Dear Family I want to apologize to each of you for sending my name but no message last Tuesday. AOL said ‘Your letter has been sent.”;but it sent only my name. I still want to send it. ASSIGNMENT: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SUMMER IN CALIFORNIA?

Wonderful! Today is a very special day for Carol and me. The first day of August, three years ago, Susan, Jim, and John moved us into our new “Shiklehaus”. The sign hangs over our door. a 1000 square feet cottage. This is very adequate if two people are deeply in love and flexible, forgiving and daily affirming of each other. We rejoice in living on the side of Mount Soledad in San Diego, California. After 58 years we returned to California where our courtship began at Redlands University when Carol was l7 years old and I was 21.

To me it has been an amazing and satisfying Journey. 63 years of walking hand in hand. I believe a person finds not only complementation, but unique fulfillment in another person. Minds meet, as well as bodies. There is a marching to the same drummer in societal choices. Our Leader and Partner has been Jesus Christ.

There is tremendous stimulation in differences the glue doesn’t completely harden. It stretches, but when a couple have similar values and background, interests, hobbies, fun things they enjoy, and are looking in the same direction they can become in a few years a ‘Mr and Mrs'. After 58 years we returned to the ‘Golden State” and the three years have been highly stimulating and satisfying to me. Scores of new friends, classes, Plays, Transportation to the Parks or Seashore every week have stimulated me more than I every realized. I love to watch the waves come in. “Retirement” for me is more wonderful than I ever thought it could be. Carol participates and is a leader in many activities and groups here. She is a natural leader and catalyst; She makes good things happen. In High School I wrote a definition of a leader as “one who plants seeds, nourishes them in quietness and lets others take credit for their fruition.” Carol is such a gifted,talented soul-mate and unselfish leader.

Though it takes more time to take care of our bodies, we are in good health compared to our fellow classmates. I am becoming more and more 'Vegetarian' in my eating. There are 300 of us here; an amazing laboratory to study people who have realized they are not going to live forever and done something about it.

I call our cottage and “Big House” the “Palace, Commune, Campus, Cocoon, Monastery, PlaySchool, God’s Waiting Room, Retreat Center, and Fun Place.” Every need and wish is gratified here in one way or another. The Establishment to which we pay our high rent each month is most solicitous of our welfare. One never carries a wallet or purse, just signs his name. Frankly I never realized this chapter of living could be so stimulating and satisfying. While Carol is gone, I have a list of many things to do. Our Flowers are worth talking about. My four classes today and Jacuzzi Yoga makes life wonderful. Love and prayers. 8/1/2000 6.p.m.

PS Today is Thursday. I play horseshoes, return the VCR film “Topsy Turvey” which I showed on a 10 ft screen to 6o classmates last night, attend a ‘Happy Hour”, organize a Beginner’s computer class, listen to The Bush Campaign, and read ‘Neurobic’ material for a class I help lead. We had 11 classmates, some with early ”Big “A” in early stages. Life is everything I could ask for at this stage of living, Thanks for Scrolling. THE PATRIARCH 8/4/2000