On a cold January morning Mom made a solo trip to the grocery store for the bargain of the day. Returning home, she was rear-ended as she waited to turn into her driveway. She arrived at the hospital emergency room January 28, 1986 and was left unattended, because everyone was watching the space shuttle tragedy on television.  The space shuttle Challenger lifted off from its Florida launch pad that morning and just seventy-three seconds later it exploded, killing all seven astronauts on board. 

Mom eventually got treatment for whiplash, then called Aunt Jessie to give her a ride home, because her 57 Chevy was totaled.  She debated for some time about getting another car but finally decided at 77 years of age to depend on other people for transportation.  

A few months later, my sister Mona and her husband, Jerry, moved to Bountiful.  They soon drove Mom wherever she wanted to go, helped with yard work and worked together canning and gardening.  Her health remained good but her right knee was a constant reminder that her body was showing its age.  After a knee replacement in her late seventies she faithfully did the physical therapy, joined an exercise program and walked daily until the artificial knee was stronger than her own.  The neighborhood where she lived changed rapidly. The once quiet street in front of her house now a four-lane thoroughfare and commercial businesses edged close to her property.  She kept her doors securely locked and worried about increasing crime in the neighborhood.

For several years, Mona and Jerry talked of building a new home and they included Mom in the planning.  They bought property, and set to the task of designing their home including an apartment for her. Mom worried about loosing her independence, but realized as she aged, it would be difficult to maintain her own home. The new house was built and the two families melded together. to be continued ...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

PS...Altogether Mom spent 17 years in bountiful and had other adventures besides "dumpster diving." Lavinia, the oldest sister, invited the three younger sisters to join her, all expenses paid, on a 3 week trip to Europe, the trip of a lifetime for them...Mom also was able to attend the yearly family reunions with her brothers and sisters and extended families...She celebrated her 80th birthday at Steve and Loraine's home in Porterville that all of her children, many of her grandchildren and, "greats" attended.

Europe, here we come!

A family reunion

Charles, Wally, Raymond and Griffen

4 our of 6 brothers still alive.

80 years young.