Chardonnay Grapevine
September 2006
REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news
on September 11, 2001.
NEITHER WILL I!!
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called
his wife to say goodbye
I held his fingers steady as he dialed
I gave him the peace to say, “Honey, I’m not going to make
it, but its OK, I’m ready to go.”
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children
I held her up as she tried to understand his words
And as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to me
for help
I had been knocking on the door of her heart for 50 years
I said, “Of course I’ll show you the way home
Only believe in me now.”
I was at the base of the building when the priest ministered to the
injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend his flock in heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there
Comforting them and assuring them that their faith had saved them
I was in Kansas, Texas and London.
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible
news.
Did you sense me?
I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name, though not all knew me.
Some met me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought me with their last breath.
Some couldn’t hear me calling to them
through the smoke and flames,
Come to me, take my hand.
Some chose for the final time to ignore me.
BUT I WAS THERE!!
I did not place you in the tower that day,
You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment of time,
Would you have reached for me?
September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you
But some day your journey will end
And I’ll be there for you as well.
Seek me now while I can be found
Then at any moment, you’ll know you’ll be ready to go.
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
REMEMBER – I LOVE YOU
LOVE NEVER FAILS!!
THANKS
I want to thank all of my Chardonnay friends for their cards, phone calls, thoughts and prayers for me during my illness.
Also Bob and I want to say that we are proud to be a part of Chardonnay. It is a great place to live. The people are so kind and friendly and the surroundings are just beautiful.
Thanks again to everyone!
Betty Kremer
FROM THE BOARD
When school buses go by your door, you know the lazy-hazy days of summer
are numbered. More rigid schedules of bedtime, homework, sports, etc.
will be the norm. I hope every one is enjoying their summer at Chardonnay
or have taken a break with a get-a-way weekend or longer vacation.
Write an article for the Grapevine so we’ll know the best places
to go for R&R.
My vacation was a birthday celebration/family reunion. Nine of us from No. Ky met the three Californians in Vancouver and sailed July 29-Aug 5. This was the first time my family was together, in one place, over a week duration. I felt it was a great accomplishment and a treat.
The cruise ship is an education in itself. Watching the turnover, disembarkation of 1900 passengers by 9:30 am, embarkation of that many starting at 11:30 am and sailing at 5:30 pm with enough food for 11,000 meals a day and luggage at every cabin door is a feat of organization. Our Holland America ship was staffed with a Dutch Captain and crew. Our room steward and waiters were Indonesian who always called us by name each time they saw us. How they do this with a weekly turnover, I would like to know.
For anyone who loves nature, pristine waterways, mountains, fjords, and animals in their natural habitat, Alaska is a treasure. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and made our 49th state in 1959. A contest to design the state flag was won by a 13-year old boy, named Benny Benson. It is the big dipper and North Star in gold on a blue background. For history lovers the story of Alaska from 23,000 B.C. when the Bering land bridge linked Asia to North America, and tribes migrated, is long, but interesting.
We visited Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan. Juneau, the state capital, covers 3000 sq. mile. It can only be reached by sea or air and has the only 4-lane highway in Alaska. Float planes and helicopters do a great business. Temperature was 52 to 60 degrees the whole week. Always take a raincoat as Juneau is a rainforest and Ketchikan has 200 inches rainfall yearly. Side trips were the Whitepass railroad that follows the Gold Miners path to the Yukon, a Whale Watch cruise and a trip to “Liarsville”, meeting the “Ladies of the evening” and panning for gold. I don’t think the gold camps in 1897 were quite like this one. The salmon were beginning to run, returning to the fresh water of their birthplace to spawn. We were told they return from as far away as Japan and find their way by the smell of the water. I had a great vacation at least until I received my American Express bill.
To get an update on all board and committee activities, read the new column, “Chardonnay at Work”. Let the
See you at the next Board Meeting on September 7th.
Marge Rauch, Vice President
Mr. Chardy, can you
explain the correct method for discarding dog waste? It seems
that some of the dog owners have been throwing it down the sewer and
some don’t even pick up.
Here is a step-by-step message to all dog owners on the care of their
dog.
1) When you take your dog outside your condo, it MUST be on a leash.
