What Is Your Story: Resident

Article written by Karen Lyddane

The daughter of a Greek father named Andrew and American mother, Isabelle, Betty Marshall looks to her religious upbringing for giving her a full, rich life. Her parents met when Andrew came to America on business, and Isabelle went to work for him. Four years later, Andrew wanted to go back to Cyprus to see his family. He asked if she would run the business while he was gone, as she was so competent. Isabelle asked how long he would be away, Andrew told her, and her reply was that she didn’t want to do that. He pleaded, she stood firm and finally said: “I want to go with you!” Andrew replied that they couldn’t go together as they weren’t married, she said that they could be, so that’s what they did! They went to Cyprus and Betty was born there. The new family returned to the United States when she was just six months old.

Married life began one night when the brother of her best friend Virginia called and asked if a group of guys could come over. Virginia’s brother, Charles McLean Marshall, came along. All the girls pranced out, Charles elbowed his friend and said: “That one on the left, she’s mine!” and that was that!  At that time, he was in the Engineering program at North Carolina State. Betty and his sister were at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

When Betty graduated from college, Charles, a 2^nd Lieutenant, decided that he wanted a military career. He was stationed at Fairbanks, Alaska, and came back to marry her. They drove all the way back to Alaska on their so-called honeymoon. Somehow, they managed to find sleeping quarters every night. To this day, Betty can’t explain how this was possible, because traveling in Alaska then was quite primitive. The journey took nine days.

Years passed, and military life sent the family to three continents. Their three-year time in Greece allowed them to visit all of the Greek Islands, with Corfu being the favorite. Its beauty was unmatched! They welcomed their son Randy into their family one fine day in Greece. Their home for the next three years was in the lovely Paris, France. They saw all that France had to offer and had time to visit many other countries in Europe. The family learned to ski while on a trip with the American Church in Paris. Much of America was visited, too!

Now a Colonel, Charles was in two foreign wars, but with God’s hand, returned home sound in body and mind after his 30-year service. When the storms came, Betty dismissed them and instead learned to dance in the rain. She’s had an amazing journey!

A favorite hobby turned into a career for Betty. She learned the art of floral arranging from a lady at the Fairfax Presbyterian Church. One day, she was asked to make wedding flowers. Thinking that they were just for the altar and wedding couple, she said: “Why not?” Well, she quickly found out that there was much, much more, including making and placing the pew bows! She remembers picking up the phone and calling her teacher, who gave her a lightning-quick tutorial, barely in time for the perfect delivery of beautiful flowers for a couple’s special day. Her time with wedding flowers ended after 13 years. Today, Betty continues to teach others this specialized skill.

Betty’s background in music started with piano lessons, which her mother insisted that she keep up. Good thing that she did! For, when she was considering her classes in college, Betty asked herself what she was good at. She majored in piano, minored in voice (a high soprano), and organ. She taught piano for 30 years. You’ll see a lovely baby grand piano that is kept perfectly tuned in her apartment, should you visit her.

Impressions of retirement? “You will never retire. You will pick up new hobbies, new friends.” She has time for her interests and doesn’t have to choose so carefully between them. Betty will soon fulfill her dream of seeing Niagara Falls, and Canada, which are trips arranged through The Woodlands. Her independent lifestyle frees her up to make new friends to love, which is the biggest benefit of all. Also, she doesn’t have to scrub floors anymore!

Sometimes, the best of plans takes a turn…for the better!

Murray Black’s father was a West Point graduate and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford where he met and later married Murray’s mother, who was from Cirencester, England. His father was killed when Murray was very young. With the outset of World War II, his mother found herself with two young children and no possibility of going back to her family’s home in England.

Murray’s dream was to be fifth in line to go to West Point, but his hopes were dashed due to the unexpected finding of high blood pressure. The staff at Walter Reed could not get his pressure down. At the same time, he’d applied for a regular NROTC scholarship. He passed all his exams, including his blood pressure, “Since that was not what I really wanted to do.” However, providentially, at UVa on a blind date, Murray met the spice of his life-Ginger.

