Volume 12, No. 1: November 2007

Veterans’ Day 2007 at Sunscape

            A special day with special memories for all of us!  

            It all began last season when Dale and Bonnie requested items for display.  The museum surpassed my expectations by far…how meaningful photos and memorabilia become when connected to those we know.  The collections demonstrated how important their roles in the military were, and are, to them, and showed the rest of us a small glimpse into their past.

            Everyone likes a contest and the Wall of Honor provided more than just that.  It was great fun to see those good looking men and women, and then name them as best we could.  What a lot of surprises there were!  There were 38 pictures displayed and Jarolyn Macomber and Maggie Mitchell both had 12 correct.  The prize was dinner for two at the American Legion Hall in Coolidge--we thought.  However, when the winners went forward to claim their prize, they were given c-rations!   A slide show matched the name and the vets, and there was recognition by all for them.

            Sunday began with a special breakfast of the infamous SOS (and some among us actually liked it).  Moving toward the Community Center I saw the largest American flag I’ve ever seen displayed.  The program this year was the best ever!  The Coolidge High School Marine ROTC presented the colors…G. H. gave the opening (and closing) prayer…we said the Pledge of Allegiance…sang the “Star Spangled Banner”… had a flag folding demonstration with an explanation of the meaning of each of the thirteen folds… Gert   Scramstad  recited   with  

great emotion the poem “Flanders Field”…Dale gave a  reminder of the meaning of each item of the MIA/POW table set up in front…an Army recruiter from Casa Grande spoke, not a speech, but spoke from his heart about a personal experience.  The traditional poppy was handed out to all.

            The festivities ended, as always, with cake and coffee.  Jan McKimmy provided a cake which she had decorated with the picture of the veterans  taken earlier in the week.  (That picture, and soon to be others, can be seen on our website, www.sunscapervresort.info. ) Our thanks go to Jan for her efforts at providing cakes for many occasions.

            Our gratitude goes out to all who have sacrificed to keep our country free.  God Bless America and God bless us all! 

Parade of Honor

The first annual Veteran’s Day Parade was held in Casa Grande on November 10^th. There were over 25 entries. We were very proud of our Sunscape Veteran’s Float with its very large American Flag and a few of our honored vets aboard. Our float looked glorious being pulled along the parade route by a military Humvee.

People are from left, Ray and Nancy Fassbender, Sonny McCole,

 Ron Stockall, Dale Shoeneberger, and Bill Howe

The Desert Oasis . . .

The Gift of Joy

            You and I were created for joy; and if we miss joy, we have missed the reason for our existence.

            The reason Jesus Christ lived and died on earth was to restore the joy we have lost.  We are not talking about an “emotional high” or some psychic indulgence, but rather the beautiful discovery of “all rightness” in the essence of life.

            The Psalmist said, “This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  That is the longing of every human heart.

            So what’s wrong?  In the words of an old sage, “most of us spend our lives building a mansion for ourselves, then choose to live in the dog house.”  And Jesus said, “I have told you these things that my joy may be in you and your joy be complete.”

            This is the day the Lord hath made.  It is a present from Him to me.  When we accept our day as a gift from Him, we have entered our mansion of joy and discovered that it can be alright, even when everything is so sadly wrong.

            Rejoice, and share it with others.  They need it.  I.Y.Q.

                        Love,   G. H.

Psalms 118:24

From the Desk of Sunscape Sunny

Advice Columnist

Dear Sunscapers,

     Since I have just arrived at Sunscape, I’m not up to snuff on the most current issues.  Please help prepare me for the next edition of the “Sunscaper” by sending your questions,  observations,  quips, and general  comments to Millie for safe keeping. She does a good job of getting them to me.

     I’m sure looking forward to seeing all of you and catching up on all the fun, gossip, and general excitement.

                             Sunny

Truce is better than friction.

This is a True Story

             It happened this summer to Carol Hanley’s sister, Vera, who lives in St. Cloud, MN in the summer.

            One night she got up, as so many of us do, and upon returning to bed she apparently became dizzy and fell getting into bed.  She was injured (a broken hip) and was unable to reach her telephone. 

            Her neighbors began watching her newspapers piling up at the door, but Vera had been talking about taking a trip, so they assumed that she was gone.  Her daughter, who lived across town, called her on the phone, but assumed (as my daughters would have) that she was out shopping or visiting a friend. 

            Finally, on the third day, the daughter decided to drive over and check on her.  It was just in time.  She was so badly dehydrated that a few more hours would have been too late.

Could It Happen in Sunscape?

            Last spring, I became concerned about so many people living alone here. Lately, Carol and I have been discussing our situation and have come up with signals to alert each other that we are up and around.  With no better plan and something that seems simple, here is what I suggest:  If you have a “single” person living near you, talk to them about a simple sign (maybe they raise a certain shade when they get up).  If you are alone you may need to take the initiative and talk to a neighbor.  Let’s play it safe!

Anger is the only thing to put off till tomorrow.

Eat breakfast in style

Friday mornings, 7 a.m.– 9 a.m.

Sunscape Clubhouse

Delicious food

Service with a smile

Y’all come!

Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

E-mail Addresses for Information

            If you did not receive e-mail about summer happenings from me during the summer, it was because I did not have your e-mail address.

            If you would like to be included, please contact me on MN 26.  If you change your e-mail address, please contact me so that I can keep the addresses current.

            I need  the following people to contact me to get their e-mail address corrected.   Bob Beaver, Jen Thompsen, John McDonald, Earl Dodge, Art Arney and Larry Nunn.        -  Charlie Fender

            Our Christmas project for 2007…

is to gather NEW toys and clothes for kids so that they will have something new for Christmas. They will be distributed by the Pinal County Sheriff's Dept. to needy children throughout the county. There is a barrel in the Clubhouse for your donations. (They will be picked up as they accumulate.) You may also make a cash donation.

