When I first moved to Hutchinson and didn't know a soul here, I thought I would go to the old library they have in the village square and read all the books I could. Having loved to read all my life and never having the time after the children were born, I knew I wouldn't be lonely with a book in my hand. So the first friends I made were the librarian and her assistants.
The I discovered the Senior Center! I went there to sign up for a day tour to a neighboring town and met the site's director, Barb. She asked me if I would like to do some volunteer work and I, of course, said Yes. That was in 1986 and I had never learned to say No to any of her requests until recently, due to poor health. I wound up working at concessions stands, being a tour escort where I passed out candy and told jokes, worked on so many committees that I have even forgot some!! All this time, I am meeting more people.
In the same year, I discovered the Senior Nutrition program at the Sr. Dining site and started eating my noon meal there. This, of course, meant more volunteer work!! Every Senior dining program relies on volunteers to help with the serving of the meals and clean-up afterwards. So, of course, I volunteered and met more people.
In 1988, I moved into an apartment in Evergreen. But still, even tho' I was doing volunteer work at both sites, I found a volunteer job there by writing the day, date, a cheery message with a smiley face and upcoming events happening in the apartment site on the message board in the lobby. I had suggested having such a board to the manager and promptly purchased one and made me responsible for it!
Of course, I met some more people!! Then, one day, I realized how happy I had become!
As I approached my 80th birthday, I decided to get acquainted with computers. So for Christmas, I treated myself to Intel Direct TV, which is like WebTV. I really enjoyed it until I discovered I couldn't get animation of some graphics and I couldn't get music. Altho' some can, mine wasn't set up for it. So, without much knowledge of computers, I purchased a computer at Office Max on Good Friday! The young man who set it up for me and showed me how to start it etc. had to come back within a month to help undo something I messed up and he was amazed at how many messages I had!!!!
Now, since I have had to give up all the various volunteer jobs that I did, I have my pc to keep me company! And it sure does! I am still making friends, but now the only way I see them is if they have their picture on their website. I visit them in England, Australia, Malaysia and the Netherlands and all over our wonderful country and Canada. Volunteer work on net? Oh, yes, the egroups I belong to let me know when someone needs prayers, or has a birthday , sympathy or congratulations!!! So I am still happy and feel so lucky to have found so many friends, especially Maire and Lori, who are responsible for most of my web site.
Accentuate the Positive, eliminate the negative has always been my motto for life plus the good old Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Well, I see we have finished a pot of tea and coffee too. Hope you enjoyed your visit and will explore the rest of my site.
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