Fast forward to a life-changing week. Murray graduated college with a degree in Electrical Engineering, was commissioned into the Navy, and wed his lovely Ginger in New Jersey. Murray found that he really liked the Navy, as he loved being at sea. The places he saw were incredible, including Europe (and the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels), the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean. After the navy and graduate school, he went to George Mason and became the founding chairman of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and later held several dean positions.

Ginger grew up in Belleville and Glen Ridge, New Jersey.  She, too, had college plans that were dashed. She went to Mary Washington for two years, then nursing school at UVA. As she’d grown up in New Jersey, her family found this pretty dramatic.

Time to fast-forward for Ginger. Her life quickly changed into one as a Navy wife, raising three girls and teaching part-time. She worked as a Registered Nurse and along the way she found people really needed love, prayer, and to have someone to listen to them. Today, Ginger finds reading Scripture important and fulfilling. She works on scrapbooking and loves to walk on beaches. The sand, the waves, the sound of the water, all are precious to her. Crafting cards has become almost a ministry.

The ocean seems to accompany Ginger and Murray throughout their life together. Every three years, they host their whole family at the homey-feeling Sandbridge, which is south of Virginia Beach. Generations have attended for almost 30 years. On their next trip, they will see their recently born great grandson. They enjoy traveling and have seen many places.

Early in their life together, Church life was integral and continues today. They credit this commitment as making a major change in their lives. A remembrance from a “Marriage Encounter” weekend was the philosophy that “Love is not a feeling. Love is a decision.”

Unique are their five missionary trips to Uganda, which was greatly depleted by two corrupt regimes. These trips were life-changing for them. Murray helped the prominent Anglican seminary in Uganda to become a full-scale Christian University which was important to educate leaders to improve the life of its citizens. Ginger was involved in women’s conferences, workshops, and prayer. She toured hospitals and clinics and saw how badly they were equipped and lacking skills. A new nursing program and medical school are both now providing improved medical care.

They found Ugandans so kind, so appreciative-their presence meant much more than just sending money in support. Well, their suitcases, crammed with laboratory equipment on their journeys over, were valued highly, too! They are currently involved in scholarships and assist with funds for medical and engineering equipment. Their efforts are now taken on by a daughter and her husband.

Joys of their life are their three daughters, three sons-in-law, seven grandchildren, grandchild-in-law and great-grandson. Their three daughters visited The Woodlands before their decision and said, “This is for you.” They knew, when they stepped into their community, that it just felt right. The decision was made from their mutual respect: “If anything ever happens to either, our support system is in place.” “Everyone has a smile on their face.” And so do Murray and Ginger Black.

Article written by Karen Lyddane

From a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania, Jane Diehl shared her youth with six siblings. She was next to the youngest-the oldest is a youthful 95 years old at the writing of this article. Jane went to Washington, D.C. 11 days after graduation from High School, because a sister was living there and wanted to share a great opportunity. The young Jane was inspired to pass the Civil Service test and was offered a job right on the spot! She was 17 years old, hadn’t ventured from her beginning, and was scared to death. Although Jane didn’t want to leave home, her sister and a friend persuaded her to step into the job “as she could always quit.”

Of great comfort was the ease of going home on the weekends.

In high school days, Jane had a lot of friends but would never claim that she was popular. So, imagine how surprised she was when her classmates voted her to be their Prom Queen in 1960! This was in her senior year.

Arriving in Washington, DC in June of 1960 Jane moved in with her sister and two friends in an apartment in SE Washington, DC. A year later she moved to Arlington, living there until moving to her current home at The Woodlands Retirement Community. Jane was not one to move around a lot. All during this time, Jane had a government career. She was at the Department of Agriculture for 29 years, where she regularly met and worked with political appointees. This was a fascinating time for Jane and it was there a friend introduced her to USDA Assistant Secretary, Wilmer “Vinegar Bend” Mizell, who was seeking an assistant for his new presidential appointment by his friend George W. Bush, as Executive Director, President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS). Mr. Mizell was a politician and former professional baseball player. He served three terms as a member of Congress from North Carolina and known outside his political career as a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher for the original Mets, the St. Louis Cardinals and finally with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he played in their 1960 World Series Championship. Jane was sure that she would stay in her current job but gave in to some convincing talk and accepted a lunch invitation with him. That was it. She just couldn’t say no! He won her over, she accepted the position, and they became best friends. She remembers him for being “a true Christian.” The PCPFS is a Federal advisory committee made up of well-known sports and fitness personalities, with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Chairman while Jane worked there. He visited all 50 states promoting the physical fitness program.

