Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 25, 2024
** Habitat For Humanity (Ft. Worth) has city approval to construct a “tiny house community” for seniors. Habitat will build 31 one-bedroom homes of 465 sq. feet and 8 two-bedroom homes of 835 sq. feet, along with a pavilion, pond, and walking trails. Any future sell by a homeowner will have to meet age and income qualifications. “Tiny Houses” are a growing approach to affordability, limited income for seniors and those whose values match to resource conservation. Is it too early to schedule our UHauL?
- The high today is to 99. On September 2, maybe 89. The Heat Dome’s summer heat was less than the prolonged 104 – 109 of 2023. Trees now reaching deep for spring’s moisture. Lawns, gardens, and parks requiring precious, limited water.
** Mother Teresa did not often pray for God to remove a barrier to her ministry to the poor or resolve a community challenge. Instead, Mother Teresa prayed for God’s strength and wisdom so she would have an active role in finding the right solution to a community challenge or barrier to her ministry to the poor. I understand why she became a Saint!
- My Next Read: “Whale Talk,” narrated by T. J. Jones, an adopted Asian-African-European American. The Cutter High School swim team has two challenges among many. The school has no pool; only one of the members can swim. The kids fight for their dignity and place in a school and a world that has no place for their hopes, frustrations, dreams. Their true acceptance as individuals and as a swim team is the journey ahead. Page 1 please.
** Ruth Johnson Colvin founded Literacy Volunteers of America in 1962. Over decades what Colvin began in her hometown of Syracuse became the model for teaching basic reading and language skills not only across America but world-wide. She was a member of the Women’s Hall of Fame and received the Medal of Freedom from President George Bush. Ruth Johnson Colvin, a hero among us, died this week at 107.
- In my men’s group this week a member spoke of a life-long friend, one who made the small or big world of others a safer, healthier place. At times his friend was frustrated and experienced isolation, but never ceased to “push his rock up the hill” in order to offer goodness to others. In a high compliment he described his friend as, “he always entered the room saying Yes.” His friend is someone I would like to know, to serve together on a workgroup or board.
Roy, saying Yes
I love the idea of a tiny house community, we hold on to so much stuff in our lives, that downsizing seems sensible. I downsized once when I left my original home in Tanglewood but I could certainly downsize again. My children do not want my stuff they have their own aesthetic, I will keep a watch out for more information I enjoyed watching the World Series Little League. Those boys were true athletes! They played hard but enjoyed the games; as far as I know none of them were paid for their performance, isn’t that what sports is all about.I have known you and Beth for years and you have always entered a room saying “yes”, that’s what makes you special.
Yes, on watching Little League playoffs, especially now international.
Youth in the best of ways.
I played 2nd base…..might fall over today but I would still throw out the rummer from the dirt.
The concept of Yes has captured me. Meaningful, with purpose.
& thank you for saying I sometimes get out of my own way to say Yes also,=.
FW temps will soon welcome you back
Not Paradise, but the sureness of home. Roy
I now have Whale Talk on my list of books. Sounds very interesting! Your, and Beth’s, commitment to community is an example to us all. Finding myself in the caretaker stage of life it is nice to see community exist and thrive. Keep up the great work of communicating the truth, the hope and the possibilities. YES!
You are a giver od care and supporting partner.
We are simply doing community involvement as we were raised up, trained, and experienced (both the mountain top and the valley.
We are close by, even in DFW meaning of close by.
Roy and Beth
I’m still back in last weeks SL. It seems like all week as I was trying to fall asleep, I was remembering radio shows my brother and I would listen to at night and on Saturdays. (We didn’t have a TV until I was 15 in 1955.) I was surprised by how many there were and wondered how we could have listened to them all. The Lone Ranger, of course: “Return with me now to those stirring days of yesteryear…” to the stirring notes of the William Tell Overture. The Green Hornet to Flight of the Bumblebee. The FBI in Peace and War, dum de dum. Gang Busters to blaring sirens and the ratatat of machine guns. The Thin Man. The Shadow, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men…The Shadow knows.” And the ever scary Inner Sanctum, opening to creepy organ music and the sounds of a creaking door.
Then, of course, Fibber Magee and Molly, Henry Aldrich, Archie and Friends, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Jimmy Duranti, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Homer and Jethro, Amos and Andy (racist, no doubt, but we didn’t know), and Ozzie and Harriet. Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and the Riders of the Purple Sage (Cool, Clear Water). Oh there were so many in my nighttime reverie; some I’m forgetting now, no doubt. But such good memories, listening to the big stand up radio in the wooden cabinet in the living room or the small table top radio in our room turned low because we were supposed to be going to sleep. Mom would know if we fell asleep with the radio on and didn’t turn it off the next morning before she came in. Back to reverie and Blessings to all, Owen
wow….memory lane and stations. great recall…..very much putting my ear to your radio…..Thank you!!!
Roy