GRATITUDE

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and her brother survived a fire at Our Lady of Angels School in Chicago that took the lives of 92 students and three nuns. She’s persevered all these years. We’ve been married for over 24 years. I’m thankful to be a part of her life. I love her dearly. When you have the best, who needs the rest?

• Nick Massetti, Mutual 17:

The Leisure World Cares Fund expresses its heartfelt gratitude: first of all, to the residents who have applied for help with their HOA fees. Providing an ongoing subsidy for their HOA fees and improving their housing security is why the fund was founded, and it is a privilege to serve them. Secondly, the fund is thankful for the more than 50 donors who have so far contributed. They enable the fund to fulfill its mission, and they are most certainly appreciated. Finally, there is sincere gratitude for the fund’s board members who volunteer and see that the donors’ resources are well placed with their most vulnerable neighbors. To apply for aid or donate to the fund, visit www. lwcaresfund. org, email lwcares@lwcaresfund.org or call 562-262-8280.

• Gail Morrison, Mutual 2:

I am thankful for the captions at the Low Vision/Hearing Club and Hard of Hearing Support Group here in Leisure World. These captions are provided through the leaders and members who could see similarities between the two. Leisure World is a community of some 10,000 senior citizens with roughly 80% residents with some level of hearing loss. People with hearing loss can quickly become isolated, depressed and stay at home simply when they cannot hear. Now, instead of staying home, they are able to attend, participate in their many programs, and hear information to thrive and grow in their senior years here in Leisure World—a real blessing!

• Ria Cencak, Mutual 2: I moved to LW a little over a year ago. I work full time so I had not been able to take advantage of the wonderful clubs and services that are a part of LW until a few months ago. I had a slight accident and broke my foot. I was out of work and unable to walk for seven weeks. My family and wonderful neighbors stepped up to help me out. I would like to give thanks to the LW community. I am so grateful to my amazing neighbors for their generous help. Thank you for being blessings in my life. I want to take a moment and let you know how much you are appreciated. Thank you Kimchi, for informing me about the Mobility Aid Office, and for driving me there to see if I could get a knee scooter. They were all out; yet, I met Bill Turner who generously offered to loan me his wife’s knee scooter and volunteered to bring it over to me. I am more grateful to you than words can express. I am forever grateful to Roxie and Aiko for helping walk my dog daily: thank you, gracias, arigato. Thanks to my sister, Diane, who helped with shopping. Thank you, Donna, for introducing the LW Access Bus Service, LW Library, the art clubs and for sharing rides. To Bill and Paul, my shuttle service drivers, who came and picked me up in the wheelchair right outside my front door. To Tom and Susan, the Zentangle teachers, who kindly welcomed me to their class. To Bill, the most kindhearted and talented watercolor teacher I could ever ask for (I will miss this class so much). Thank you Neil, Connie, Vi, Craig and Rose (Trooper), Wayne and Debbie, Carmen, Elda, Eileen (Lacey), Terry (who chased after me in my wheelchair, as I was out with my dog, to warn me that coyotes were nearby), Denise (Bean and Cutie Pie), Gloria, Marty, Cora (Chewy), Middy, Ana (Panda and Mocha), Alberta, Sharon (Toby) and my early walkers Jack, Myrna and Wendy. I thank you ALL for your kindness and for being the wonderful, amazing people you are. Life is one big, continuous circle of giving and receiving energy. It’s not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters. Grateful for family, friends, and the small, beautiful moments that make life sweet. Happy Thanksgiving!

• Marla Hamblin, Mutual 15: I’ve been very blessed in my private life, so here are just a few of my Leisure World thanks: I’m very thankful for the hidden treasures who are the employees here in Leisure World who deal with our population and work with detailed elements of the work they do, to name just a few: Andrea and Emma in Administration, who keep this place on task and everyone in Recreation who give us the reasons we moved here—most notably the shining jewel Kathy Thayer, the pool and gym attendants and our housekeepers. Thanks to all of them, each and every one for ensuring the quality of our lives, and to Ruth Osborn, who gets it all in the paper!

Mutual 2 resident Ria Cencak gave thanks for the Golden Age Foundation Mobility Aid Offi ce, which lends walkers and wheelchairs to residents at no cost.

Paul Kryczko