St. Luke Living Center correspondent
St. Luke Living Center celebrated the Olympic games Thursday afternoon with a 10-point sports match game and a ball throw competition. The top overhand thrower was Lydia and the longest underhand toss was by Olinda. Happy was the match game winner.
Living center bakers had gone to work earlier in the week, leaving Friday morning open for an outing. This trip included a drive past the school complex on Lawrence Street, then north on Cedar Street to Lincolnville, a side trip through Antelope on the way back, and “surprise daisy-spottings” in many yards and homesteads.
Judy Priest, retired Methodist minister, filled our Sunday afternoon worship service with violin music and her beautiful voice.
Although not as early as the young people, our living center residents went “back to school” Tuesday morning. The 11 former students’ early education took place in schools with names like Pleasant Hill, Beauty of the West, Bluffdale, Pilsen; Biscuit Hill; District #59; Quarry; Emporia; Lehigh; Burns; and Bethany, near Buffalo, Okla. Five of those residents were able to attend high school and three went on to college.
During book club that afternoon we listened as Lassie, for the first time, attacked man while protecting Piddler Palmer the Potter and his little dog, Toots. Man and dog had offered the Collie food and companionship on her journey south and these events played on our emotions.
Thursday morning Shirley Bowers was here to lead hymn singing. Almost before we could wipe the lunch from our mouths, we were loading the living center bus for parts not completely known. As it happened, we headed west to K-15 and north to Durham. After a guided tour by Olinda, we backtracked toward home with a short side trip to the community of Lehigh.
We owe a word of thanks to Kalynn Jirak, granddaughter of Edmund and Mary Lou Kroupa for the lunchtime violin music, Jane Vajnar for sharing her spelling bee experiences, Irene Waylan, Mildred’s daughter, for being a baker’s helper, Lois Winter for the delicious homegrown honeydew melon, and the hospital auxiliary for the scrumptious fresh fruit and snack crackers.