SCENEin Passing
MARIE WHITEHEAD mwhitehead@mediactr.com
Welcome to May, the fifth month of what is still a

New Year, 2008. They say "time flies, when you're having fun." Aren't we blessed to experience the simple passage of time? What are we doing with it? From numerous directions, people are observing the local scene with optimism. Perfection it is not, but everyone agrees that our area is on the threshold of a new day. We are on the brink of achieving expanded growth and economic development. The news last week of a nursing school offers hope. By Jan. 1, student nurses will be able to study/work at Rusk State Hospital to obtain degrees. This step forward is expected to help fill the staffing needs and do away with the nursing shortage. Hurray for the leadership of SFASU, Rusk State Hospital, TDCJ, and ETMC for their cooperation in the project. A key player in making this happen is Rusk's own Jim Perkins who maintains a strong presence in doing great things for our area.

We welcomed the official news last week that Glenda Mayes Bruce is the recently named director of community relations at RSH, succeeding Judy Fay Garner, who retired. Glenda is like family. We watched her grow up during her older sister's longtime service to our company. Mary Ann Patterson, her sister, is now retired from RSH. As a place of employment, the facility benefitted from the services of the two sisters, and also their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Delman Mayes. They were there during the infamous 1955 riot at the maximum security unit. In fact, Mr. Mayes was on the staff at MSU when it happened. That event forever altered the future of treatment for the mentally ill in Texas. Life goes on and we are pleased to continue our service to this fine institution through another generation. The new coordinator already has plans moving for events during the rest of '08. Her husband, Ed Bruce, is also a major promoter of great service through his position at RSH.

To help us stay in touch, grieving and/or celebrating with those we know, it saddened us to hear Sunday morning that a longtime special child of God, Paul Moseley, had died. Through his dad, Martin Moseley, Paul had family members here, many of whom are deceased. He has been blessed since Nov. 30 to the present time with the assistance of a cousin, Dolores Bryson. He lived for more than 20 years in Georgia where he enjoyed the fellowship of a community of "little people." He really found happiness in this structure. During his time in Rusk, he was frequently seen touring around on a golf cart. Paul was a very independent, rugged individual. He traveled many roads in life that others, less brave, would have shied away from. His end time was spent in the medical community where his sweet, loving nature and disposition earned for him a special place in their lives. That was five months plus two days. He had recently been transferred to the Continuing Care Unit of Hospice in Tyler. With his parents, Jane and Martin, and brother Jimmy, they were our next door neighbors for nearly three years. Paul has been our friend since we found Rusk and Rusk found us. What a blessing we have shared.

On our list of 'getting better' folks, we are so happy to tell you that Bob McNatt, is moving toward better. According to spouse Nell, he is slowly improving after back surgery. Poor Nell. She sometimes has a back ache of her own. And a principle staff member at Flowers n Things, Jan Hardy, is also doing better. Those of you who know Jan know that she doesn't enjoy being "down." She is an "up" person. And she is back at work a few hours per day now. By your reading here, Nell's mate should be back at the office of Southwestern Abstract, if only a few hours daily. You see why I commented "poor Nell." Two businesses, two major players temporarily out. But relief is in sight. Barbara Kennedy, beloved wife of Elmer, is hospitalized and hopefully will be out of ICU by the time you read this. She had a kind of sudden illness and after tests, it was discovered that fluid was collecting inside the lining around her heart. As of Sunday morning, she was resting comfortably while her fellow Methodists offered prayers. What do you do when your prayer committee chairman gets sick? Well, you put her name on your list and pray. (She is prayer chairman at First United Methodist Church.)

Pain has such a bad talent for showing up at the wrong time. One of our special student interns from several years ago, is Jennifer Guinn, daughter of Wayne and Toni, also older sister of Elizabeth, who also interned with us. Jennifer became suddenly ill, severely. Long story short, her appendix was removed, right here on top of her graduation from The School, UT at Austin. Fortunately, her dad speaks professor-ese (he's on the faculty at Lon Morris) and he managed to inform the right people and got Jennifer graduated. She had completed more than enough hours anyway. And how about E-beth, as her family calls her? She is wonderfully well and loves being a student at the University of Houston, her mom and dad's alma mater.

Jim Turner also continues - slowly, but steadily he is moving up the ladder of life, guided by his faithful spouse Joyce. Down the street and around the corner from the Turners live Sam and Claudia Florian. To all of you who timidly ask about Sam, "don't." Just step up to the front and ask. He has completed the required tests for admission to M. D. Anderson soon. It is tentatively set for May 12. And so far, so good for the tests. He is amazingly healthy, we're happy to report. More later. Maybe a miraculous remission? We can hope and pray.

Here's an uplifting thought to ponder: "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about finishing the work God has already begun in you." Keep smiling.