November 2016
View from the Oval Office
Late October is such an interesting time around Southwest Florida. Our family is three years removed from Michigan yet every time I walk outside at 6am preparing to go to work, I am reminded of how different things really are here.
In Michigan there was a 40 degree chill in the air so I used to taking a light jacket in the morning to work. By the afternoon the temperature would have warmed up to 60 so I would often drive home with my jacket on the passenger seat. Here in Florida there is a 60 degree chill in the air so I would bring a light jacket to work. Of course, by 5pm it is 85 degrees and my jacket is lost somewhere at work.
Every year in early October Julie and I would travel around Michigan to see the changing colors of the trees. At our old home we had an oak and three maple trees. The colors were amazing to see as the colors would vary from bright yellow to flaming red. In the three years I commuted from Fort Myers to Grand Rapids, I would return in the fall with fallen leaves from several trees and tape them to my door at work. Each leaf would have the name of the tree from which they came…some were even correct.
Gone at 6am is the rustling of unfallen leaves on the trees around my house. I did not have to look at the trees in the dark to understand what that sound meant. Now when I walk outside to go to work at 6am, I see the tall shadow of palm trees. When the wind blows the palm in the dark looks like a hand waving at me.
I resist the temptation to want to go back to Michigan and be a snowbird. While I am not retired I really have no desire to experience the change of seasons. Every year in Grand Rapids there would be at least 2 snow storms where we would get 12 to 18 inches of snow. Despite how much fun it looks, shoveling snow can be a pain. As a special bonus, we used to have a fire plug in our front yard. We were reminded to keep a three-foot wide path open to the street in case of a fire. Digging my car out of the driveway when we got stuck trying to gun it up to our garage was an inconvenience as well. Wow, do I love Florida.
While I could spend an hour talking about driving in snow, I will share one experience I will never forget. Driving back from Detroit in a snow storm I was going about 45 mph with the traffic flow on the highway when an 18-wheeler passed me going at least 65. The force of the air put my car in a spin. Everything seemed to go in slow motion while I spun but I careened off the highway on the right. My car straightened out and at that moment I was heading straight for the Exit 89 sign with the McDonalds big M on the bottom left corner coming right at me. In the few seconds I had to think before I met the Exit 89 sign and M, all I could say to myself was “I really want a Big Mac right now.” Luckily I stopped less than 5 feet from the sign and waited almost 90 minutes stuck in my car at a 45 degree angle for help to come.
I do miss one thing about the snow. I would write the name of my wife or kids in the snow in the front yard. The kids really liked that because they could see it out their window. Sometimes I would draw a heart. Oh well, I will not be doing that again.
Florida is as much fun to me now as it was almost 6 years ago when I came down here. I temper that statement only because I have not lived through a hurricane yet.
Bruce Squillante
In Michigan there was a 40 degree chill in the air so I used to taking a light jacket in the morning to work. By the afternoon the temperature would have warmed up to 60 so I would often drive home with my jacket on the passenger seat. Here in Florida there is a 60 degree chill in the air so I would bring a light jacket to work. Of course, by 5pm it is 85 degrees and my jacket is lost somewhere at work.
Every year in early October Julie and I would travel around Michigan to see the changing colors of the trees. At our old home we had an oak and three maple trees. The colors were amazing to see as the colors would vary from bright yellow to flaming red. In the three years I commuted from Fort Myers to Grand Rapids, I would return in the fall with fallen leaves from several trees and tape them to my door at work. Each leaf would have the name of the tree from which they came…some were even correct.
Gone at 6am is the rustling of unfallen leaves on the trees around my house. I did not have to look at the trees in the dark to understand what that sound meant. Now when I walk outside to go to work at 6am, I see the tall shadow of palm trees. When the wind blows the palm in the dark looks like a hand waving at me.
I resist the temptation to want to go back to Michigan and be a snowbird. While I am not retired I really have no desire to experience the change of seasons. Every year in Grand Rapids there would be at least 2 snow storms where we would get 12 to 18 inches of snow. Despite how much fun it looks, shoveling snow can be a pain. As a special bonus, we used to have a fire plug in our front yard. We were reminded to keep a three-foot wide path open to the street in case of a fire. Digging my car out of the driveway when we got stuck trying to gun it up to our garage was an inconvenience as well. Wow, do I love Florida.