After 2 years at PCPFS, Mr. Mizell accepted a new appointment – Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jane went with him and finished her government career as Program Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. Her office windows overlooked Lafayette Park and the north side of the White House. On 9/11, Jane was in her office when the plane hit the Pentagon. Although she didn’t see the actual impact, Jane saw the building instantly turn into a raging inferno. She exited the building and not wanting to ride the subway, walked through Georgetown, over Key Bridge, then up Lee Highway to her Arlington residence. Jane will always remember the weird sky-it was so quiet. Right then and there, she decided it was time to think about retirement and leaving the city.

Jane retired in January following the terrorist incident. It wasn’t the way she wanted to end her career, but she is convinced that it turned out to be the best thing. Today, she is 23 years retired after a 42-year government career.

Adventures in life revolved around being a “beach person” and traveling to islands. She enjoyed sailing trips with friends and found she didn’t like sailing at night and preferred staying on top with whoever was on watch.

After many years of living in a condominium, a fall resulted in surgery. Jane realized it was time to think about a more carefree living environment, where she could enjoy living independently with low or no maintenance. She wanted to feel safe and secure, have nutritious meals and the opportunity to meet new friends. Her favorite thing at The Woodlands Retirement Community is the welcoming invitations of her neighbors to join them for dinner.  Not only does she enjoy good food with her neighbors, but also the great opportunity to become acquainted and have new friends. Her move to the Woodlands Retirement Community provides all the above and more, making for her stress-free life.

James waves as he goes confidently in the direction of his dreams.

Article written by Karen Lyddane

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., James Dotson grew up in a Christian home. His church life influenced his world “as far back as I can remember.” His young voice, a high tenor, fostered many moments in choir. A friend and James started a small group of singers—a Christian chorale varying in size but never more than 12. His tenor voice added to this four-part harmony singing group. They moved around as the singing engagements dictated. Later, he dropped out of church life but continued to sing with this group.

An invitation to a church to sing provided a moment of listening to a sermon in 1994 that changed his life. James remembers two points: 1) God still loves you, and 2) only God, not you, has the power to change you. These points encouraged James to go into counseling to create the new direction he desired. He decided to dedicate himself to his faith.

Backpacking, an infrequent but favorite activity in former years, is replaced by walking in Nature, which he often does today. James smiled when revealing that he’s recently purchased a mountain bike. It’s today’s version of memorable times with bicycle touring. He hopes to begin riding it this summer. He plans to work soon with a voice coach so his 2nd Tenor voice can be heard again. Movies with powerful stories attract him—he has a collection including those with historical themes. He is especially drawn to movies focusing on the challenges of Black/African American people. Not totally predictable, James also has a copy of “Secretariat.” Museums with the Imax theaters, going to the Holocaust Museum, being with family and friends, all factor-in highly.

James taught Grade 7– through 10, and Physical Education, as a science teacher for a private Christian school. He was friends with a music teacher, and when she decided to form a band, he played the trombone for a brief time.

Of all his life experiences, James counts his time as his mother’s family caregiver as the most fulfilling moment. He thanks God for being able to be with her as she spent her final years before “going to her rest” at the age of 94. He reached higher levels of patience and caring in witnessing his mother’s transition from her home to assisted living to rehabilitation, then long-term care.

James has two main thoughts on living an independent lifestyle. He advises planning for the future as soon as one is able, so that when the time comes, (s)he is as well-prepared as possible. Retirement, for James, gives choice to live as he wishes. For instance, removing the issue of commuting alone frees up time needed for pursuing his interests, such as working with his faith-based, non-profit organization. James wishes to work as long as he can, this fulfills him, rather than just being entertained. He wants to do a lot more and experience life. Making a difference is important.

Bottom line? James devotes himself to his God and prays to “allow me to fulfill your plan.” He is a brother, an uncle, a friend. His many roles and responsibilities combine in embracing life. And that, the simple but complicated effort of embracing life, makes every day a triumph for James.