Do not chain your dog out in the yard or on your patio.
2) Do not take your dog to a neighbors’ yard to do it business – even
if you pick it up.
3) Pick up your dog’s waste; put it in a bag and place it in the
dumpster. DO NOT LEAVE IT ON YOUR PORCH, OR LEAVE IT ON YOUR NEIGHBOR’S
DRIVEWAY, OR PUT IT DOWN THE SEWER.
4) Try to keep the dog from excessive barking as this might annoy your
neighbors.
Please try to follow these rules – it will make Chardonnay a better place to live.
Do you have a question for Mr. Chardy – call 441-8287 or email amullins1@insightbb.com
MULLIGAN’S HOME
George Henricksen’s cat, Mulligan was missing for several weeks. When Pat Malloy heard her neighbor talking about a stray cat in the woods behind Monterey, she notified George who went down to take a look. Sure enough it was Mulligan. Mulligan stated that he was not lost. It was George who was lost and he was just out looking for him.
Thanks to Pat, George and Mulligan are back home together again.
STREET TURNOVER TO CITY – The board is continuing to work with Fischer Homes on this problem. It is progressing slowly.
TERRACE HALL CHANDELIERS - Project completed.
FIRE RESTORATION MONEY – Received in August.
EXTERIOR PAINTING – Buildings 1, 2, 3, & 17 will be completed at the end of August or early September.
INTERIOR PAINTING – Buildings 1 & 2 will be done during the winter months.
SEALING STREET EDGES – Completed in August.
GRAVEL AROUND AIR CONDITIONERS – To be completed on the weekend of September 29.
BUILDING #9 HANDRAIL – Completed in August.
FRONT DOOR SECURITY LATCHES- These have been installed on all Terrace Homes.
LANDSCAPE – The death of the petunias at the entrance was due to 2 different fungi. The Extension Agent has offered to help with our plant selections next year.
WELCOME – Three new residents were supplied with gift baskets.
POOL – Weather permitting, the pool will remain open a couple weeks past Labor Day.
CHAIN GANG – Our Arts & Crafts
Display will probably be in November.
ARCHITECTURAL & MAINTENANCE
–
Installed lock cover over the thermostat in the exercise room.
This area has been a little slow this month since the Chairman has
been vacationing in Las Vegas and the Ace Carpenter has been out of
service due to a fall from a boat and has three cracked ribs. He has
been told that you are to ride in the boat not fall out of it.
FINANCE - This committee is making preparations to
work on the 2007 Budget in September.
The Board will be updating the Welcome Book and the renters’ contract
for the clubhouse plus other items that need updating.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
POOL CLOSING LUAU – Monday, September 4th. We’ve had a very hot summer, which made for great swimming, but now it’s time to say goodbye (ALOHA) and close up the pool. So we’re going to go out in style and put on a luau. At 11 AM we’ll be serving virgin drinks at the pool side. We’ll have island music and some very special guests that flew in from the islands to perform for us. At 2 PM we’ll have a faux pig roast with cole slaw, potato salad and chips. And of course we’ll have to top that off with pineapple upside down cake! So come join us in saying goodbye (ALOHA) to the summer season and hello (ALOHA) to fall.
MONTE CARLO NIGHT - September 22nd 7PM – 11 PM
How lucky do you feel? One dollar will buy you $10.00 in play money.
We’ll be playing Black Jack, 7-card Stud, Beat the Dealer, Texas-Hold-M.
Refreshments will be for sale and we will have a split-the-pot. So
if you’ve got a little bit of that gambling fever in you, come
on up – meet your neighbors and have some fun. WHO KNOWS YOU
JUST MIGHT GET LUCKY!!!
WINE TASTING – As promised we’ve re-scheduled the wine tasting given by Stonebrook Winery for October 6th at 7 PM at the clubhouse. Cost will be $5.00 per person which includes 6 different wines to taste, cheeses, crackers and fruit. Door prize will be a bottle of your choice. So let’s drink, eat and be merry!
Pat Rummel, Chairperson
WANTED
We are still in need of a Clubhouse Coordinator for the winter months. This position requires accepting reservations for rental of the clubhouse and checking out after rentals. You will receive $15.00 of each clubhouse rental. If interested, please call Bill Frambes at 781-8852 or any of the board members.
