Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 20, 2025
FINDING OUR BEST, MOST ENJOYABLE WAY
Beth and I had a delightful day trip to Granbury with our dear friend Elizabeth (101 years young). We had not been to Granbury in 35+ years. We found the small shops around the courthouse square flourishing and representing the culture of Granbury in the best of ways. We enjoyed lunch at the Nutt House and noticed the many tourists. Next day trip suggestions welcomed!
- Thursday evening, we joined 500+to recognize Senator John Lewis and his life-long pursuit of Justice and Right Treatment for all beings. Similar John Lewis days were/are being held in many US cities. Senator Lewis often said he was here to create “Good Trouble” instead of those who created harm and barriers to daily life for others. Senator John Lewis is definitely Hero Time.
As an elder, who struggles with physical balance, a New York Times article suggests right decisions to balance planning. This is a hoped outcome for meaningful life choices while feeling and resisting the push of the digital age for instant gratification. The Times writer recommended two choices to add to our sense of life balance 1) Make smaller, slower choices, avoiding the buildup to larger, stressful choices, and 2) Connect your planning and choices to social rewards by working with others on a task or project. Your social reward may be small (an ice cream cup) or large (volunteering together at Food Bank on behalf of Central Texas Flood communities and families).
Some of my favorites:
- The first Angel among us: Land of Lovies is nonprofit for reuniting children with their very important stuffed animal following a natural disaster and catastrophes. Cental Texas volunteers find, clean, and repair stuffed animals and as possible reunite the child to their animal or provide a similar stuffed animal. This is hoped to provide comfort and a sense of normalcy at a time when very little in a child’s life is normal. My young boy stuffed animal was a monkey named JoJo.
- The second Angel, Debra De Vignes, has established a Writer’s Workshops within state prisons of Indiana, Illinois, and Alabama. All types of writing are encouraged, including their personal story. Upon release, workshop alumni receive support to continue writing, to publish, or to become a public speaker within their community. These writers, along with other great programs, join state prisoners in Missouri who make quilts for nonprofits serving young moms and their children (The Quilters on Netflix tells their story).
Beth will be the author of the Sunday Letter to be published on August 3. Beth’s abilities to communicate is matched to her life of caring and heart support with others.
Roy, missing the security and friendship of JoJo even now!
I had a doll named Sally. She went absolutely everywhere with me. She was who I talked with, played with and slept with. I remember very little of my childhood but most pictures of me as a young child had Sally in them. She went missing one day and my mother said I was inconsolable. Those returned items will comfort a child or a family member. There are good people in the world, sometimes they are too hidden.
Sally, JOJO, and those we kept near, all important to our young lives.
And now, at a different age, we have each other, not yet stuffed.
Together we continue….Roy
Thanks for the letter Roy and good morning. My stuffed monkey, ( maybe JoJo’s cousin), was BoBo…… i remember him being a good friend.. The love and companionship later took the shape of our family dog.. seems we always had a dog.. Today Gus & Dewey are my good friends.. still providing much needed live and companionship.. I am fortunate and gratefu. Happy Sunday to all..
We guys are quiet about our younger days and with whom we shared life.
So g;ad to read about volunteers finding, repairing and reuniting all.
Maurines Comment reflects us all……Roy
There is much that can be done within the criminal justice system to change lives through activities that can transform thinking, feelings, education, self awareness, and perhaps provide the opportunity to identify a positive direction for one’s self. Perhaps learning to read and write. Perhaps opportunities to earn a GED, or take college course work. Perhaps an opportunity to see ones own short stories, poetry, or art work in a publication. Current programs include training dogs to assist people in need of assistance, and making quilts for those in need. Finding confidence and self worth and a positive direction could be worth the effort to change lives for the better.
So very well written. Your Comments better and better, always hopeful.
I am wondering this trip is different earlier stays????
Neighbors aging,,,,as are we all.
You and Roxie special……..Together soon…….Roy
🌞❤️🌻✨️🌞❤️🌻
In the digital world so many images you offer to us.
& thank you for flexible mine and fingers.Always my hero.
Here, here to adventures with Elizabeth. I think that’s a title to a short story book. X/O LM
She be one our heroes, showing us, teaching us, treading onward, together.
We cannot not image our days without here…or you.
Roy and Beth