Short of things to be grateful for? Think of September!

1. The hot spell broke!  Fall fell into our laps...and the air was soft after the rains.

2. Consider the staff in Life Enrichment. They made September a banner month.

   First came Patriot's Day: flag emblems for each of us to wear, a program that used residents, staff members and community volunteers in suitable ways. Thoughtful, realistic and hopeful as we looked both back at September 11 of last year and confidently toward a future strong in our traditions.

    Then, Ernie Fields (where but at St. Simeon's!), who was visiting his mother, broke in - unannounced with his incomparable clarinet - and let us experience the dirge and the celebration of a New Orleans funeral. The Pied Piper of Hamelin had nothing on Ernie as afoot or in wheelchairs, staff and residents followed him to "When the Saints Come Marching In". As he left us and his music went down the hall from the Common Room, we knew from the sound that he was still there although we could no longer see him.

    Our first Patriot's Day did what such a celebration should do - it gave us a memory to cherish.

    Second in September came the Red Hat Society Tea. Another gala! The artistic inventiveness of Chris' staff in adorning the hats reached an apogee! (Great word - APOGEE!) 

    "A good time was had by all" may be trite but it can also be true.

    Same time next year?

    And in the third week of the month, the day at the ZOO. A full bus, a full day and more stars to stud the crowns of Chris, Teresa, Franchon, Tina, Wanda, Attrell, Dahta and Stella.

    Thanks not only for the BIG EVENTS but, for the day-in and week-out meeting of our individual and collective needs.

    Have you noticed that we seem to have more butterflies this year than last?

    If it's true we probably owe it to Ruth Anderson. She not only loves them but plants parsley (to which they are partial) for them.                                                            

    She brought a breathtakingly beautiful brown and blue one up to lunch one day and another cottage resident reports delicate smaller golden brown ones. They are like hope. Or joy. One needs to pay full attention in the presence of such a gift.

    The Hennekes have a visiting great grandog. Same age as Ellen who says he's a "walking sermon" on contentment with one's latent old age.

    Specifics in November, Ellen?