June to December –

This morning when I opened the patio door, a refreshing breeze wafted through the living room.    Two new waxy white blossoms on the top of the saguaro in our front yard were being enthusiastically visited by three bees.  To my delight, I also discovered that the hummingbird who had built her nest in the chain of our outdoor chandelier last spring has returned.  There she sat, motionless and proud, atop her nest.

June in the Valley.  The time we residents plan our July or August vacations to escape the desert summer heat.  At our office, however, Eva Scholfield, our developmental director, is turning our attention to DECEMBER!   We’ve started planning our  (17th Annual) POINSETTIA TEA to be held Sunday afternoon, December 2, at the Hilton Scottdale Resort, 6333 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale AZ.  (Mark your calendars.  This popular event, a relaxing moment with friends and family as the year-end holiday season approaches, is always a sell out.)

“You are starting our planning for December already in June?”, I commented.  “December will be here sooner than you think.” Eva replied.

How like life in general.   Whatever our stage in life, the “December” times for ourselves or our loved one’s seem to come sooner than we thought they would.   The lesson for all of us is that, just as with our Poinsettia tea, we each need to plan ahead of time, whether for that empty nest, for retirement, for possible diminished capacity.   Yet, studies and polls reveal that most of us spend more time planning vacations than we do for life’s contingencies.

That’s why we  offer a workshop, free of charge, called “Getting You Affairs in Order” as a guide to the process.   In fact, one of the joys of working at Beatitudes Center DOAR is that we have helpful information and resources to help people plan and be prepared for a variety of circumstances.  Knowledge is power, after all. 

And our programs can give hands-on, practical support.   Whether it’s  grandparents who have found themselves unexpectedly being the primary caregivers of their grandchildren, or a person who has had to give up driving and needs help to get to the grocery store, or a caregiver spouse who needs a little respite or to look into alternative housing arrangements, we can help.