Chester Chatter: At home and wrestling with remote possibilities

By Ruthie Douglas
©2019 Telegraph Publishing LLC

Here I am home at last. Stepping into my house after a year of spending it in the hospital and at Springfield Rehab, the feeling was strange.

My first day at home, I just sat and looked around. It didn’t seem real. The phone rang and I didn’t know where it was or what button to push to allow me to answer it.

Once I finally got over the phone — and TV remote — I began to relax. My daughter Jeanie helped me bring home all my belongings from the rehab. It seemed like I had been gone for a very long time and, after two weeks, I still haven’t put everything away.

It is mixed emotions, but I miss the staff, the office folks and the residents of rehab. There was always something going on. Nicky, who works in the activities department, had many things planned, from bingo, arts and crafts to book club, lunch with the veterans, and thrasher basketball with pool noodles and balloons. And two nights a week, he showed movies.

The loving staff was always ready to chat, and give you a hug. That’s why I loved them all. And here at home sometimes, I have been a little lonely. And I so appreciate so much the friends have dropped by for visits. Now, every day I’m getting a little stronger, so watch out everyone. Because Here I Come.

Heard and seen

Lucile Swanson celebrated her 105th birthday with cake for everyone. Her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Carl Johnson, helped in the celebration.

Thinking of you Tony Weinberger on the loss of your wife, Judith Aach-Goodkin.

Sueann Jaquith has been visiting family and friends in this area. She now is living in Kansas.

Happy birthday to my son-in-law Joe Bolaski.

The Green Mountain Girls Track team is D-4 State Champs. Congratulations! All Chester is mighty proud.

American Legion Post 67 members are saddened on the death of long-time bartender Brenda Beebe. We are thinking of her husband Jim and her family.

I was completely surprised and overwhelmed in being honored in the Chester Alumni Day Parade, getting to ride in The Chester Telegraph car. Thank you everyone for all the clapping and carrying on! How swell it was to have both former GM teachers Charlie Craft and John Ratti.

  • Answer to the May 27 trivia question: Tom Henning ran the Chester Pizza shop on the Green where the Southern Pie Cafe is now located.
  • This week’s trivia question: What date was D-Day?

Street Talk

Would you rather take a shower or a bath?

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Filed Under: Chester ChatterCommunity and Arts Life

About the Author: Ruthie Douglas is originally from Springfield but has called Chester her home for 58 years, and has been writing the Chester Chatter column for more than 40 of those years. Ruthie is also a longtime volunteer throughout the community.

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  1. Rick says:

    welcome home — it is soooo good to have you back where you belong

  2. Barb Calhoun says:

    Your column was one of the nice things during an unhappy 4 year stay in Chester. It’s wonderful to have you back home.
    Also wonderful to hear all your positives about rehab which is not always the case.
    Stay well.
    Thinking of you from Florida.