A minute with Michelle for December 2004
| Goodbye From Ruth |
| Oh my goodness how the years have flown right by. I just realized this will be the last Ruth’s Ramblings and I must say goodbye for now. I am sure Michelle will have stories of her own. Now when I am out at those garage sales people will inquire “is that Ruth from the Senior Center” and I will love every minute of it. As always the Senior Center was asking for Volunteers last month. My plea was for Marketing people and Walla! we had a response not one but two people, what a deal and these two are working together which makes it beautiful. Now we have another request we need someone that could drive our CGH Van every other weekend and be on call Friday at 3pm till Sunday at 6p.m. If interested please call and ask for Ruth or Michelle at 626-7707. It is a very interesting job and you help people in need of a ride home. We a picture that is worth a thousand words. These we took on October 15, which was National Make a Difference Day, at the Veterans Home in LaSalle. This fine lady which keeps telling me she can do a lot of things because she is 90 years old and she is right. Della Trudeson wanted to make a difference for the Veterans. So we located the nearest Veterans Hospital and asked if we could come down and bring lunch. They requested Beef because they don’t get it very often so we took down sloppy joe sandwiches. We also took down a little packet with a note pad and pen. They really enjoyed it. While we were there, we also got to enjoy a traveling petting zoo with all different kinds of pets! In our rushed life, we need to stop and take time and think, what will make this person happy. This day, we saw that it was something simple like visiting with wonderful people who once served and protected us. They put their lives on the line for us, the least we could do is take an afternoon and spend some time and visit. My only regret, is that we could not make more of a difference and reward our veterans more. You know the old adage when it rains it pours? Our family has had a thunderstorm. In the past 45 days our sons problem has revisited him and the chemo treatments are much more aggressive, which means many more side effects. As if that weren’t enough, the doctors have ordered me to stay in a wheelchair for 6 months because of my neuropathy. One of the things that happens is the bones in my left leg and foot deteriorates to a certain point and then it regenerates. During that time if too much weight is put on your leg and foot the bones my explode and you lose your leg. So I will be in a wheelchair for about 6 months unless I’m released from it sooner. They told me I could drive so maybe I can help in some way and that’s my story. Just means more work for the rest of the family when two of the 8 adults are out of commission, it means the remaining 6 have to pick up the slack. And our family, well, they will pull together. No matter how hard you think you have got it, look around you and you feel pretty good about yourself. This is the time of year we need to be thankful and to count our blessings and help those less fortunate. We need to stop and take a minute to say “I love you” or “Thank You” to the ones we love, because you never know when they will not be here. Put a quarter or whatever you have in the persons bucket who has been standing out in the freezing cold for hours to collect money for gifts for children. Appreciate everyday with the ones you love because that day might be their last. As you all know I plan on retiring soon. In another article you can read more about my replacement. This will be my last Ruth’s Ramblings, Michelle, who is taking my place will be writing some words for you next month. If any of you have a catchy or funny title for her, send them to 1207 west 9th Street, Sterling, IL 61081, and we just might use it. I would like to thank the Board, Staff, Volunteers, and everyone for all the help you have been to me. And thank goodness Michelle is here and getting broke in the hard way. She is a marvelous selection for a director and very much a people person. I feel good. The Whiteside County Senior Center and I have come a long way, with the help of each of you in the community. When I stop and reflect on 14 years ago the Senior Center was a long building with a post office box offices, and a kitchen. Myself, and Sally Schultz, the bookkeeper in a small office midway of the building with a $70,000 budget to work with was how we operated back then. In addition we had 2 buses, and driver Mr. Ed and Susan Renner served as driver and mechanic. Sue keeps them running with a shoe strings and tie wire, and ran around with jumper cables to keep the 2 buses running. Gloria, secretary, and Nattlie, dispatcher, kept things in order and Lynn Appleman was our Outreach worker. All of these workers were very good at their jobs and went the extra mile for the Senior Center and many others. Over the years we got a new building, bus barn, seven buses, revamped the kitchen and dining room area 2 times, and 2 new parking areas with a budget of $606,543. We now have 1 full time and 2 part time Outreach workers, 2 full time and 5 part time in our transportation department, 2 part time program people, 1 bookkeeper, 2 fulltime, & 2 part time Day Center employees, 1 volunteer that handles the trips, and 1 maintenance man. The Board members over the years have all put in the extra effort to make the Whiteside County Senior Center what it is today. Thanks to the many new employees and those past. Look how far we have come! We have had many memories together some good and some bad, but I believe that is what makes us a stronger agency. Hope you Have a Merry a Christmas and a Happy New Year and be safe. Thank you and God Bless each and everyone of you. |
1207 West Ninth Street • Sterling, Illinois 61081 • (815) 626-7707 • 1-800-645-2859 • Fax (815) 625-0155