Article written by Karen Lyddane

Best described as a “travelogue,” Jim and Joanna Sullivans’ journey through life started in New England. They find it amazing that Joanna, from Providence, RI, and Jim, from Boston, MA, ventured across the waters to Germany, where they would meet and join hands. Joanna, at age 22, already showed her adventuring spirit. She was just out of school and left her teaching job in Prince George’s County to go overseas. Her six close friends had gone in different directions and she surprised everyone by packing her suitcases for her new home. Joanna’s family just couldn’t understand why she would do such a thing, after all, she went on her own, alone! Meanwhile, Jim was stationed in Mainz. They decided to socialize in the same group of other single people. The turning point came when Joanna found that John F. Kennedy was coming over. She wanted so much to see him (she’d worked for him as a volunteer when he was a Senator), and Jim had a car…thus their courtship began. After waiting for Jim to come home to Rhode Island, they married during a 12” snowfall, on December 28th.

Their first seven years inspired Jim and Joanna’s globetrotting life. They moved every year, sometimes twice in one year. They lived in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Korea, Rhode Island and Georgia. Moving so much meant minimal possessions-they downsized before they upsized! Jim’s military career was the driving force. Like most military couples, they had no problem balancing career and family. They did what they had to do and didn’t think twice-this was everyone’s mindset. Jim and Joanna feel that their children benefited from learning in many schools. Their four children, Jim III, Patrick, Brendan, and Kerri, are all married. Each has two children of their own, born within four years of each other. Six of eight grandchildren are in college, studying a variety of subjects-they are the number one interest of this busy couple.

Jim counts living in Japan during high school years as formative. Another formative time was the year in which he graduated, was accepted for college, left his family, and went to Indiana. In another significant year, he went to 16 straight Red Sox games. His first “visit” to his alma mater Notre Dame was when he stepped off the train, duffel bag on his back, on his way to meet his new classmates.

Jim rises early and goes to church on most days. He returns to join the Men’s Coffee Club, where they “solve the worlds’ problems, and create more.” He enjoys dinner with his neighbors, but also alone with his wife. He swims three times a week and has become great friends with Cyrus Kanzi, the Pool Instructor. Jim follows team sports; college baseball is his favorite.
Joanna is an avid reader with her choice of genre being fiction and actively participates in a book club. The woodsy paths at her new community often see her walking shoes. The saltwater pool is another source of her exercise. As a child, Joanna played many card games and still does! She’s discovered “Hand and Foot” which is now her favorite. Joanna is very sociable and appreciates her new friendships.

What they like a lot in their new community are the evening concerts. Joanna hadn’t heard bluegrass before she attended a concert and now taps her toe to American Roots music. After discovering their proximity to George Mason University, they are enhancing their lives with all the cultural and educational offerings. They are happy to see familiar performers at GMU, who are often scheduled in their community living room.

The main reason for Jim and Joanna’s move into The Woodlands was to live a lifestyle that freed them up for spending time with their children and grandchildren. Jim and Joanna marvel that their children have been in their professions for 25 years or so, and that they had some part in their success. Wonderful life, family, success in many directions, desire to live life to its fullest-these make up a big part of their reasoning for moving into an independent lifestyle in a community. They moved because they wanted to be free, to live, and believe that The Woodlands was the perfect answer to their considerations.

Article written by Karen Lyddane. Photo given by Lynn Magrum.

Lynn Magrum lived where she was born, in Buffalo, New York, until she was 23. Youth was filled by her large Italian family that expected her to help others. This translated into finding just the right career, and she found it. Nursing school was where she belonged. Oncology and Hospice strongly held Lynn’s heart, where they reside today. In Oncology she could make a difference in her patient’s journey, by managing their physical and mental stresses. After writing her own memoirs, she taught a memoir writing class at Life with Cancer, sharing them with her patients. She taught cancer survivors how to write their own.

A creative touch to motherhood was in naming her daughter. Lynn and Charlie combined the two names of Alissa’s grandmothers, Alice and Teresa, and her daughter became “Alissa.” The name is heard often today, spelled differently, but was not common at all back then.

