Cheesits No More

Last Friday we received (actually had to bag them into large black bags)  the last of the Cheezits for the season. We then spent most of Saturday bagging them it family size portions to be able to distribute them. Needless to say, we ate a few ourselves ( I really do not care if I see another Cheezit for awhile now). As we were loading, Fred brought me 3 small packages our supplier had given him for me. At first glance, they looked like candy - the name Reese was imprinted in large letters on the package and what looked like pieces of candy. On closer look it became clear that they were anchovies, of all things! We never know what we will get! We also received corn flakes - all boxed already, thank the Lord! We cleaned out the storage shed in the colonias in anticipation of the heat of the summer. We loaded up boxes of the donated clothing that had already been gone through. by the ladies. These clothes go through a huge cycle - first being purchased at the store ( any of them name brands items), donated to a charity, which in turn donates to us after they have been through the sales at the retail store, then gone through by the ladies in the colonias. After that we take them to Goodwill for their use. They sell what they can in their store, then box the rest up and sent it to a recycling center where they are bundled up and sent to the Ropas to be sold for 35 cents a pound.  It is a wonder that they are not worn out by then.

My computer needed work this week so I took it to my favorite repair place, Digital Control. I felt lost, just like when I was a kid on the streets of Chicago and lost my skate key. We wore these around our neck on a strong string - heaven forbid that we would lose it! Sometimes when we fell, it would swing around and smack you in the face - these were the trials of being part of the firehouse gang in the late 40's. Everyone had a skate key - if not you could borrow one for a second from fellow gang member, but it had better be returned immediately. Of course there was always the kid who never had his/her key. In the winter months we would congregate in a basement of one of the apartment houses ( on a day the Mother had not washed - she frowned on skating through her clean drying clothes) and skate all afternoon, or until the Mom would shoo us all home for being to noisy. Anyway, before I got off track, my computer was finally back to normal, and ready for me. If you ever need computer or any electronic repair work while here in the Valley, Digital Control is the place to go. Joel is a wizard! It is on the corner of Raul Longoria and Eldora in San Juan.

The weather has been beautiful the past few weeks - temps in the low 90's at times, but a nice cool breeze. It is quiet here in the park, as most of the Winter Texan have left - it seems strange to see all the spots empty right now. A few are left, but some are leaving this next week. A few more are hanging on until the then of May or June. This is a down time for us before leaving for Arkansas in July, at which time we put it in reverse. We are still receiving donations of food - this week we had six boxes of items - like flour,oatmeal, frozen dinners, etc. - things the Winter Texans bought and never used,  Sometimes we need to repackage some items, but it keeps us busy.

A lovely Sunday morning as we attended church services at 8:30. I did bring a light shawl along as the breeze outside was cool, and of course, the sanctuary was cold from the a/c. Why do buildings have to keep it so cold? I always have a light wrap in the vehicle for emergencies. The sermon this morning revolved around the days following the Resurrection. The disciples were lost, but continued to follow the Lord's commands and preached in the courtyards of the temple. The temple leaders had them thrown into prison where the angels came and opened the doors for them to walk out. In the morning the leaders again saw them in the courtyards preaching the Word. They were again arrested and beaten. The leaders were afraid that if what they taught was true, it had to be from God but if it was false it would soon die out. Te disciples faced many obstacles just as our lives are full of obstacles. There are many ups and downs, roadblocks, and everything else that hinders use from our life's journey, just as it did for the disciples. An obstacle is defined as something that hinders progress. As we run this race of life, we run into many obstacles - no one has a smooth and uneventful journey. Life is not about winning the race, but about helping others to win it also.

Please keep Mary Garza and her family in your prayers as she has been placed in hospice. She was diagnosed a few months ago with cancer - then shortly after that her husband passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack. She is a wonderful lady - a worker here in the park who always had a a helping hand, always with kind words.