Becky decided it was time to return to transferring utilities, credit cards, memberships, and subscriptions into her name. It was like dialing for dollars. Some of the challenges were the automated telephone systems. There was never an option for DEATH of account holder!
Richard's brother, Bob, is having a very difficult time in the hospital. He's at St. John's in Santa Monica. They decided not to perform more surgeries. But, he was moved to a critical care unit, and recently, intensive care. His kidney's are not working well, so they are going to put him on dialysis. Bob is 81 years old. Darn, darn, darn!
This time of year, the national forest department initiates prescribed burns. It thins out the dead branches and debris. Unfortunately, a prescribed burn met heavy winds and it was smoky in Williams today.
Reverend James Baird, from San Marino Community Church, is officiating the Celebration of Life. Becky and James met over the telephone today. She had already sent him autobiography pieces and overviews of Richard's Life. It was a very special phone meeting.
Thursday was an appointment in Flagstaff --- a facial with Sue Kelly. Becky had hoped to run some errands beforehand, but realized she left her wallet at home. But, she did stop at FedEx to give them the Celebration of Life file. They are going to print the program.
Becky's former associate, Linda Horowitz, helped Becky tremendously in enhancing the program look and feel. Linda is a top notch marketing maven!
The program was ready the next day!
Friday night, Becky met up with Barb and Joe Clark. Barb and Joe are friends from Thousand Trails and Pickleball enthusiasts. The three of them decided to go to the Grand Canyon Brewery for dinner. This brewery moved from a small venue in the historic part of downtown to this very large barn building --- across from the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park.
The appetizers and beer were good, but there is a weekend band. It was too difficult to talk. So, they left and went to Kick's on Route 66.
Becky decided that she would stop by Camping World Saturday morning. All of the salesmen were occupied, so the TJ, the Sales Manager, suggested she just go out on the lot and look inside the trailers. And she did!
There was one trailer that caught her eye. It was a Forest River trailer with two slides --- and a fireplace! She came back into the sales office and met with salesman Richard. Becky told Richard that she was interested in the trailer, but the important factor was trade-in value of her HUGE 5th wheel. Richard collected information about the 5th wheel and met with TJ. Great news! They were going to exchange her five year old 5th wheel for a 2017 Surveyor trailer and receive a check back for $2,000.
All was very enticing. Becky needed to go back home and walk the dogs for an hour. As she drove up to her home, she saw her neighbor, Jay. She asked Jay if he would to go back to Camping World with her, and see the trailer. Jay and his wife, Connie, are frequent RVers.
Jay liked the trailer and Becky signed papers to purchase the trailer.
The HUGE 5th Wheel that Richard and Becky had since March, 2011, was a daunting piece of machinery for Becky. One of her high school classmates, Stephanie Hunt Raffel, has the same 5th Wheel --- only one year older. Stephanie and Joe have two homes --- one outside of Albuquerque and one in Desert Hot Springs. So, they must always drive through Williams. Becky found out that they would be doing the trek on Sunday. So, Becky fed them fresh bagels and cream cheese, and Joe hooked up the RV and pulled it out of the RV barn. Yeah!
Joe Raffel used to have trailers. He said he had a trailer hitch and sway bar that would work well for Becky's new trailer. So, Becky made arrangements to visit Steph and Joe in Desert Hot Springs on her way to Los Angeles.Becky spent the rest of that day moving items out of the 5th Wheel. She put it all in the garage. Camping World was coming on Monday to pick up the "trade-in."
Chuck from Camping World came at 11:00am to get the 5th Wheel. Becky was surprised that their was no sadness --- as she was ready to move on to life with the dogs and the Surveyor travel trailer. That 5th Wheel was just too much for one person!
Later on that same day, Becky went to Camping World to sign all of the paperwork. It was a relatively easy process. She worked with Salesman Richard Bennett. Since Becky was going to Los Angeles for the Celebration of Life, arrangements were made to have her take possession of the trailer on Thursday, November 3. Becky is going to become an Arizona citizen in January. They were also kind to extend the licensing deadline to January 22. Very accommodating Camping World!
While Becky was on the road trip last month with her sister, Wendy, she was introduced to a fun product. Becky eyed it at Camping World and bought one for herself. It is called Poo-Pourri ---
before-you-go toilet spray!
Becky dropped the dogs off at Cinder Hills Kennel early Wednesday morning. The kennel was all decked out for Halloween.