Achieving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees was challenging, to say the least! Her children were just two and 4 when she determinedly worked through challenges for success. Her husband, Charlie, would come home from work, they’d have a short conversation about their children, then off she would go off to class at George Mason University from 7-10 p.m.  until Eric and Alissa were old enough to go to GMU’s childcare center. So, her degree was a long process-she went back for her Nurse Practitioner degree when Eric and Alissa were in college.  Her career of 59 years was in nursing, with 29 years as a Nurse Practitioner. She worked for a time at Rosswell Park Cancer Institute.

Later in life, Lynn found herself living alone in her 3,000 square foot house. She had a different lifestyle, and didn’t need the responsibilities of it and the large yard. Charlie, her husband, was declining in his health, which forced the decision to move him where he could have increased support as needed.<

Lynn during her nursing career worked at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Schar Cancer Center, Capital Caring Hospice and palliative care and in a private oncology practice.

In 2024, Lynn made another decision-to move into The Woodlands. This freed her up to pursue her goals-she feels that her experience and education are not ready to sit on the shelf!

Lynn has had adventures in hang-gliding and parasailing. Alissa talked her into becoming a triathlete. Lynn did a ½ marathon first, then a triathlon of swimming, biking, and running. Today, Lynn enjoys golfing, walking, leading hikes at Wintergreen and being in Nature. Lynn is in two book clubs, a prayer group, plays Mahjong, and sets one day aside every week to volunteer at Mother of Mercy clinic in Manassas, Virginia. She helps people in need of medical services who are uninsured.

Lynn credits her biggest accomplishment in life to teaching Eric and Alessa the importance of giving to others. Goals are to be Charlie’s advocate and maintain his best quality of life.  An equally important goal is to not let people forget her grandson, Zachary, who died at seven years of Downs Syndrome. She and her family and friends are helping students with Downs Syndrome achieve their higher education dreams, through “Ruby’s Rainbows” scholarship foundation.  In supporting this organization, Lynn supports her own heart! She has a faith that supports every day of her life, and trusts that she is given the wisdom to make the right decisions.

From Lynn: “Don’t wait to do what brings you joy and fulfillment.” “Live life to the fullest!”

In Vietnam, Sophia Bainum first opened her eyes. Years later, aided by her brother-in-law (who worked for the Embassy in Laos), her family went to Thailand so they could eventually live in America. They received refugee status and came to America with green card in hand. Washington, D.C., greeted the family next. They stayed in a house because of a connection to the Embassy. Sophia was sponsored by a Colonel, who found work for her. She learned English by immersion, as there wasn’t time to go to school, as she worked from about 7:30 a.m. to midnight to support her family. Sophia said: “My English does not show my heart.”

One of Sophia’s early jobs was working in food service at Arlington Hospital. Her future husband, Doug Bainum, worked there also, in maintenance. He worked on boilers. Repairing a broken sink in her home was the beginning of a love story that lasted many years. She laughs at the memory of how it took three days to repair that sink! She told her mother about him with the result of asking him to dinner with her family. They faced challenges with her cultural traditionalism and her fear of his family not accepting her. Spending many moments with each other’s family was enjoyable to both. This was the perfect solution! Today, you can hear Sophia in the hallway calling to Robert Bainum, “Her father.”

Marrying Doug was the highlight of her life. Their love opened the doors for many opportunities. After his death, she gave up her single-family home and moved into The Woodlands. Five years later in her new life, she says that it “Is perfect right now.” She has no complaints about anything. Living an independent lifestyle gives her time and energy to see her family often. Sophia loves to wake up every day in her beautiful community- “Why live anywhere else?” She doesn’t have to worry about anything…she just enjoys life!

Friends, errands, and reading her Bible on her phone or computer, are all favorite daily parts of her life. Sophia loves to travel with her church. She really likes to watch YouTube.

Sophia prays that she stays peaceful. She really likes her many Woodlands friends. What one word sums up her independent lifestyle? “Great!”

I was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, just days before WWII ended in Europe. My father, a gunnery instructor, having completed the prerequisite missions in North Africa, was stationed in El Paso. My parents returned to New England for my birth. A few months later, mother and child returned to the southwest only to return to New England after VJ day.

My younger brother was born a short time later; we were often mistaken for twins.

Two years later, my father re-enlisted in the newly formed Air Force, thus launching my career as an Air Force brat. I spent my early years at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington. At age ten, Dad was transferred to Japan. Mom and three boys, my youngest brother was born in 1950, followed.

