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A Bowl of Cherries and the Art of Retirement, Pat Patterson VP

What was I thinking! I left my Patterson has been retired for the last 3 enjoyable for all. A walk is great to get out
job and now I am free to come years, enjoys cruising with his wife Cindy and meet your neighbors whether you have a
and go as I please. It’s like I worldwide. Now you can go shopping on a dog or not.
have this big Bowl of Cherries Tuesday mid-morning when most others are Ok, that is all well and good but where do I
and my dreams and don’t working! Drive to the snow and really play begin? It can start with your imagination!
know what to do first! when most are hard at work during mid- Seeing all possibilities, seeing all that can be
“Taking responsibility for be- week! These activities can be practiced with done, and how it can be done, marks the
ing exactly where you are gives you the pow- other liked minded people just like you! power of imagination. Your imagination
er to be exactly where you want to stands as your own personal laboratory. Here
be,” (Jessicadimas.com). That is all fine and you can rehearse the possibilities, map out
good but where do you start? plans, and visualize overcoming obstacles.
Imagination turns possibilities into reality.
“Nobody’s going to do your life for you. You Ralph Jahr our Board Director at Large just
have to do it yourself, whether you’re rich or retired and enjoys trips with his wife Ann to
poor, out of money or raking it in, the benefi- Tahoe and trips abroad. Like Ralph and Ann
ciary of ridiculous fortune or terrible injus- your neighbors are friends you have not yet
tice. And you have to do it no matter what is discovered. You will need to believe in you.
true. No matter what is hard. No matter what Belief is the knowledge that we can do some-
unjust, sad, sucky things have befallen you. thing. It’s the inner feeling that what we un-
Self-pity is a dead-end road. You make the dertake, we can accomplish. For the most
choice to drive down it. It’s up to you to de- part, all of us have the ability to look at
cide to stay parked there or to turn around something and know whether or not we can
and drive out.” do it. So, in belief there is power: our eyes
(Motivational Quotes). As a homeowner you now have access to: are opened; our opportunities become plain;
Community calendar of events, shared inter- our visions become realities.
Our Board Treasurer Doug Hanagan and his est groups, free classifieds within our com-
wife Susie work with Roman and yoga 3 days munity, photo galleries of events, and special Our Board of Directors have many back-
a week in the Retreat. Now we have our new events put together by Shannon our Lifestyle grounds. Can you guess which ones? We
Director of Operations MS Yelena Parikova. Director, she is always open to new ideas! have a Manager that worked at Kaiser Health
She has blended well into our community and Dan Ketchum our Board Secretary has been Care, A Senior Electrical Engineer, A Nurse
will work with the homeowners to facilitate retired now for the last 4 years. Dan enjoys that helps save lives, Creator of School Ad-
our adventures and entertainment! many Retreat activities like water volleyball ministrations all over the world, and an FAA
in the summer. Dan and his wife Joanne also Aviation Safety Inspector.
Well we do have a way to know other people travel to Europe to explore other people in
just like you! We have a Retreat; a member their countries. Start your realities with the staff and directors
gathering place. I know what you are think- of The Club at WestPark as partners in your
ing I do not mix well with people! “There What if your retirement is shared with anoth- life’s journey. We are here to help you make
will always be a reason why you meet peo- er friend, your pup that you have now 24 your dreams into reality as comfortably as
ple.” “Either you need them to change your hours a day? Our Board President Bob Blan- possible. So, let’s get started, no time to
life or you’re the one who will change ton has now been retired for the last 12 years. waste, our journey begins today, we all know
theirs,” (Lessons Learned). How about a Bob’s wife, Mary Jo, is still working full time that it will end someday just not today! Enjoy
place that was just what retiring people just as a Registered Nurse. They both enjoy trips your bowl of cherries, and share if you want,
like you wanted to do? You know, going to be with family and friends. we will all work together at our discovery on
places, play, and or discover things you never life’s journey.
had the time to do or experience? Retirement Bob enjoys the community by walking their
gives you the freedom to unearth desires hid- dog Micki, and meeting other homeowners P.S. Your Retreat is waiting for your
den because you never had time or direction along the way. We have dog waste recepta- arrival, let’s have some fun!
to try. Our Vice President on the Board, Pat cles along Kennerleigh drive to make it more

March 2020 Page 17