Medford Adventure

“Oh, to be fifty again!” That ode heard often from the grinning face of our dad, never left me. When fifty years hit me, I rejoiced; my friends wondered why.

Now, at seventy-something, I have still been wondering where “old age” is/was/or shall be. “Wake up!” I heard myself say recently. “Dick Blide, (husband of great looking legs) is going to be eighty next year and our Dad died in his early eighties. E-Gad.”

And so that is why Dick and I took off this week to see what “old age” really is and what we “should” do about it. Dick has been stressing over and over his need to slow down and plan for the future, health-wise. I have politely listened; but didn’t hear.

However, it is true. Dick, in the last decade, has earned that concern, especially considering “going down hill” as he says, regarding his vision, his heart, and his nervous system. All of this leading to his open heart surgery for valve repair (two of the four valves), a pace-maker surgically placed in his chest (I have coyly called it his third boob), the lessening of balance in his feet and strength resulting in the need of Retuxin, a med inserted by needle over a period of several “sittings” to stop the progression of neuropathy (nerve damage), and maybe the scariest of all, “wet” macular degeneration, or blindness in his left eye (except for his peripheral vision) with shots needed monthly now with efforts to save his right eye from loss of vision. Dick Blide has always been energetic with running marathons (9 of them), climbing and skiing down mountains, and enjoying the outdoors, generally, with gusto. I finally faced reality and am now wanting to do anything to make life easier for both of us, but mainly, being honest to myself regarding the health of this good man and wonderful husband. Off we went this last week to Medford Oregon, seeming to us both to be the best of the several places we have visited, heard about, or read about: Rogue Valley Manor.

We were met by Cindy Hail of Marketing, with whom we had gone through most of what there was to see and do, back in January. With this huge Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) we just couldn’t remember it all and were invited to stay for a few days in one of their cottages. We did pay $65.00/day which included all three meals of unbelievable gourmet dining (three dining areas to pick from). Cindy gave us the keys to an adorable one bedroom cottage within walking distance to everything.

All amenities were there including a completely appointed kitchen, clothes washer and drier, huge TV, king-size bed, sitting room, etc. Even the views from the back deck were wonderful. Cottages are sized up to about 1,800 sq. ft.

Residents stay in a choice of three lovely places: in addition to The Cottages, is The Manor where the “needy” residents stay for medical assistance available, as well as the doctor on the premises in the clinic right next door.


Next is the The Plaza, with different sized condos, as well as, lovely accommodations in the unusual attached dining area (on left of picture below).


We had lots of free time and enjoyed the outdoors. First, we traipsed the treed and flowered Bear Creek path that stretches for miles just below the Manor.

The best of the best, however, was twelve miles to the south in Ashland, where we enjoyed the 93 acre Lithia Park, beautifully landscaped for walking, jogging and enjoying nature at its best, as well as housing the lovely building (below) built for the famous Shakespeare Festival occurring in Ashland in the Spring to Fall months.


Finally, were the kind evening hosts, both sets of whom picked us up in their cars and transported us (about ½ mile) to dinner. From them we learned many positive reasons for coming here, especially after hearing about their lists of possible retirement places they had visited that did not match up to The Rogue Valley Manor.


Here we see the unbelievable Lisa (center), who plays five instruments and heads up (as volunteer) the planning of all musical events for the Manor. Her friend, “August,” a civil engineer (ret.) volunteers to help residents with their income tax needs. Hmmmm. Maybe I’ll be a swimming teacher volunteer!

A final thought before we leave Cindy, here, in thinking back regarding this interesting “adventure for the future.” There are some helpful and special “perks” that accompany the joining of this beautiful and caring place when one retires to this active and cheerful adventure.

Other stuff that we really like:
- Rogue Valley is non-profit
- Three meals/day including some snack areas are available to all as noted
- House cleaning services automatic every third week, including windows!
- All grounds taken care of including plantings, mowing, “cutting back,” all buildings and common areas.
- All work out facilities (swim pool, gym equipment, pool volley-ball,
bridge club, book club, wood-working club, Wii gaming club, sewing club,
music club, “pool shooting,” motorized sail boat races, art club, etc.) are free except for a small fee for golf.
The pool (20 yards long) is open 7 days/ week 24 hours/day.
- Scheduled bus service to shopping areas, churches, downtown Medford, nearby medical facilities and other destinations are available at no cost. Continuous on-grounds bus service available daily.
- Health and medical services available; some fees as noted.
- And finally, the sun shines in Medford 75% of the time --- yea.

