A Sad Goodbye to Rivington House

As mentioned in previous entries, John and I have been volunteering at Rivington House for just about a year now. We are leaving NYC and we had to say our goodbyes yesterday. We found Rivington House shortly after arriving in Manhattan from our Peace Corps experience in Thailand. While in Thailand the PC took our group on a trip to see a facility located at Wat Phrabatnampo ("Wat" is a Thai Buddhist temple) in Lop Buri Province that cared for persons with HIV/AIDS and related illnesses. The monks and staff treated all residents with patience, compassion, and understanding. In Thailand the people known to have HIV/AIDS are shunned. Residents are often delivered to the gates of the wat in the middle of the night by their family and abandoned. The wat proves to be a refuge as well as a safe place where they can receive necessary medication and care. The wat had a big influence on us.

Rivington House is similar to the wat we saw. In the U.S. persons with HIV/AIDS have gained more understanding and acceptance than in the past. But there are still some who for one reason or another are very ill and receive no visitors or support from outside of the facility. To me, a volunteer classified as "a friendly visitor," this is when the caring and compassion of the Rivington House staff shines. I spent most of my time on one floor. I had the opportunity to see amazing vignettes of caring from all levels of staff. A nursing aid taking the time to sit with a mentally challenged resident and sing nursery rhymes. Custodians who greet residents by name, with a smile, and ask how they are doing. Another nursing aid braiding the hair of a resident incapable of doing so.

In addition to the attention and care provided by staff, there are the volunteers. Rivington House would not be Rivington House without its volunteers!


Above is a portrait of Dr. Nicholas Rango. His portrait hangs in the library where John worked. Dr. Rango was the driving force in the founding of Rivington House. The building was formerly a public school.


When you enter the building, the first thing you see is the security desk. These guys do a magnificent job. The desk is manned 24 hours a day. In addition there are cameras throughout the building that are monitored at this desk at all times. Residents are required to have a pass in order to go out. The security personnel are responsible to make certain that no drugs or paraphernalia come into the building. Security also walks the halls to ensure everyone's safety.


Can't mention volunteers without showing you one of the best! Here is the house barber. He comes once each week to give haircuts, blow dries, shaves at ridiculous prices. The prices are well within the allowance each resident receives for incidental expenses. He is cheerful, professional, and an expert at giving haircuts while someone is sitting in a wheelchair.


This is Tamara. Tamara was the recreational therapist on the floor where I volunteered. She requested a volunteer "friendly visitor" from the Director of Volunteers (Gerry) and so she got me. To my great dismay - due to budget cuts by our Governor - Tamara and Gerry were both laid off several weeks ago.

Manhattan - A Love Story

Having been born and brought up in the sphere of influence known as New York City, I continue to have a love affair with this town. It should surprise no one who knows me. Many years ago I was lucky enough to meet John, the man of my dreams. We married and have had a good time traveling and living in many places. But New York City was always a "no" on his list of places to live. Finally, upon our unceremonious return from Thailand, we wound up in Manhattan. "For three months," said John. After about two months, I asked John about making plane reservations to our next destination. He surprised the "you know what" out of me by saying, "I would like to stay another year; I like it here." And so we did.

Why? This city so easily can make its way into your heart, grab it and hold on tight. The video below only shows one of my favorite places in the city. It is our South Street Seaport. The seaport is a place to visit that does not cost a penny. It is a shopping center located on a pier on the East River. The shopping center is three stories tall with a wrap-around deck on all three floors. While the first two floors have places to sit, the third floor also has deck chairs for the public to more comfortably enjoy a beautiful day. But a visit on a chilly day is just as delightful. Tables, chairs and a food court are located on the third floor behind walls of floor-to-ceiling windows. Look to the left and see the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges one after the other. Look to the right and there is a view out toward the sea, the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge, and off to the very right you can see the very top of Lady Liberty's arm holding her torch up high. The big orange Staten Island Ferry makes its frequent trips in and out of The Battery. Along with water taxis and sightseeing cruisers doing their thing, tug boats are always busy at work guiding barges, freighters, luxury liners both in and out of the port area. It is easy to while away an afternoon or evening here.



It is easy to come under the spell of our city, if you have the chance to spend more than a tourists' amount of time here. Every few blocks takes you to a new "small town." The city is just like any other cluster of small towns. The difference it that we can easily walk from one small town to the next with ease. And we do not have to own a car! How great is that? Because virtually every place of business delivers, you do not need a car to live here - even McDonald's delivers. Being retired and on a fixed income, we have found so many things to do at no cost or very little cost. I guess I could go on and on, but I won't.

Soon we will go on to the next chapter in our lives. Moving to Oahu on July 1. But Manhattan still owns my heart!

Who Is The Monitor Group?

The Monitor Group is a firm based in Augusta, Ga. that offers fee-based financial advice/guidance. In the past we made the mistake of putting our faith in a company who's major objective was to convince us to purchase only their products. Boy were we babes in the woods! It took us close to 30 years before we experienced a dawning. Then we discovered The Monitor Group.


John and I sleep much better now that we know Jennifer. We took this photo during our last visit with her. Jennifer can talk Montecarlo model, benchmark predictions and lots of other financial stuff. She has helped us prepare for retirement, estate planning, etc. and she has never tried to sell us anything! We meet at least twice a year. Each time we both look forward to seeing her.


This is Paul. He works with Jennifer. Paul loves to send us paper copies of EVERYTHING. He works closely with Jennifer and helps us in many ways.

DeaSha's Pinning Ceremony

May 7th was a really big day in our family. DeaSha participated in her nursing pinning ceremony at Georgia State University AND it was John's birthday.


About 70 RN's received their nursing pins. DeaSha greeted us in the lobby of the student center. Her smile reflects how happy she is to have completed her studies.


Although each student was to be limited to four tickets each, DeaSha managed to obtain some extras. I had to sit in a separate section along with other people who would be "pinning" their student. Here you can see a photo John took of Consi and Keary waiting for the ceremonies to begin.


Several professors became much beloved for the support, encouragement and compassion they provided during her studies. Here is one of these special people.


This is another one of the special people who teach in the Georgia State Nursing program. Her office door was always open when DeaSha wanted to have someone to confide in.


Keary isn't much for having his photo taken but he is often the first in line for hugs!


DeaSha with her proud parents.


This is a close up of the Georgia State University School of Nursing pin.


A last snapshot before we left for the airport and headed back to NYC.

The pinning.