitioners from the east and west as well as western scientist to be beneficial to humans in many ways, e.g. pain management, chronic medical problem management, depression, anxiety, addiction and stress in everyday living (and many more). There is much more that can be said about meditation but instead of reading about it come and join in the experience of practicing present moment awareness, by stepping out of automatic pilot or a mindless state of consciousness into here and now awareness of everyday living. Upcoming dates: Monday March 2 and 16 Time: 6:30 – 7:15 PM Location: Los Robles Community Center NO FEES/NO DONATIONS

13

Photography by EileenPhotography by EileenPhotography by EileenPhotography by Eileen

The Unexpected Rainbow

Monterey, CA Super Full Moon

Golden Gate Bridge from The Headlands Hooded Oriole outside our window

Sunset in Pacific Grove

Deer Grazing outside our room at Asilomar

14

Poetry Page Poetry Page Poetry Page Poetry Page

NO MORE no more sadness no more strife no need to wonder no need to ask why cause there is nothing like our blue sky NO MORE NAPS! -John Baseheart

A TALE TO TELL You ask "when did this job come to me?" Being in charge of the Family Tree The burden of truth is now in my hands To tell the story of our family clan The Stories from the family over the years I will try to relate to siblings and peers Stories I have heard, stories I have lived I will try very hard the truth to give Another will get my job after I am storied out to pass on the tales of us without a doubt Growing up tales, funny tales, some happy and sad Of Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Moms and Dads So come along and listen well You may be the next one to have A Tale to Tell. -Donna Reed

LOOKING INWARD Recently removed: two light gray-brown fallopian tubes with delicate fimbriated ends two almond shaped wrinkled light gray- tan ovaries a few small calcified nodules, a few nabothian cysts one uterus full of ugly pale brown plaque. Part of me is getting to the grave before the rest of me. It's time to get serious! -M E Showalter

15

LEARN TO MAKE FINE SILVER JEWELRY FROM SILVER CLAY

IT’S FUN AND EASY!!!!

This class is a chance to learn to make your own Fine Silver jewelry. And before the day-long session ends you will leave with completed pieces of Fine Silver Jewelry designed by YOU:-perhaps a pendant, earrings, beads or even charms. You’ll work with an amazing new medium called Precious Metal Clay or (PMC). PMC is reclaimed silver suspended in a clay-like medium. It’s non-toxic and requires very little training or special equipment. You’ll learn to fire with a small torch as well as a kiln, so you can continue to make jewelry after the class ends. Each class is perfect for both beginners and intermediate students. Instructor Penelope Dunham has PMC Certification and intensive training. To see her work, go to her website at: penelopefinesilver.etsy.com. It is fun and easy even if you don’t think you’re artistic . So please call or email to sign up, ASAP!! The class fee includes a $40.00 dollar package of PMC+ and in-class use of all the necessary tools - everything needed to create your one-of-a-kind jewelry. You’ll leave with completed pieces of fine silver jewelry designed by YOU, along with handouts & resources, and the skills to make fine silver jewelry in your own home. Cost Los Robles Residents - $85.00* (Includes all needed materials) *price discounted for use of facilities Non-Park Residents - $99.00 (Includes all needed materials)

SATURDAY MARCH 21ST 10 AM UNTIL 5 PM (1 hour lunch – not provided)

LOS ROBLES CLUBHOUSE 100 ROBLAR DRIVE

NOVATO

TO REGISTER : CALL PENELOPE AT 415-298-5555 OR EMAIL HER AT: pdunhamsf@gmail.com

16

A Little Fun Stuff…. While stitching a cut on the hand of a 75 year old farmer, whose hand was caught in the squeeze gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to politicians and their role as our leaders. The old farmer said, " Well, as I see it, most politicians are 'Post Tortoises'.'' Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post tortoise' was. The old farmer said, “When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a tortoise balanced on top, that's a post tortoise." The old farmer saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain. "You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, he's elevated beyond his ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of dumb arse put him up there to begin with." Best explanation of a politician I've ever heard.

HOME SCHOOLED—Most of us were home schooled in many ways—sumitted by Bob Ross 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning." 2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet." 3. My father taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!" 4. My father taught me LOGIC. "Because I said so, that's why." 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me." 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident." 7. My father taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about." 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS . "Shut your mouth and eat your supper." 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?" 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone." 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it." 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

17

WATER MAIN BREAK IN LOS ROBLES -by Eileen Plunkett

Imagine waking up and using the bathroom, flushing and nothing happens. That’s what

happened on February 18th in my bathroom. Since I have been having problems with my water

tank I thought it was my emergency and tried to do what I had done in the past, reconnecting

the thingamajig. But the thingamajig wasn’t disconnected. Uh oh…..now what….to my joy,

believe it or not, when I tried the water in the basin, I discovered no water. Aha, it’s a park

problem, hopefully, not mine. Then Erlys told me that she had seen John during her 7AM walk,

trying to turn off the valve at the corner of Oceano, without success so he contacted first the

Fire Department to help stop the gushing water and then the Water Company to repair the water

main. Ensenada had water back before Oceano but we did have ours by 11am. Thanks John for

handling this so efficiently.

Manager John Sigman overseeing the work of the North Marin Water District to get the water flowing again!!!!