Maui_09

We’re back!
We’re browned!
We’re saying Aloha to each other when we wake up in the morning.

Hawaii has happily left its mark on us assuring Dick and Patti that they did the right thing last year when they bought the two week timeshare condo at the Sands of Kahana in Maui, Hawaii. Our morning (7:00 am – 8:00 am) walk of 70 minutes to the Java Jazz Coffee Shop, also called Good Ass Coffee, started off each day with cheery “Good Mornings” offered over and over again as we passed/met other walkers, joggers, bikers of all ages on this same street running alongside the pounding surf of the Pacific Ocean.

Yes, we were in that surf peering down, left and right for more and more brightly colored fish of all sizes and shapes. Boy, does The Lord have artistic talents or what! Our two favorite places were Black Rock, where turtles also lay in wait to “smile” up at one, and the place we named “Shady Beach” for all the trees reaching out to serve as shade, and/or hammock-holders.

And then there was the food. Having a Fresh Fish Market and Outdoor Food Market on our walking street didn’t hurt. Our first “fancy” food outing (this means wear a “nice” shirt, at least) was a luxurious dining experience (one we went on last year w/ Mike & Bonnie, and suggested to us by neighbors The Nehls and The Bates) was Canoes where one wondered if the surf would slap up on the windows! That food could NOT be beat, and of course, it was fish with gorgeous presentation; unless it was the famous Hula Pie at Leilanies in Whaler’s Village.

Other food was what we fixed ourselves in our cozy condo kitchen where we invented our first “Smoothie” filled with fresh Hawaiian fruit (mainly bananas – did you know they grow upside down? – as well as Hawaiian pineapple, strawberries and blue berries along with soy milk which gave us “creamy” w/o much soy taste or calories. We also practiced with veggie frittatas. Then there was Valentine’s Day at The Plantation House where Mike’s friend, Bonnie’s friend took us last year. Wow! Yum! Dick had the expected freshly caught Pompano and I ventured out for rack of lamb that blew me away with it’s delicacy and flavor. With all that, I must admit that the GREATEST and BEST were the views while eating. There is no “green” any greener than Hawaii’s (how do they do it?). At Canoes it was the moored sail boats wafting to and fro in the breezes and the white surf against the blue, blue ocean. At The Plantation it was the rolling golf greens ending at the blue ocean shore. Gasp.

We did little shopping but did love wandering through Lahaina where Bonnie had taken us last year, and the Wyland Gallery, where we asked about the most beautiful coffee table ever made by sculptor, Wyland, who only wanted $20,000 for these three bronze turtles supporting an oval glass top. I bantered with the salesman telling him that once I asked my husband if I could sell our son (I hope you’re not reading this, Alex) to pay for a fabulous statue that I do have now in picture only. The salesman laughed and said he had one client who actually sold his house to pay for a Wyland. Hmmmmm. And then he told me (after saying I could not photograph it) I could find it on line. And so I shall.

The ice cream in Lahaina was yummy, and the artists’ efforts for sale under a huge Banyan tree canopy were spectacular.

Finally, before we left, Patti rushed outside where we had been taken on a nature walk by “Bill” of The Kahana Sands, to photograph (especially for Penny) some of the Flora beautifying Hawaii everywhere. No, I did not know that bananas grew upside down.. And I did not know the chunks and holes in the bark of the soaring palm trees was NOT due to bugs, but to the spiked shoes worn by the men who climbed these tall, tall trees to take down the coconuts before they fell down and bonged someone on the head possibly ending in death. Gad. And I did not know that these beautifully leafed, huge bushes became “sliced looking” leaves due only to the wind, not naturally! And I did not realize that the Croton shrubs developed their bright array of colors leaf by leaf over time, all having been green, originally.

And yes, after all that beauty, it was O.K. to leave, for we will return next year. We got back into the swing of things with our five hour plane flight which flew us right back into reality. Patti escaped into her Christopher Reeves bio, “Still Me,” leaving her in tears all the way home, while Dick Blide continued to enjoy his latest addiction, Sudoku,

Mahalo!

Life is Good,

patricia and richard

Merry Christmas, 2008, at The Woods’ Home and Catalina Island

Many, happy days ago, five Christmas “Bunnies” met at Chez Woods, and later at Catalina Island to share a lot of feasting and enjoying family with two sibs, two husbands, and one Handsome Giant Son.

The six days of joy were “headed up” by the Christmas Head Gear (above) brought to somewhat mirror the “noses” of yester-year which, in fact, also, brought smiles and comments from all who saw us.