It was a 350 mile drive from Becky's home in Williams to the Raffel home in Desert Hot Springs. Before heading down highway 95 to California, Becky completed her first diesel transaction at Pilot on her own. The membership and fuel discount had always been a "Richard" job. She was very proud of herself!
Becky arrived in Desert Hot Springs by 6:00pm. Joe proceeded to show her the trailer hitch elements. After driving almost six hours, Becky's brain was a little mushy, so she took photos on her phone.
Stephanie and Joe are so inclusive and easy to be around. They had a delicious steak dinner together, and regrouped in the morning for eggs, bacon, and homemade potatoes from Stephanie's garden in New Mexico.
Once in Desert Hot Springs, the drive to Peter and Terry's home in San Gabriel was a breeze. It was a two hour, 110 mile drive.
Terry and Peter were both at work when Becky arrived around noon. She decided to get her fitbit steps in and walked several miles in the San Gabriel neighborhood. It was there that she saw her first Clinton-Kaine yard signs. No sight of these signs in Williams!
Peter was going to the Cal-USC game that evening at the LA Coliseum. He was joined by Terry's mother, Dudley, who also went to Cal, and son Michael. So, Becky and Terry walked two dogs around the block --- their dog and Dudley's dog.
Becky and Terry spent Thursday night hanging out and watching television. It was a cozy evening with wine, cheese, fruit, and crackers.
Terry has an annual pass to the Huntington Library and Gardens. It allows her to get into the gardens two hours before the public. Becky and Terry had a wonderful one hour walk throughout the property. Many changes have been made since Becky was last there, but some was the usual classic.
Arrangements were made to see Sally Jo and Chris Benjamin, Pinky and Don Eastman, and Jackie and Denny Dexter for lunch at the Jonathan Beach Club. Richard's brother Bob was still in the hospital and not making progress. His wife Elise has been sending regular e-mails reporting on Bob's status. Elise had originally offered to bring the table flowers. She still said she would bring the flowers, with the help of friend Mara Hunter Redden. But, Becky wanted a back-up plan too. Sally Jo was bringing a variety of fake flower arrangements borrowed from her church.
On the way to the Jonathan Beach Club, Becky had the truck washed. Don't want to be embarrassed at a private beach club!
The lunch at the Jonathan Beach Club was fun and well received. Jackie was not feeling up-to-par, so Denny came solo. Chris, Don, and Denny were fraternity brothers of Richard's at UCLA --- Phi Kappa Sigma. At the end of the meal, a photo was taken of Becky with Richard (yellow bag of ashes) and his three fraternity brothers!
That night, Peter and Terry took Becky out to dinner at a Pasadena restaurant called Malbec. It was delicious Argentine food. Becky had her favorite, paella! How delicious --- and thanks, Peter and Terry.
So the BIG DAY has arrived --- San Gabriel Country Club and Richard's Celebration of Life! Becky was ready. She put on her new outfit selected for the event, and headed over to the club.
The California Room setting was beautiful. All 17 photo posters were set up in the room. Donna and David set up the photo slide show. The lovely buffet table flower arrangement was in place. Guests started to arrive as early at 10:30am. The official start-time was 11:00am with mingling, followed by the program.
Wow! Becky could not have asked for a better celebration! The reverend was exceptional. The people who spoke were perfect. Meghan and Emily did IZ's "Over the Rainbow." Amazing! Jennifer's beautiful voice sang "Danny Boy" a capella. The tone, the humor, the love, and the guests all brought together a real celebration of Richard's life.
There were over 130 guests from throughout Richard's life --- and Becky's too! It was really an eclectic group --- but it seemed like everyone had a joyous and fun time. Someone said it was more like a reunion!
After the celebration concluded, family members headed over to Peter and Terry's home. It was fun having all the first cousins together. Donna Haste, and her daughter Lindsey, even came in from Atlanta, Georgia!
At 6pm, a group of Bernstein, Ebbert, and Shelton family members met at El Cholo Mexican Restaurant in Hollywood. El Cholo had been a neighborhood hang out in the 1983-5 time period for Richard, Becky, Donna, and Rick. What fun to be back there again. A great way to end the day's festivities. Can you say margaritas???
The next morning, it was time to take the obligatory walk with Berkeley. It was a beautiful morning in the neighborhood.
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