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CORRESPONDENTS:   St. Luke Living Center years ago

By SUE GUTSCH

St. Luke Living Center reporter

Joyce Ford had loaned us the game, so Saturday afternoon we decided to see if we were "smarter than a fifth grader." It was unanimous, we don't remember learning that da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa or that the thick layer of hot rock found beneath the earth's crust is the mantle. Not in first grade! We can't imagine what fifth graders learn these days, but hope to play our way to that level eventually.

The Rev. Keith Allison graciously accepted our invitation to lead Sunday afternoon's worship service. He routinely tunes our piano and this week also was the accompanist, as his wife Claudia led the hymn singing.

We used whatever means at our disposal to quickly pretty-up Monday morning and many have negated some of the evidence by playing kick ball that afternoon.

Our Tuesday was so full of activity. How full was it? Beautician Bonnie was here bright and early in the a.m. to render hair care to one or all. The morning walkers made their daily "rounds" of the facility. And we used mental muscle to play several games of alphabet bingo using the letters H, N, X, and Y.

After lunch, Shirley Carlson, with a pretty, decorated cake and a large group of Hilltop Manor friends came to help Irene Kinsey celebrate her 92nd birthday.

At 2:30, a thoughtful Rev. Mike Eurit of Eastmoor United Methodist Church used our small chapel to offer communion to his living center parishioners and other residents as well. Thank you for this ministry, Pastor Mike.

About that same time we began gathering in our big, sunny dining room for book club. Pa Ingalls had surprised Ma with a shining new black iron-legged sewing machine and not a moment too soon. With Laura's initial teaching monies, she had purchased bleached muslin for underwear, chemises, and drawers, petticoats and nightgowns, a stronger muslin for sheets and pillowcases, 10 yards of delicate pink lawn with small flowers and pale green leaves for a fine dress, and a cream-colored straw hat with a band of satin ribbon, and three ostrich tips to compliment the dress.

And if all these activities weren't enough, we squeezed in a session of less-rigorous exercise.

Our latest family album wall display featured Mildred Hajek. She and her husband, Albert were the parents of a daughter and five sons which now includes 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Mildred's family created a beautiful pictorial tribute.

Thursday morning we enjoyed singing hymns with Lois Winter. In the afternoon, the large white van with residents inside toured the county lake and took little side trips to admire all the homes, many of them new.

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