Our first big adventure opened up for us at the Long Beach Yacht Club when the two Woods and one Handsome Giant Son set up a grand celebration for the 79th year of Dick Blide happily being here on Earth. Penelope must have presented one cookie per year!

Then, Christmas Eve Day found us accompanying son, Nicholas to his favorite church, and favorite pastor since high school days. The music gifted us this evening was professional in its beauty and fed our souls most of the one-hour delightful service. We guess over 500 appreciative people attended.

The next day, beautiful walks took place, ending in a brightly decorated mall-type place where we tried to “fit in” with our (twins’) head gear.

Christmas Day Brunch hosted by the Woods, found us in beautiful surroundings with many cheered people sharing the fabulous (too much) food and sparkling environs.

And finally, gifts were exchanged with the first being the announcement of three days at a darling condo at Catalina Island for the Blides from and with the Woods! Wow! Further gifts for the Woods were opened, including one from Michael Mouse who didn’t even know it (Fred discovered many friends in the Rice U. book of years ago).


But wait! There’s more!

An adorable and cozy condo awaited our arrival by Ferry (below). . .accompanied by a darling gas-run scooter-type open air vehicle able to seat all five of us at a time! Nicholas and Frederick did most of the enjoying of said scooter; Patti and Penny feared the open air part and jumped right off as soon as possible. They walked.


The following three days were stuffed almost as much as we, with great eating, hiking, and watching all the beauty of Catalina Island. . .especially the sunshine, (almost new to the Blides) fun eating places (one of them insisted we throw all peanut shells on the floor) and gorgeous buildings with surprises of wild buffalo almost close enough to touch.

Finally, it must be reported that Big Woody almost walked our buns off, and Dick found a hat big enough. Finally,

the giant Pelican, made it clear, he hated to see us leave. . .

Philosophy of Teaching

Ariel, we move on to actual “Teaching.” See if you like these ideas. I wrote these thoughts as one of eight essays submitted toward my selection as RISD Teacher of the Year, 1990-1991 and then as Regional Secondary Teacher of the Year (1990 – 1991).

Teaching is one of the Passion Professions. Teaching is a calling, a mission, a gift, an addiction, a “high.” Writers write from need; musicians play, sing, or compose to bring out what lives inside their souls; philosophers cannot keep from thinking, musing, sharing. The teacher is each of these. S/he does not decide to be; s/he just is.

All teachers do not live in the classroom. Some teachers seem to teach by example, as do leaders. Some teachers teach looking back over their shoulders, as do philosophers. Some teachers teach with a wide angle lens on the now; as do pragmatists. Some teachers teach looking up over the horizon, as do visionaries. The classroom teacher is each of these: a leader, a philosopher, a pragmatist, a visionary.

An outstanding teacher knows s/he is outstanding. S/he does not worry about formal evaluations; s/he self-evaluates constantly. S/he looks into the eyes, hearts, and minds of her students watching for pluses to be expanded and for minuses to be improved. S/he exudes self-confidence, good health, energy and joy. S/he loves learning and her students know it. S/he gets excited about new ideas, and her students want to be the ones to present them. S/he is happy when s/he is in the classroom (literally or figuratively) and misses it when s/he is not. S/he does not bring heavy baggage into her teaching space. S/he leaves it at home. . .or on the jogging track.

An outstanding teacher models but does not preach. She stands tall but not from a pedestal. She facilitates more than she dictates. She listens as much as she talks. She knows that inside each student lies a little pearl of truth and beauty itching to know and to understand more. She knows some pearls are deeper and harder to find while others seem to shine and gleam from the surface. The important fact is that the pearl is there in each and every student. The outstanding teacher does not seek out only the easy students with pearls of great luster and great beauty. The outstanding teacher finds a special privilege and satisfaction in seeking out and finding those deepest, darkest pearls of little luster and little beauty. It is the outstanding teacher who discovers that the greatest effort can produce the greatest reward.

The outstanding teacher does not go beyond her teaching space simply because s/he seeks reward. S/he goes beyond to extend her gift. S/he seeks out a chance to support students outside of the classroom. S/he seeks out new avenues to learn more so that s/he can enrich her gift.

The outstanding teacher is, to a great degree, a visionary. But s/he is also a realist and a pragmatist. S/he knows that all students can learn. But sometimes s/he realizes that there will be failures despite her efforts. S/he knows that it is acceptable to grieve these failures, and s/he does not blame or dismiss them easily.

