By Elaine Rassel

Another week has passed and I’m still recuperating. It has taken awhile to get “over” the patience part and realize that all this is going to take time and I’m just going to have to be patient and accept this. Maybe this is the time I should stop and smell the roses!
Sunday afternoon I was in for a big surprise. Diane (Wilkens) was home for Fred and Bonnie’s memorial service that was June 19. She took the time to stop by and see me on Friday afternoon. She was concerned about Jennifer as Bonnie had been the person that, after talking to me, would tell her what was going on.
While Diane was here, one of the Heartland Care staff brought in some pills for me. I told the nurse that Diane was Fred and Bonnie’s daughter. So, they had a good visit as well. The Wilken’s had been at Heartland for a number of years and made many friends. Diane mentioned how hard it is going to be to not have her parents to see when coming to Marcus. And, I thought I’d never see Diane once Bonnie was gone. Her visit made my day. Sunday is usually a “dead” day, but not this Sunday for me.
Noon dinner included turkey and the trimmings. Father’s day was recognized. Many of those that are usually out for dinner meals were not there. I suppose their families took them out. I do recognize many of those who eat—Milt Wurth and Brian Roseen for two of them.
Monday morning I looked out my window to the other Heartland Care I can see from my window and saw what looked like a far-off man up on the East part of that roof. Before I could even wonder if I saw right-there were five other men. One of the moved their pick-up and trailer about halfway to the East side. They were rolling the shingles off as well as the tar paper! Except for the fifth person, there were two at all times that were carrying what was rolled up to throw down in the pick-up.
One of them had two long handled fork shovels and used both to loosen up tar paper or sometimes just the old shingles. Can you imagine what a huge roll of these would weigh! While two of them had a black mesh tarp, they would roll these off, both of them dragging it to the edge where pick-up was, then still holding onto their mesh tarp, would toss the rolls and then take mesh back to be reloaded. There was a time when a guy would kneel down while the other men would pile several rolls on his head. The guy stood up (in spite of all the weight) and walked to the pick-up to toss.
I just noticed them at 7 o’clock so I don’t know when they began. At 8:30, they took a 15 minute sit down water break. There was only one more stand-up to have water. Whatever these men are being paid, they deserve it. I could see they were of Mexican ancestry (I don’t know anymore what to call them without getting in trouble. If they re-shingle as fast as they got down to the bare Heartland should be ready for a welcome rain. I only wish some of our people could work as fast and as a team.
Tuesday I was told Bruce Dreckman was going to Detroit to umpire Detroit Tigers versus St. Louis Cardinals game. The name of the umpires were given on screen. Bruce was one of them. In the 5th inning the Cardinals pitcher pitched a ball that was hit and went to left field. The officials went to “check” out the pitcher for a “substance”. This isn’t the first time this season that a pitcher was checked—hat, glove—everything, but his underwear! He was taken out and replaced. Cardinals lost 2-8.
Wednesday I saw the section of roof I could see was re-shingled. There was a shower of rain that they stayed to by-pass and continue until more rain came and they went home.
Thursday Zachary and Bethany brought me some pizza for supper. We had some welcome rain unlike Kingsley. Hail left crops stripped.
Friday I had a physical therapy session at 8 o’clock. For some reason or another, I felt washed out for the entire day.
Lois Allen called from her assistance living home, Bavarian Meadows in Remsen. She is very satisfied with the move. She knows quite a few of the other residents.
The shingling crew must have finished up on Friday as I haven’t seen them Saturday. I could only see part of what they did but looking at the Center, this was really a big job.
Saturday, Gracelyn, Bensen and Amber came to visit. We remarked how after July 4—it seems like there isn’t much time left before school starts. The schools seem to be moving ahead and also getting ready for Fall.
In addition to the Wilkens’ funeral, Lorraine Cave also left us. I think the funeral bulletins from both these funerals were really nice. The Wilkens’ was a 3-fold one and Lorraine’s had strawberry jam on the front of hers. The jam was only one of many things Lorraine had an interest in. She was a busy lady and may she rest in peace until we meet again.
According to a recent news article, the “new” Mayflower that landed in America is now being run by a robot with no humans on board. The Mayflower had a few false starts before its trailblazing sea voyage to America more than 400 years ago. Now, its artificial intelligence-powered namesake is having some glitches of its own. A sleek robotic trimaran retracing the 1620 journey of the famous English vessel had to turn back Friday to fix a mechanical problem.
Nonprofit marine research organization ProMare, which worked with IBM to build the autonomous ship, said it made the decision to return to base “to investigate and fix a minor mechanical issue” but hopes to be back on the trans-Atlantic journey as soon as possible. With no humans on board the ship, there’s no one to make repairs while it’s at sea.
Piloted by artificial intelligence technology, the 50-foot (15-meter) Mayflower Autonomous Ship began its trip early Tuesday, departing from Plymouth, England, and spending some time off the Isles of Scilly before it headed for deeper waters.
While watching a Los Angeles Dodgers game with Chicago Cubs Saturday night, the LAD pitcher in the 6th inning had his cap and glove checked by two of the umpires for “substances”. He was sent out of the game. He had struck out 12 Cubs.
President Biden’s older dog, Champ, 13 years old has died. He was from a breeder and had been at the Naval Observatory when Biden was Vice President. Now he was at the White House. Champs death left the Bidens with a younger German Shepherd they had adopted from a Humane Society in 2018. The dog had made the news for his bad behavior in the past. This dog has gone through training after a couple of biting incidents as well as a dog that had “deposited” in the White House hallway. The Bidens are planning on bringing a cat to the White House. As of this writing, the death of Champ hasn’t been declared a legal holiday.
Remember those in your prayers and thoughts who have lost a loved one to death, those struggling financially, and those who are distant from their family. Count your blessings. I will leave you with this quote from Robert Frost (1874-1963) poet, “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”