While I could spend an hour talking about driving in snow, I will share one experience I will never forget. Driving back from Detroit in a snow storm I was going about 45 mph with the traffic flow on the highway when an 18-wheeler passed me going at least 65. The force of the air put my car in a spin. Everything seemed to go in slow motion while I spun but I careened off the highway on the right. My car straightened out and at that moment I was heading straight for the Exit 89 sign with the McDonalds big M on the bottom left corner coming right at me. In the few seconds I had to think before I met the Exit 89 sign and M, all I could say to myself was “I really want a Big Mac right now.” Luckily I stopped less than 5 feet from the sign and waited almost 90 minutes stuck in my car at a 45 degree angle for help to come.
I do miss one thing about the snow. I would write the name of my wife or kids in the snow in the front yard. The kids really liked that because they could see it out their window. Sometimes I would draw a heart. Oh well, I will not be doing that again.
Florida is as much fun to me now as it was almost 6 years ago when I came down here. I temper that statement only because I have not lived through a hurricane yet.
Bruce Squillante
Coming Back to Dancing Feat
Dancing Feat is a volunteer group of talented women over 60 with endless energy and years of dancing experience. Dancing Feat exhibits a variety of dancing techniques with lively performances.
Our shows are professionally choreographed and we strive to make a difference in the community by dancing and entertaining our audiences. We rely solely on donations from the community at our performances. There are no predetermined charges.
Dancing Feat is available to perform at community events, fundraisers, nursing homes, festivals, private functions and a variety of other venues. We perform to provide funds for homeless veterans. We also help veterans and their families in need of assistance as well as many other local charities.
Our shows are professionally choreographed and we strive to make a difference in the community by dancing and entertaining our audiences. We rely solely on donations from the community at our performances. There are no predetermined charges.
Dancing Feat is available to perform at community events, fundraisers, nursing homes, festivals, private functions and a variety of other venues. We perform to provide funds for homeless veterans. We also help veterans and their families in need of assistance as well as many other local charities.
Hearts & Homes for Veterans Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating homelessness for all Veterans in Lee County. We believe in the VIP program: Veteran's Immediate Placement. Our veterans stood the lines for us, and they should not stand in line for basic needs when they return. They should not wait for housing, food and services that they have served and fought for. That is the one reason that we formed this organization: to place our Veterans first.
In Memoriam
It is with extreme sadness that we report that after coping with increasing dementia the last couple of years, long term River Forest resident, Shelia Zakens passed away peacefully in her sleep at Hope Hospice in Cape Coral on September 15th, 2016. She was 84 years old. She is survived by her son: John Zakens; daughter Dawn M. Kiely; brothers John Mulligan (Cathleen) and Martin Mulligan (Cindy); sister Sharon Pavliscak; and grandchildren Jimmy, Bridget, Patrick and Tara; and great grandchildren Emily, Brian, Lauren and Samantha. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward B. Zakens, Jr., son, Eddie Zakens and son-in-law Derek Kiely.
The Zakens clan moved to East Fort Myers from Detroit Michigan in January of 1972. After settling into the Florida lifestyle, Shelia and her husband Ed built a house in River Forrest! They moved into their dream home on November 1st, 1974.
She absolutely loved living in River Forest.
She was a long time RIFCA member and was involved in many activities and belonged to numerous committees throughout the years. One of her favorite activities was to play bridge with her husband Ed “at the club.” In fact after her husband Ed passed in August 2004, Shelia continued to play bridge on almost a weekly basis! At Shelia’s urging, the family also became charter members of the River Forest Tennis Association in 1974! Talk about convenience, the court was right across the street from her house. It was a great way for the family to have some fun and get some exercise as well.
Shelia was a long time Real Estate Broker. She prided herself in providing personal and professional service, primarily in eastern Lee County. In fact she helped a lot of her neighbors purchase or sell their River Forest properties for over 35 years! She was also a long time member, and past president of the American Business Women’s Association.