My greatest reward in teaching has been in the learning. Through teaching, not only am I learning deeper and broader content information, but I have learned that because of the seriousness of the teacher’s responsibility, s/he is dealing with conscience more than many other people. As a new teacher, I did not know that teaching would hone such outcome, let alone reward. As a new teacher, I reveled in the rewards of student discovery, of teacher/student caring and loving, of saved failures, of the excitement of creating. But now, I realize that with each year, with each effort, I have become a better person; a kinder, more adaptive teacher; an intellectually more interested student. And so now I know that the outstanding teacher is, in fact, an outstanding student. I am proud to continue to be both. . .teacher and student; the one enhancing the other.

Patti’s Blog: Education: Facts & Facets

I. Operation Ariel: The Treasures of Teaching And Why I Know You Want To Teach But May Not Realize It Yet

Author, Patti Blide, is a retired 36-year public school teacher who has taught all grades, Third through Twelfth, completing her career as high school Principal for Instruction

Dear Ariel,

This is your Grand Mom speaking. . . specifically to you. Knowing that you are a whiz at the computer, I choose to “talk” to you via these monthly blogs. I believe so strongly in the purpose of this blog that the writing of it will be pure fun and joy for me. You, at the age of seventeen, and my only Grand Girl, are my absolute joy, as you are to others who know you. Isn’t Life great?

We will cover Two Points of Interest in this Blog
- Why, Ariel as Teacher- My Story as Teacher


Why Ariel As Teacher

Ariel is a happy personwho loves life.
Ariel is thoughtful and kind to others
Ariel is talented intellectually, artistically, creatively
Ariel loves to learn, try new ideas, share ideas

Therefore, Dear Ariel, it seems that you are a “natural” for the profession that awaits you: Teaching.

My Story As Teacher

I, somehow just knew that I would be a teacher one day as explained in this little “biography” following below. This biography is part of my write-up that aided my being chosen as Teacher of the Year in 1990 in Dallas Texas.

Biography

On April 9, 1936, a teacher was born, most likely, teaching even in the womb. That day in Washington, D.C. found Patti and twin Penny Blackledge entering this world as placenta partners destined to continue being roommates for the next 20 years.

* * * * * * * *
As to early “learnings,” I learned that “indefatigable” and “tenacious” were
apt descriptors of “teacher.” My mother was my model for each of these words. Not until she was the mother of five, did she begin college where she tenaciously hung on to her dream of graduating when her twins did. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Houston, the year 1958, twin Penny and I graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas. She then earned her master’s degree in languages (she spoke five fluently), and was working on her Ph.D. when she sadly died of a heart attack.
My father’s pride in his girls’ accomplishments was always a driving force in my life. I had lived tenacity, cradled with love, through my parents and again at school, as my elementary school teachers, working with my visual-learning problems (two eye surgeries), modeled the qualities that I would one day see as my own contribution to education. Tenacity served me daily as a reading teacher knowing that every student can learn and can improve; from the learning disabled student, to the English as a second language student, to the college-bound reading student. This assurance laid the ground work for the student’s positive self-image so vital in all walks of life.

* * * * * * * * *
My secondary school life at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas gave me a master mentor teacher whom I think of frequently, especially, when I am “emoting.” This science teacher had obvious joy in being with us. Likewise, we had so much fun being with him. . .and learning. We did not just read about atoms smashing; we acted it out! Yes, this man actually had us running into each other and then, verbalizing the resulting fission. It was here that I learned the word, “joy” as it applies to teaching and to learning.
As a teacher, I impart “joy.” As a reading teacher I have seen joy in the third grader’s eyes as a new effort brings “ah ha” understanding in the printed word. I have heard joy in the whispered confessional of the secondary student who has rediscovered reading as peaceful retreat. Further joy for me was to feel, give, and then watch students’ infusion of joy as a lifetime gift for us all.
It was at Rice University that several master mentors modeled my most valued lesson that was to serve me later as a valuable contribution to education. It was modeled by my French professor who chose to eat lunch with us frequently, gently encouraging our practicing our French with him. It was modeled by my creative writing professor who invited us to his home monthly where we sat on the floor in his living room around the fireplace hearing the critique of each other’s essay. Here was where I learned the true meaning of the phrase, “reciprocal respect.” We as students, were respected intellectually as equals. And we did our best to live up to that respect. Later, every student with whom I came in contact knew that he was respected as a person and as a fellow intellect. We, as teachers do our best to live up to that respect as well as giving it to our students.

Next month’s Blog, Ariel, will give you my Philosophy of Teaching