My time in Japan introduced me to a different culture that most children my age did not experience. This experience helped mold me into my future self.

Returning to the states, I competed in junior high school in Washington, DC. In 1959, Dad was sent on an unaccompanied tour. To be closer to family, Mom and three boys moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. There, I attended high school where I was a “middling” student.

In 1963, I enlisted in the Army, the high point being a tour in Germany. I went to Vietnam during my second enlistment as an avionics repairman with a Huey gunship company.  I finished this enlistment with a second tour in Germany. As duties permitted, I traveled extensively. In 1969, I took a European discharge, traveling to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and finally Hong Kong. Returning home, I decided to go back to school.

I enrolled in the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Magna Cum Laude with BS and MS degrees in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. Along the way, I met my Polish Princess and claimed her as my bride.

I secured a position with Analytic Services, Inc. in 1975, in Northern Virginia, where I designed studies to evaluate new DOD medical information systems. As a side project, I was tasked to develop a simulation model to evaluate aircraft configurations to move cargo to the Middle East. Maximum tons of cargo, minimal number of aircraft.

During this time, we had two boys, born in 1976 and 1977.

In 1978, I went to work for the government, the Navy specifically. I was with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command for 24 years. In the early 80s, I worked at NAVFAC’s Public Works Center, Guam. Our kids were young; they enjoyed the beaches. We had the opportunity to visit Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, an experience they talk about today. My wife enjoyed traveling.

Returning to NAVFAC’s DC headquarters, I spent the next 10 years working on various programs, the most notable being the automation of Public Works Departments. In 1993, the Navy was faced with implementing the Base Closure program, BRAC. I spent the next 10 years developing and managing NAVFAC’s BRAC Caretaker Program. I retired in 2004.

To stay busy, I revived a hobby I engaged in years earlier while in Germany, photography. Under the business title of Don’s Photos, I schlepped work to various art shows. I sold several pieces, but never enough to make it more than a hobby. During this time, I joined the Fairfax Art League and soon found myself managing their Old Town Art Gallery.

My wife and I were members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at George Mason University. For six years, I was co-moderator of What’s in the News, a weekly session where participants discussed the day’s news.

In 2019, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away the following April. To fill the void, I began writing short adventure novels. These are published on the Amazon Kindle platform.

In 2023, I had a minor health issue. My sons thought it was time I moved to a retirement community; I concurred, so here I am at The Woodlands. One of my best decisions!

The life story of John and Alyssa Feroldi illustrates love given a second chance, in strength joined by faith and logic.

Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, Alyssa quickly put on traveling shoes, as her father’s Navy career sent the family all over the world. The exciting city, Brooklyn, New York, was John’s birthplace and home of his youth.

In earlier years, Alyssa successfully fought the effects of Diabetes 1, with the life-giving double transplant she had at the University of Wisconsin at age 40. At about the same time, John’s wife died, leaving him with very young children.

John and Alyssa have a mutual friend, Kris. In 2002, she got them together on the phone and set up a blind date. They remember her saying: “John, come to the phone to talk to your future wife.” Kris and John had daughters in the same school. Donna Crean (who would eventually become a resident at The Woodlands) was teaching, and she remembers them well. They figure that Donna has known them for more than 30 years now. This began a life together, with Alyssa learning the challenges and joys of raising “bonus children,” and supporting her husband. John and Alyssa simultaneously credit marrying each other as the highlight of their life.

This remarkable couple loves to spend time walking together in nature, entertaining, and meeting new friends. While John loves pickleball and golf, Alyssa revels in savoring each day. They miss their friends they’ve known from many years living in a neighborhood, but regularly invite them to The Woodlands for meals in the Private Dining Room. They’ve kept longstanding friendships and doubled their friends by moving to The Woodlands.

John is a rare example of a single person receiving a patent.  Normally, patents reflect teamwork. He sold not one, but two patents to Verizon, with whom he was employed. Both came about from sitting in traffic, reading the various bumper stickers before and around him. His first patent was a display device, which can be used by authorities to relay messages as in Amber Alerts or for advertising. The second patent was a controlling system for the display.