She was a great wife… A loving mother… A professional with integrity… A considerate and an awesome friend!
Shirley Bland remembers her fondly. She would see Sheila at the clubhouse and Redhats. Sheila loved to read and would often ask Shirley to help her find books she liked from the library in the clubhouse.
Long-time friend Millicent Callobre Francois gave her warm thoughts:
“Sheila was one of the first people I met when I moved into River Forest 23 years ago. I also remember her husband Ed and son Eddie, and I have gotten to know Dawn who ushers with Chuck at the 4:00 pm Mass at St. Vincent’s.
I taught piano to her sister Sharon’s grandchildren for several years and got to know the whole family and remember her always waving we went by her home if she was outside.
Sheila will be remembered by everyone who attended the New Year’s Eve parties up until two years ago. Her whole family attended and they usually had two tables and kept the party going.
Whenever I sat at a RIFCA dinner at the same table as Sheila, I remember she brought some kind of snacks to share with all at the table.
She provided her Real Estate services to me and Rene when we helped our son purchase a home in Morse Shores, and she as one of the former editors of the Newsletter Notes who wrote an obituary article when Rene passed away.”
Sheila will be missed by all.
The Zakens clan moved to East Fort Myers from Detroit Michigan in January of 1972. After settling into the Florida lifestyle, Shelia and her husband Ed built a house in River Forrest! They moved into their dream home on November 1st, 1974.
She absolutely loved living in River Forest.
She was a long time RIFCA member and was involved in many activities and belonged to numerous committees throughout the years. One of her favorite activities was to play bridge with her husband Ed “at the club.” In fact after her husband Ed passed in August 2004, Shelia continued to play bridge on almost a weekly basis! At Shelia’s urging, the family also became charter members of the River Forest Tennis Association in 1974! Talk about convenience, the court was right across the street from her house. It was a great way for the family to have some fun and get some exercise as well.
Shelia was a long time Real Estate Broker. She prided herself in providing personal and professional service, primarily in eastern Lee County. In fact she helped a lot of her neighbors purchase or sell their River Forest properties for over 35 years! She was also a long time member, and past president of the American Business Women’s Association.
She was a great wife… A loving mother… A professional with integrity… A considerate and an awesome friend!
Shirley Bland remembers her fondly. She would see Sheila at the clubhouse and Redhats. Sheila loved to read and would often ask Shirley to help her find books she liked from the library in the clubhouse.
Long-time friend Millicent Callobre Francois gave her warm thoughts:
“Sheila was one of the first people I met when I moved into River Forest 23 years ago. I also remember her husband Ed and son Eddie, and I have gotten to know Dawn who ushers with Chuck at the 4:00 pm Mass at St. Vincent’s.
I taught piano to her sister Sharon’s grandchildren for several years and got to know the whole family and remember her always waving we went by her home if she was outside.
Sheila will be remembered by everyone who attended the New Year’s Eve parties up until two years ago. Her whole family attended and they usually had two tables and kept the party going.
Whenever I sat at a RIFCA dinner at the same table as Sheila, I remember she brought some kind of snacks to share with all at the table.
She provided her Real Estate services to me and Rene when we helped our son purchase a home in Morse Shores, and she as one of the former editors of the Newsletter Notes who wrote an obituary article when Rene passed away.”
Sheila will be missed by all.
Remember
A little house with three bedrooms, one bathroom and one car on the street. A mower that you had to push to make the grass look neat.
In the kitchen on the wall we only had one phone, and no need for recording things, someone was always home.
We only had a living room where we would congregate, unless it was at mealtime in the kitchen where we ate.
We had no need for family rooms or extra rooms to dine. When meeting as a family those two rooms would work out fine.
Only had one TV set and channels maybe two, but always there was one of them with something worth the view.
For snacks we had potato chips that tasted like a chip. And if you wanted flavor there was Lipton's onion dip.
Store-bought snacks were rare because my mother liked to cook and nothing can compare to snacks in Betty Crocker's book.
When we did our weekend trips depending on the weather, no one stayed at home because we liked to be together.
Sometimes we would separate to do things on our own, but we knew where the others were without our own cell phone.