Photos by Erlys

18

WHERE DID IT GO I wake up at eight thirty blink and it’s noon This is new to me Before I retired This didn’t happen A day lasted much longer Work seemed everlasting Weekends sped by When I was ten I wanted to be twenty How on earth did I get to be almost seventy When giving birth time stood still Christmas would take forever to arrive And then be gone so quickly it was like it never came A whole month of preparations and then BAM gone The first born started school Then the second And finally the third Time seemed to go by so slowly then So how come they are now not only graduates But married with children yet How come these grandchildren are in college so soon Why now in the peaceful Supposedly unstressful time of my life Do my days fly by Just a day ago I had my whole life ahead of me And now it’s ninety percent behind me Where did it go Time Who took it away I need it I have so much yet to do Where did it go

Eileen Plunkett

2006

19

Whenever I speak with my mother, she always tells me where her papers are….the papers that I’ll need when she dies. Except, when I ask her for the details, it turns out that these aren’t the papers I might need if she lives but becomes incompetent or too ill to take care of her personal matters on her own. But my Mom believes she’s prepared, and she’s not. In fact, I’m worried that if something happens, we’ll be scrambling in all directions. I don’t think she’s alone in this regard. That’s why I’m writing this piece for all of us. Here are the important documents you’ll need. Be sure to tell your family where they’re stored. Born To Age also recommends The Estate Document Organizer, a notebook that contains ALL the information your family will need. These Organizers are available from creator, Julie Jones at 707-

343-1252. They can also be seen at: www.estatedocsorganizer.com (This is not an endorsement of this organizer by the editors of The Magazine) Start collecting these documents as soon as possible, and update them every few years to reflect changes in assets and preferences. 1. An Original Will An Original Will An Original Will An Original Will A will allows you to dictate who inherits your assets. Dying without a will means losing control of how your assets are distributed. Instead, state law will determine what happens. Wills are subject to probate–legal proceedings that take inventory, make appraisals of property, settle outstanding debt and distribute remaining assets. One way to avoid probate is with a Revocable Living Trust. 2. A Revocable Living Trust A Revocable Living Trust A Revocable Living Trust A Revocable Living Trust This is a transfer of ownership of various assets to a trust. You can serve as a trustee yourself on behalf of the benficiaries you designate. You can also designate a trust executor to handle thing on the event of your death. 3. Durable Financial Power of Attorney Form Durable Financial Power of Attorney Form Durable Financial Power of Attorney Form Durable Financial Power of Attorney Form This form designates who will make financial decisions on your behalf in the event that you are incapacitated. 4. Documentation of Assets Documentation of Assets Documentation of Assets Documentation of Assets This includes housing and land ownership, cemetery plots, vehicles, stock certificates, savings bonds, any partnership or corporate operating agreements and a list of brokerage and escrow mortgage accounts. 5. Tax Returns Tax Returns Tax Returns Tax Returns (previous three years) 6. Banking Information List of all bank accounts and online logBanking Information List of all bank accounts and online logBanking Information List of all bank accounts and online logBanking Information List of all bank accounts and online log----in informationin informationin informationin information. List any safe deposit boxes and register your spouse or child’s/children’s name(s) with the bank and ask them to sign the registration so they can have access without securing a court order. 7. Durable Health Care Power of Attorney Form (Advance Directive) Durable Health Care Power of Attorney Form (Advance Directive) Durable Health Care Power of Attorney Form (Advance Directive) Durable Health Care Power of Attorney Form (Advance Directive) This allows your designee to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. Authorization to Release

Protected Health Information Form which allows you to designate people who can be given information about your health from your doctor or hospital. 8. A Physician’s Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Form A Physician’s Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Form A Physician’s Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Form A Physician’s Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Form This bright pink form is for terminally ill or people who are very old and frail and not expected to live more than a year. The POLST designates preference for on the spot medical treatment in the emergency room, or by the paramedics. 9. Life Insurance PoliciesLife Insurance PoliciesLife Insurance PoliciesLife Insurance Policies Family members need to know the name of the carrier, the policy number and the agent associated with the policy. 10. Benefits Accounts Benefits Accounts Benefits Accounts Benefits Accounts This includes pensions, annuities, individual retirement accounts and 401ks for your spouse or children. If your heirs don’t know about these accounts, they won’t be able to claim them. 11. Your marriage license, or your divorce judgment decreeYour marriage license, or your divorce judgment decreeYour marriage license, or your divorce judgment decreeYour marriage license, or your divorce judgment decree. 12. Your Birth Certificate and Social Security CardYour Birth Certificate and Social Security CardYour Birth Certificate and Social Security CardYour Birth Certificate and Social Security Card 13. Authorization to Release Protected Health Information. . Authorization to Release Protected Health Information. . Authorization to Release Protected Health Information. . Authorization to Release Protected Health Information. This allows you to designate people who can be given information about your health from your doctor or hospital. Above information copied from Born to Age by Julie Jones 2015Above information copied from Born to Age by Julie Jones 2015Above information copied from Born to Age by Julie Jones 2015Above information copied from Born to Age by Julie Jones 2015————Information only, not an Information only, not an Information only, not an Information only, not an endorsement by the editors of The Magazineendorsement by the editors of The Magazineendorsement by the editors of The Magazineendorsement by the editors of The Magazine

BORN TO AGE—-A DIRECTORY FOR OLDER ADULTS—2015