            Used bicycles are also welcomed. The prisoners will refurbish them to like new, and they will be distributed as well. I will also accept items at MN 26. (Some have already been donated.)

             As Sunscape often does with generous giving, let's make this a wonderful Christmas for many kids.     Thanks, Mary Ann Fender

Color Purple

            With so many comments on the colors in the Activity Center, I just had to do some research.  First, let’s explore the meaning of the color purple:  It’s the color of purpose; good judgment; sophistication; is associated with royalty.  Then put some violet in your life if you want: to use your imagination to the fullest; to rebalance your life; to remove obstacles; to energize from depression.

            I have found some interesting things happening in the AC: the MN Canasta card players are smiling and laughing out loud; the poker players are giving up their money more cheerfully; the ping-pong players are full of energy; the girls at the morning workouts are perkier than ever.

            OK let’s face it.  We are needing a little pick-me-up.  If you’re feeling blue, just go to the Activity Center and get into the pink.

You can “get a high” by going up in a hot air balloon or going camping with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. 

            Be sure to thank Ida Lambert for these great pictures.  She has done a great job.  What a talent she has!

            And don’t forget the ones who have done most of the painting of the walls in all the buildings.  Thank you, Diane and Don Wittig and Bonnie and Dale Schoeneberger.  CM

When you reach for the stars you may not get one,

But you won’t come up with a handful of mud.

2007 SENIOR PROM

            Gene Holdren did a fantastic job of putting together a presentation of the pictures taken at the 2007 Senior Prom.  All of the attendees’ pictures have been identified and are labeled.  This is available on a CD.  As an added bonus, the pictures of the 2006 Senior Prom are also included; but the attendees are not identified.

            The CD is only $2.  See Joyce Bingenheimer on 406 WI to purchase a CD. Proceeds will go into the fund for the 2008 Senior Prom.  

Flexible people never get bent out of shape.

1917

WOW, was it really 90 years ago?

            This was the year when: Woodrow Wilson was our president; the Chicago White Sox won the World Series; Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ella Fitzgerald and John Kennedy were born; the U.S. acquired the Virgin Islands from Denmark; and Alice Hurianek was born in Denmark.  Indeed Denmark was good to us.

            Alice came to New York at the age of five.  She has one brother who admits that, even at a young age, she was a doer and a shaker.  Their mother made him go on dates with her since she was, and still is, quite a flirt, as well as being known as a match maker.

            Alice married John Muldoon and they had two wonderful sons.  They lived in the Central Park area for a time, and then moved to N. Miami.  In 1967, they returned to NY where she had to find a job.  She backed up her age by six years as she felt that 50 was too old to get a job. (Back then she was probably right.)Later, the family moved to Colorado Springs where Alice took care of her husband until he passed away.

            When she met and married Jerry Hurianek, they decided to travel in an RV. Luck being on our side, they came to Sunscape in 1992.  Always being interested in club activities and helping people less fortunate that herself, she became a small tornado for our park.  Alice was our first and only “sunshine lady,” taking or sending cards and flowers to sick or “grieving” members.  She was a board member, started bingo and called every week for eight seasons.  Always looking for ways to raise money for our park, she started the planning for the first park party.  On Halloween, she would get her friends to dress up and go lot to lot to collect food for the needy.  Alice was and is a ray of sunshine.

            NINE DECADES! What hasn’t Alice seen and done?  I guess it’s best that we not know it all, leaving her some special secrets.

            This reporter, not knowing Alice for very long, has been blown away at all she is, at all who love her, and what she has done for so many.  God bless you Alice, as he has us by putting you in our lives.  CM   

Notes from Millie:      I was so excited about having a new format for “The Sunscaper,”  and I hope you like it, too. Excited, that is, until I began to arrange “the furniture.”  It was kind of like moving into a new house.  Where do you put the chairs? The divan?  Now, instead of two long sheets with four columns, I have four short sheets with eight columns. 

            Then, too, I was operating on my own.  Or was I?  Crazy Mary met Alice this summer and did this article about her.  Well, Alice did desert us and moved to Wildhorse; but she is part of our history – a very important part at the time of our beginnings.  I hope you will forgive me for letting her in.  Then, too, I thought Mary did a great job of reporting about her as well as exploring the paint job in the Activity Center.  Thanks, Mary.

             I was getting a little frantic when Pat Kline filled me in with some information about the Veterans’ Day activities.  A big thanks to her.  How can I forget Billie Hering, who came through with pictures I requested, plus some info.  In fact, G. H. and Gene Curry were prompt this time, and didn’t even have to be reminded.

            Sunny wrote me from long distance and he should be back next time.  Anyone have a topic they would like him to address?  Let me know.  We’re always looking forward to his logic.

            I would like to have the names of a few more who would like to deliver the paper when I am needing someone to fill in.  I have a loyal group of regulars, but sometimes things come up and they are unavailable.  I would also like someone who would like to train in distribution.   It is really quite simple.

            Many of you know that I had surgery on both my feet last summer.  I had spurs on the top of each foot which had made walking very painful.  Well, I don’t have the pain now, but my feet will not be back to normal for about six months.  Consequently, I try to limit my walking and standing.  My best recourse is to get a book and “hit” my recliner.  Having spent a total of four weeks in a Care Center this summer, I am finding it pleasantly challenging to converse with “normal” people.  -  Millie

Published for Sunscape RV Resort,                1083 Sunscape Way,

Casa Grande, AZ                                  Millie Boone, Editor

www.sunscapervresort.info