Then there were the movies with your favorite movie star, and nothing can compare to watching movies in your car.
Then there were the picnics at the peak of summer season, pack a lunch and find some trees and never need a reason.
Get a baseball game together with all the friends you know, have real action playing ball -- and no game video.
Remember when the doctor used to be the family friend, and didn't need insurance or a lawyer to defend?
The way that he took care of you or what he had to do, because he took an oath and strived to do the best for you.
Remember going to the store and shopping casually, and when you went to pay for it you used your own money?
Nothing that you had to swipe or punch in some amount, and remember when the cashier person had to really count?
The milkman used to go from door to door, and it was just a few cents more than going to the store.
There was a time when mailed letters came right to your door, without a lot of junk mail ads sent out by every store.
The mailman knew each house by name and knew where it was sent; there were not loads of mail addressed to "present occupant."
There was a time when just one glance was all that it would take, and you would know the kind of car, the model and the make.
They didn't look like turtles trying to squeeze out every mile; they were streamlined, white walls, fins and really had some style.
One time the music that you played whenever you would jive, was from a vinyl, big-holed record called a forty-five.
The record player had a post to keep them all in line and then the records would drop down and play one at a time.
Oh sure, we had our problems then, just like we do today and always we were striving, trying for a better way.
Oh, the simple life we lived still seems like so much fun, how can you explain a game, just kick the can and run?
And why would boys put baseball cards between bicycle spokes and for a nickel, red machines had little bottled Cokes?
This life seemed so much easier and slower in some ways. I love the new technology but I sure do miss those days.
So time moves on and so do we and nothing stays the same, but I sure love to reminisce and walk down memory lane.
With all today's technology we grant that it's a plus! But it's fun to look way back and say, hey look, guys, THAT WAS US!
In the kitchen on the wall we only had one phone, and no need for recording things, someone was always home.
We only had a living room where we would congregate, unless it was at mealtime in the kitchen where we ate.
We had no need for family rooms or extra rooms to dine. When meeting as a family those two rooms would work out fine.
Only had one TV set and channels maybe two, but always there was one of them with something worth the view.
For snacks we had potato chips that tasted like a chip. And if you wanted flavor there was Lipton's onion dip.
Store-bought snacks were rare because my mother liked to cook and nothing can compare to snacks in Betty Crocker's book.
When we did our weekend trips depending on the weather, no one stayed at home because we liked to be together.
Sometimes we would separate to do things on our own, but we knew where the others were without our own cell phone.
Then there were the movies with your favorite movie star, and nothing can compare to watching movies in your car.
Then there were the picnics at the peak of summer season, pack a lunch and find some trees and never need a reason.
Get a baseball game together with all the friends you know, have real action playing ball -- and no game video.
Remember when the doctor used to be the family friend, and didn't need insurance or a lawyer to defend?
The way that he took care of you or what he had to do, because he took an oath and strived to do the best for you.
Remember going to the store and shopping casually, and when you went to pay for it you used your own money?
Nothing that you had to swipe or punch in some amount, and remember when the cashier person had to really count?
The milkman used to go from door to door, and it was just a few cents more than going to the store.
There was a time when mailed letters came right to your door, without a lot of junk mail ads sent out by every store.
The mailman knew each house by name and knew where it was sent; there were not loads of mail addressed to "present occupant."
There was a time when just one glance was all that it would take, and you would know the kind of car, the model and the make.
They didn't look like turtles trying to squeeze out every mile; they were streamlined, white walls, fins and really had some style.
One time the music that you played whenever you would jive, was from a vinyl, big-holed record called a forty-five.
The record player had a post to keep them all in line and then the records would drop down and play one at a time.
Oh sure, we had our problems then, just like we do today and always we were striving, trying for a better way.
Oh, the simple life we lived still seems like so much fun, how can you explain a game, just kick the can and run?
And why would boys put baseball cards between bicycle spokes and for a nickel, red machines had little bottled Cokes?
This life seemed so much easier and slower in some ways. I love the new technology but I sure do miss those days.
So time moves on and so do we and nothing stays the same, but I sure love to reminisce and walk down memory lane.