TELEPHONE CHANGES
ADD:
Judith Martin – 1200-101 Vina Vista 781-2673
Lynn Mowery – 1010 Monterey 781-1162
Ken & Pat Reis – 1402-103 Napa Valley 781-4898
DELETE:
Carol Carl – 1200-101 Vina Vista 441-3328
Donovan & Kristen Davis 1402-103 Napa Valley NL
Richard Lozier -1010 Monterey 442-0614
IT HAPPENED HERE
This is the house I lived in since the third grade. After my parents were deceased, I lived here alone and that is when this incident occurred. However, my sister and her family lived only one block away.
It was a beautiful fall day when I had just returned from shopping. I parked the car on the street and entered the house. As I was putting my purchases away in the kitchen, I heard this terrible noise like someone was going through everything in the basement. The door between the kitchen and the basement was locked, but the outside garage door was not.
Talk about being scared – I gently picked up my purse, walked slowly and quietly out the front door and headed for my sister’s home. As I went past the driveway, I thought sure I saw the curtain on the garage door move. That’s when I took off running all the way to my sister’s home. She knew something was wrong the minute she opened the door and took one look at me since I was white as a ghost and shaking, I explained that someone was in my basement. My brother-in-law said to call the police and he would meet them down there.
The policeman told us to remain outside while he opened the garage door and search the entire garage, but did not find anything. To be on the safe side, he also went through the entire house including the closets, cabinets, and even under the beds. Still nothing was found. Since everything was ok, the policeman and my brother-in-law left and I was left alone. I decided to be brave and not feel scared.
To take my mind off everything, I decided to do my laundry. As I was taking the sheets off the bed, the noise started again. This time I sat down on the bed, called my sister. She told me to get out of the house, but my legs wouldn’t hold me up. I ended up sitting on the bed wondering if someone was going to come up the steps after me. Finally my brother-in-law and the police arrived again. This time the police entered the house with a shotgun, but a short while later I heard everyone laughing. In fact they were laughing so hard I could hear them all the way to the second floor. Then they yelled up to me to say it was OK. It was a black bird sitting up in the rafters of the basement. It took me a couple of hours to calm down. I still didn’t go out of the house any more that day.
Gail Taylor
PUZZLE
What was the first board game sold in the United States?
Answer to last month’s puzzle was 118 ridges. Two people had the correct answer – Bill Frambes and Bob Wheeler.
ILLNESS
Many of our residents have been ill and/or in the hospital during the past month. Our thoughts and prayers are with each and every one of you. We hope you have a speedy recovery.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
WEB SITE – www.chardonnayhome.com
BOARD
Bill Frambes, President 781-8852 wframbes1@insightbb.com
Marge Rauch, VP mrauch41@netzero.com
Gerrie Kortekamp, Secy 442-5116 gkortekamp@insightbb.com
Alan Hahn, Treas 781-6329 ralanhahn@insightbb.com
Jim Remley, Member at Large 441-7441 sukyjnr@fuse.net
FOR PROBLEMS, COMPLAINTS & VIOLATIONS, CALL
Dave Munro, Towne Properties 291-5858 DaveM@tp1.com
Pat Kerner, Towne Properties 291-5858 PatK@tp1.com
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Architect Maintenance – Dave Trowbridge 442-0244
Nanctr1400@aol.com
Co-Architect Maintenance – Ron Culp 781-8852 rculp2@insightbb.com
Finance – Bill Frambes 781-8852 wframbes1@insightbb.com
Landscape – Beth Maggard 781-9138 childbeth3@fuse.net
Pool – Barb Culp 781-6910 rculp2@insightbb.com
Social – Pat Rummel 441-1088 rprummel@peoplepe.com
Co-Social – Marilyn Jenner 441-9099 majic@fuse.net
Welcome – Judi Hahn 781-6329 judihahn@insightbb.com
Clubhouse Coordinator – Rhoda Wheeler 441-6185
whlrwheeler@aol.com
Editor – Adelene Mullins 441-8287 amullins1@insightbb.com