Why the move to The Woodlands?  They grew increasingly tired of “being owned by their house,” for it had five bedrooms and two acres that demanded constant attention. They received invitations by The Woodlands to attend events, and so they did! They found that great enjoyment came of visiting instead of fighting traffic. Their advice? “Move in while you can – you won’t give up anything except tedious responsibilities.” The idea that things are set in place for their future is a great relief. They are so much happier now, and their friends are joining them in attending activities that give joy without the challenges of metropolitan transit.

In 1959 I led a group of six adults (diverse backgrounds: Montana, California, New York City, etc.) on a month long AYH (American Youth Hostels) tour of Central Europe. I tacked on an extra two weeks to travel on my own at the end of the group tour.  A young woman in my group was meeting a friend in Frankfurt, so the 3 of us decided to travel onward together.

On the final night at the Frankfurt hostel, we struck up a conversation which initiated the most unusual travel experience of my life.  A fellow hosteller claimed it was possible to hitch a free ride on a Rhine River barge.  “Just go to the harbor master’s office in Frankfurt and inquire.”

Deciding we had nothing to lose, by mid-morning we arrived at the gate, each lugging a bedroll and a single backpack.  We were given permission to walk along the quay and ask each captain if we could hitch a ride toward Amsterdam. After several turndowns, one captain said “yes”.  It was unbelievable this was happening.

We spoke no German and he, his Frau, and their nine-year-old son spoke no English.  Somehow we managed to agree we could ride with them, but we only had one hour before they would get underway.  Meanwhile, we must buy food supplies (anything not requiring cooking or refrigeration – cold cuts, breads, oranges) and return no later than 1 o’clock.  A mad scramble, but we made it.

Then we sat! Hour after creeping hour! It turned out that our barge had no engine, and their tugboat didn’t arrive that afternoon as expected. We didn’t get underway, hitched up to the tug, until dawn the next morning.

We lived and slept up in the small pilot house, sitting and laying on the wood floor, wrapped around the various pieces of equipment.  The captain and family had a compact, but larger cabin directly below, and the two-man crew had a tiny cabin of their own at the far-off rear of the long coal-filled barge.  There also was a small bathroom (sink and toilet) below our cabin, which was shared by all.

In most places, the riverbanks were filled with shrubbery, so we weren’t gazing into people’s backyards. This meant that during the daytime there was little to do except wave to other barges and boats and observe life on board: laundry drying on lines, perhaps a moped or bike on board for land excursions, children, and pets (dogs, cats, caged birds), potted plants, maybe a grille.

One afternoon the Frau invited us into their cabin for a bowl of homemade hot soup.  This was a rare and wonderful treat after unending dry sandwiches. Mostly using sign language and drawing pictures, we learned the family had an apartment in one of the river towns. There the Frau and son lived during the winter months while he went to school.  They also had an older daughter who was married to an American and lived in Georgia (perhaps the reason they said “yes” to taking us aboard in the first place).  In total, we spent three days going from Frankfurt to Bonn and learned the rhythms of river barging.  They anchored grouped together in a wider section of the river every night and moved on early each morning.

Evenings were a social time.  Barge families met and greeted old friends.  A small grocery boat wove in and out, pulling alongside to sell fresh food items like fruit, vegetables, milk, bread, and soda.  The young crew members went rowing off with their buddies.

All told it was a truly unique and memorable travel experience.

Carol moved from Florida to The Woodlands to be close to her family. She stays in touch with friends every week using zoom, Skype, email, and FaceTime. Carol enjoys The Woodlands relaxed lifestyle and treasures her time walking on The Woodlands trails and working in her garden plot which rewards her generously every year. She appreciates The Woodlands library which supplements her regularly scheduled trips to the local library. This fall, Carol is participating in the Senior Olympics in Rummikub with other residents.

Brigitte and Ulrich have been married 10 years and moved to The Woodlands from Oakton.  Ulrich was born in Bulgaria and grew up in the German part of Switzerland.  Brigitte was born in Switzerland and had a career as a schoolteacher, then social worker working with the blind.  They met at a party in St. Gallen when Ulrich, a widower, was visiting his brother.

