GATHERING GROUND REPORT - APRIL 10, 2024
I was the temporary Scribe today.
Of course- we totally forgot the photo! (Editor's note: as is our practice when no photos are provided, we improvise with an approximate substitute)
Jo-Ann, Norm and Chet were the only breakfast guests until 8:15 when Bill arrived.
Jerry and Laura are on another trip heading to the Florida Keys with their camper. Word is they are enjoying themselves.
The anticipated rainy Wednesday turned into a beautiful morning, yet the Gathering Ground was eerily empty. So much so, that the line for ‘take out’ customers was noticeable.
Talk at the table was Eclipse related, especially how the country seemed to be focused on one thing for a time.
Some noted that internet traffic averaged an 8%
decrease on a whole- but ~40% in areas of totality.
There were many laughs about Jimmy Kimmel’s question
on the street “What is an Eclipse”. It
can be enjoyed on YouTube.
Bill recently visited the Veterans Medical Complex in Newington, CT and reported that the service was top shelf! He was examined, had a chest X-ray, was given his prescriptions and was on his way in a very timely manner. Norm volunteered at a Veterans facility for awhile. He stated the Nurse in charge of the Volunteers treated them as if they were in a Marine boot camp! He completed that thought with “we weren’t even getting paid!”
Chet mention he had a fall at home - no injuries, but it lead the conversation to ‘Fall Alert’ systems. Nowadays, everyone has a cell phone and can alert Siri, Alexa or Google to summon help…. But the key is, you have to have the phone nearby.
There was talk about morning routines like waking up early. Most said they just naturally wake up before the birds each day - now that they are in Retirement. A discussion about reading Daily Newspaper came up - is it paper? Or computer screen or phone? Is it still a morning habit?
Bill shared a story about Hal’s Progressive Dinners.
Hal would arrange elaborate plans where small groups
would head off to 4 different houses for drinks/appetizers, then switch groups
and head to 4 other houses for a Main course, then all groups got together for
dessert and after dinner camaraderie.
One time, Bill was hosting a Main Couse, so he left his Appetizer house early - to go home and prepare his Cordon Bleu sauce. When he got home, he notice a couple things he wanted to clean up, then something else caught his eye… etc. Everyone sat around the table at last - thats when Bill realized he never made the sauce !! But boy, his house looked great!
~ Jo-Ann ~