With all today's technology we grant that it's a plus! But it's fun to look way back and say, hey look, guys, THAT WAS US!
Games Games Games
The season is turning to a full house of residents and we are always looking for new members to join our games. All of them are on Tuesdays, 1:00 pm for Mahjongg and Canasta, then Dominos play at 7:00 pm. We play at the clubhouse so please join us and look to see you there.
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Thanksgiving Story
~Excerpt from Reader's Digest
"In September of 1985, when I was 24, my folks decided to get divorced. I was taught that to be a good son, I needed to be supportive and loving to each parent and to my siblings. But nobody was talking to anybody.
If you were nice to one parent, the other one would get mad at you. So when October came, I thought, What’s going to happen at Thanksgiving? And I just did not like the thought of being home alone—or anywhere alone—on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is not about gifts or fireworks or hoopla. It’s a meal around a table where you give thanks for the blessings you have, and you really can’t do that by yourself and have much fun.
I decided to put an ad in the local paper: If people thought they would find themselves alone, they could give me a call, and I would make a Thanksgiving dinner. That first year, a few people came, and they had a good time. I was nervous about making a mess out of the food and disappointing people. But the food was OK, and I didn’t burn anything.
I’ve held the dinner every year since. Last Thanksgiving, 84 people showed up. Sometimes they’re new to town; sometimes they’re recently divorced or widowed. I’ve had people who were new to the country and didn’t speak any English, but they enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve had poor people, people who come from AA, old people. Also, not counted within that number: I always feed the police. The firefighters and EMTs are in buildings with kitchens and can have their own Thanksgiving dinner among themselves, but the police officers are in their cars, driving around town on call.
Two years ago, a woman with Parkinson’s disease came, and she was not good on her feet. She had been in a nursing home for seven years and had never been out. Somebody told her about the dinner, and she hired an ambulance to bring her, at $200 plus mileage. She had a great time, and she cried when the ambulance returned to get her. She didn’t want to go home.
Most of the people who come don’t know who I am. They know that there’s some skinny guy in the kitchen, but they don’t know my name. I think the theme of my life, and everything I do, could be summed up with the name of an old hymn called “Brighten the Corner Where You Are.” I hope my legacy will be that I came into the world, I brightened the corner, and then I quietly left the world unnoticed."
"In September of 1985, when I was 24, my folks decided to get divorced. I was taught that to be a good son, I needed to be supportive and loving to each parent and to my siblings. But nobody was talking to anybody.
If you were nice to one parent, the other one would get mad at you. So when October came, I thought, What’s going to happen at Thanksgiving? And I just did not like the thought of being home alone—or anywhere alone—on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is not about gifts or fireworks or hoopla. It’s a meal around a table where you give thanks for the blessings you have, and you really can’t do that by yourself and have much fun.
I decided to put an ad in the local paper: If people thought they would find themselves alone, they could give me a call, and I would make a Thanksgiving dinner. That first year, a few people came, and they had a good time. I was nervous about making a mess out of the food and disappointing people. But the food was OK, and I didn’t burn anything.
I’ve held the dinner every year since. Last Thanksgiving, 84 people showed up. Sometimes they’re new to town; sometimes they’re recently divorced or widowed. I’ve had people who were new to the country and didn’t speak any English, but they enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve had poor people, people who come from AA, old people. Also, not counted within that number: I always feed the police. The firefighters and EMTs are in buildings with kitchens and can have their own Thanksgiving dinner among themselves, but the police officers are in their cars, driving around town on call.
Two years ago, a woman with Parkinson’s disease came, and she was not good on her feet. She had been in a nursing home for seven years and had never been out. Somebody told her about the dinner, and she hired an ambulance to bring her, at $200 plus mileage. She had a great time, and she cried when the ambulance returned to get her. She didn’t want to go home.
Most of the people who come don’t know who I am. They know that there’s some skinny guy in the kitchen, but they don’t know my name. I think the theme of my life, and everything I do, could be summed up with the name of an old hymn called “Brighten the Corner Where You Are.” I hope my legacy will be that I came into the world, I brightened the corner, and then I quietly left the world unnoticed."
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