Ulrich worked for a company that made and installed printing presses for newspapers. He speaks Bulgarian, Swiss, German, Spanish, Russian and Italian. As an outgoing and energetic young man, he was the installing/engineering supervisor for newspaper printing presses in many countries. From installing printing presses in Moscow for Pravda to Buenos Aires, and instructing the operators how to use them, he traveled the globe. The company eventually installed him as a Manager in the USA branch.

Ulrich and his wife moved into Oakton in 1978 and established themselves in the community.  Buying out the company, he successfully built a new printing supply company. Talking to him, I’d never thought about printing presses having used lead plates for printing in different languages, especially before offset plates were used and are still used for newspaper printing. Did you ever think about how Armstrong linoleum patterns are made? Ulrich’s company had the contracts for printing press color controls with many companies until he retired.

Brigitte still has a rental flat in Switzerland, where she lived and worked close to the family. Ulrich and Brigette had a favorite apartment in sunny Spain where they could see the beach and the mountains from the balcony, and they have cruised the world twice, both eastward and westward.  The two of them speak German when together. Brigitte speaks with her sister weekly and other friends in Switzerland.  Comfortable with computers, texts, and email, she rarely uses her excellent English. She orders our current best sellers in German.

Now that their Oakton house is sold, they have time to think about their new lifestyle at The Woodlands.  They wanted a neighborhood feel that was similar to their single-family home neighborhood in Oakland. They particularly liked that their apartment, which has beautiful park-like views from every window, and activities and eating area are together in one building. When they are not participating in activities with their friendly neighbors at The Woodlands, Brigitte and Ulrich enjoy the sunshine and beach at their condo In Pompano Beach, Florida in addition to trips home to Switzerland.

Maureen was born in County Offaly in the Irish midlands 93 years ago.  Her parents were teachers, but her mother had to give up her school when her baby Ford had been put up on blocks in the garage and she couldn’t get tires for her bicycle, due to the war.  A family escaping Germany lived in their area, and the English wife gave violin lessons to Maureen and her brother, and then taught her when they were able to get a piano.

Education was important and in 1944 she went to boarding school for three years at Mount Sackville Convent by Phoenix Park in Dublin. It is still a vibrant school today, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, the nuns with the big white hats.  Maureen was the leading soprano in the operas and was noticed by the local opera people. However, when her mother became very ill, she had to run the household until her parents passed.

After the war, in the fifties, there was little opportunity for single women to make a living wage. Maureen went to ‘jolly’ London and worked as a bank clerk, where the books had to be balanced by hand every day. Renting a typewriter, she taught herself to type and used her mother’s old textbook to learn Gregg shorthand.  A school friend working in NYC invited Maureen to come stay with her, and she arrived in 1963. Maureen remembered her father telling her brother that the oil industry was the place to work and make money.

Several jobs in the big city gave her enough skill to one day confidently walk into Mobil Oil HQ on 42^nd Street and apply for a job. Maureen was hired immediately as a legal secretary typing contracts.  Reading a flyer circulated only to men, she learned they intended to train employees to be computer programmers.  Three years later, she studied the books, passed the qualifying test and started her climb up that ladder.

At NYU she was certified by the Data Processing & Systems Analysis Institute in 1977, became a Registered Professional Nurse at USNY, received a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Nursing (cum laude) at Hunter College in 1979 and an MBA at Fordham in 1983; all while enjoying life from her apartment with her own piano in Stuyvesant Heights.  Maureen had joined the tax department and moved with HQs to Fairfax.  Arriving at the airport, she picked up a Ford Taurus, and started a new life that included playing Irish tunes on the fiddle every Saturday with The Breakfast Club in Alexandria. She never lost that Irish lilt in speaking.  After 21 years Maureen retired from Mobil as a Tax Accountant.

Renewing her friendship with a doctor in Towson, MD, her first boyfriend in that Irish high school, they traveled back to Ireland many times. From her townhouse condo near the Government Center, Maureen often walked the grounds of The Woodlands and knew this was where she wanted to be when the time came not to be on her own.

Her plans are that one day she will join her parents and sister in that Irish cemetery.  Meanwhile, she enjoys the Great Courses classes, breaks out in song whenever she can, and digs in her brain for the answers to the questions along Memory Boulevard on Wednesdays. Starting a career in the early days of women’s liberation, Maureen always has been a woman of great independence and determination to succeed on her own. Well done!