HOLY SMOKES! LUNCH WAS SO GOOD AND SO PLENTIFUL that I COULDN’T FINISH IT! It reminded me I havn’t had a decent meal in nearly three months!

Maybe I should back up up a little and get us on generally the same sheert of music. Today was scheduled to be a luncheon tour of the Trillium independent/Assisted Living Memory Care Faciliity in Reston, Virginia. The visit was made necessary by my real requirement to escape from the three-man berthing environent at the Woodbine Skilled Nursing Facility in Alexandria.

I would urge you to take a careful review of your affairs before embarking on any major surgical adventure in an attempt to prolong your life or healh. It could amount to the same inadvertant imprisonment I have recently experienced.

I was only rescued by the superb efforts of care management team which were previously under appreciated. But that too is a matter best accompanied by illustrations, so we wil get to the point more directly.

In order to escape this Woodbine confinement, Case Manager Paula Gargan secured a series of two interviews with a recently-constructed, upscale living complex in Reston. It features Independent-Assisted Living and Memory care available across the geriatric spectrum of need. My needs turn out to be some assistance with the two-page list of meds, light cooking and laundry. I insist I can do these myself, arguably true, but who needs to argue?

The first interview was for the Trillium to assess where I might be on the spectrum of need, and whether my needs were within the facilities capabilities. That seemed promising, but today was the day I had to demonstrate the ability to dress myself, mount the wheelchair, cooperate with the transport operator, complete a tour of the facility and not drool at the delightful lunch.

I am pleased to report the shirt and trousers fit. What was more impressive was the list of facilities contained within the 14-story Trillium, the exciting and brand new building with glass from floor to ceiling and a view of the mountains clear out in West Virginia fifty miles to the west.

I had been unaware of the need for all these amenities until the complications from the covid vaccines arouse and will not raise them here.

There is a single one-bedroom apartment remaining on the fourth floor. It has a delightful view west, a spacious bedroom and a bathroom without tub that will permit seated showering in my tub chair, and plenty of clear white wall on which to hang my art.

Ding can be had in the dining room or delivered and the food is superb with 24 hour concierge and slick delivery amenities.

Anyway, escape from Woodbine was complicated by the need to keep the medications straight and 24-hour nursing care if required, and other transitional issues that will doubtless be welcome over time and avoid unpleasant surprise.

Lisa the saleswoman seemed pleased as was I, and with luck anticipate a move complete by a week from tomorrow. There is some controversy associated with the Reston Area of Fairfax County, of course, but there has been since arriving here from Hawaii in 1986.

I had avoided it except when requiring international flight from Dulles, but the crime reporting from the Clarendon and Ballston Metros are un-nerving, and the shopping at the strip malls in the developing Trillium area look nice. I am pleased to have said “yes” and plan on moving next week.

That will complicate this Friday’s activities with the Red Tie Luncheon and FOSIC PAC Happy Hour, but with other stress issues resolved, things are looking grand!

I am pleased to report that life is looking up! By next week that should be Trillium radical. More details to come!

V/R,
JR