Seeing a reprint of Rodika Tollefson's story about Park Vista's Views magazine in my Kitsap Sun Thursday morning (Jan. 28) was a delightful surprise. Rodika was kind enough to wait weeks while I was getting over a bout of laryngitis to interview me about our little magazine for Port Orchard Life where she serves as editor. At my age a lot can happen in a few weeks. I had already resigned as editor of Views and then got the wheels in motion to move into an apartment closer to the skilled nursing facility where Charlie Rook is living, recovering from a fall a couple of months ago.

I was a little rattled with all that's going on lately. Rodika managed to glean a story from all the nervous chatter I spewed out that day. I'm surprised she could make sense of it all but she proved to be a terrific writer the way she pulled it all together.

I may have misled her in a couple of things, like the formaldehyde in the newsprint and copy machine products to which I am sensitive, that caused my departure from a job I loved. I was also diagnosed with an allergy to one of the ingredients in the ink, but I never found out what that was. When my doctors said I needed to remove myself from the cause of my ailments... man, I split!

I also would be remiss if I forget to mention that I did not launch the Views magazine at Park Vista. Doris Forsyth, who still lives here, and Dudley Lapham, who was editor when I came on board and is now living in the San Juan Islands, deserve the credit for the birth of Views, along with many wonderful resident writers in past issues. Rodika also corrected the misspelled names in the copy online at kitsapsun.com. Bruce Dickinson laughed it off when some residents wanted to know if Bruce Smith was his new pen name! Wes Koentz , another one of Views' star authors, is glad his wife Jerry is married to Wes, not West (or East-LOL). These guys have maintained such a well developed sense of humor in their own lives that they cheer up everyone around them. I will miss their joking and teasing when I leave this place. I'll miss all the residents and staff.

Life changes at any age is hard. Been-there-done-that a few times in my life. At my age I'm just happy to make it to the dining room in time for lunch!

Charlie Rook has been calling more frequently since he found out we'll be breathing the same air, more or less, and I'll be walking distance to his place. He thinks I'm moving closer to keep an eye on him. He'd be right! He's still a hunk with a twinkle in his eye for the ladies. And those ladies aren't immune to his charms, yanno!

Stay tuned. Rosie