The Hale Family Weekly Update (7/19/26)
Weekly Update July 13–19, 2026Monday, July 13, 2026
Today was cloudy, starting at 76° and heading for 83°. Our friend Charles Mackay had a birthday, and my feet had a workout. We walked the Matteson Trail, then took Jerilyn to Ken Matthews, where she happily adopted three new flowers and planted them after lunch, turning the yard into a small, cheerful rebellion against ordinary grass.
Amazon delivered a hose repair kit, giving me hope for the long expandable hose in the backyard, which has been auditioning for the role of “retired boa constrictor.” I posted my fifth short story, The Storms of Life, on my website—another milestone in this late-in-life writing adventure. The reviews from friends have been mixed; some felt the story lacked a strong conclusion. That’s the joy and pain of writing: even when the story ends, the opinions don’t. I’ll try to do better next time. ☹
Our grandson Brandon is in Brooklyn visiting his girlfriend, Elizabeth, which sounds far more exciting than the 30 minutes I spent cutting my toenails—a job I dislike enough to consider it endurance training. It keeps getting harder to bend over and get the job done; I don’t recall it being this tricky when I was younger. Dinner with Betty was followed by a walk to the mailbox, while Jerilyn visited the Funny Farm to gather tomatoes from the plant Danny Owens gave us.
The day ended with our first fire pit gathering at the Pavilion with residents including Jack White, Ken Noland, Jim and Janice Fowler, Harold Byars, Joy Hooper, and a few others whose names I haven’t learned yet, or just plain forgot. We left around 8:30, but the others stayed on to enjoy the evening. I finished the day by preparing a birthday card for Jake, our grandson who lives in western Tennessee.
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Sunny skies, 67° at 7:10 a.m., with a high of 88°. A good day to fix things and say farewell.
It was Roger Fuhrman’s birthday. He and his wife (Lois) are good friends. I went back to wrestling the collapsible water hose in the backyard. Got it partially repaired before heading to yoga at 1:30 p.m., hoping my flexibility would last longer than the hose fittings. After class, we stopped by Joann England’s home to pick up food she didn’t want to take to Florida. Her family—Mike (son in law), Colleen (daughter), Sarah (granddaughter), and Kelly (a friend of Colleen’s)—were busy loading the moving truck and practicing the ancient art of “Will this fit?” Mike and Colleen plan to drive all 16 hours to Florida tomorrow, while Sarah and Joann will wisely spend the night at a motel before continuing the next day. Later, I worked out at the gym for 50 minutes, then returned home to get ready for dinner at 5 p.m. We enjoyed the company of Jane, Mary Jane, Betty, and Joy. After dinner, we made our usual trip to the mailbox, closing the day on a familiar, comforting note.
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Sunny again, 74° at 7:30 a.m., with the temperature climbing to 98°. The hose and I finally reached a peace agreement.
I finished repairing the 100-foot collapsible water hose in the back. It took several hours on Tuesday and about two more today because the inner tubing was determined not to slide over the nozzle on the repair kit. Persistence eventually won, proving that sometimes the biggest victory of the day is just getting the equipment to cooperate.
It was Kay Scheele’s birthday. Our housekeeper came at 10:30 a.m. to clean our home. We walked the Matteson Trail and were rewarded with delicious peaches from our friends, the Wilsons—proof that some trails lead directly to fruit, which is my favorite kind of exercise incentive.
Dinner with Mary Jane and Betty was followed by a real treat: Stephanie reading her poetry at 7 p.m. in the Explorer Room. It may well be the first time an author has read at The Chesapeake, and it was wonderful to hear her work in her own voice. There’s something special about watching words stand up straight and walk around the room.
Near midnight, we drove to the Norfolk airport to pick up Rachel, our daughter-in-law, returning from California after six weeks of house sitting for her sister Marcela and brother-in-law Robby. We didn’t want her to have to rely on a late-night Uber. We got home and into bed at 2:15 a.m., tired but thankful to have her back.
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Another sunny day, 78° at 8:30 a.m., with a high of 97°. A day of small repairs, yoga, and music.
In the morning, Michael Eley (vacuum cleaner salesman/repairman) stopped by at 10 a.m. to look at the new Electrolux vacuum he sold us in January. It turns on easily but refuses to turn off unless we unplug it—proof that even vacuums can be overenthusiastic. He took it with him to replace the on/off switch and plans to return it next week. The new switch may be a different color, but we assured him our vacuum doesn’t need to be fashion-forward.
My daughter Debby called, and we talked briefly before I had to leave for yoga. After class, I went up to see our friend and neighbor, Bell Schaller, to help with an electronic issue. While we couldn’t solve it completely, I was able to offer an alternative plan that should still get her where she needs to go. She and her husband, Ted, are good friends, and I’m happy to serve as the unofficial “electronics department.”
We had dinner with Mary Stuart and June, then headed to the Chesapeake Room to watch Walt and Susan Stillman perform. We’ve known Walt since 1992, and seeing him still entertaining a crowd nearly 35 years later was a pleasure; some people age; some people just add chapters.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Sunny, 78° at 7:40 a.m., with a high of 94°. Hot enough to remind you that shade is a precious commodity. When we go outside, we become “Shade Chasers.” 😊
Rachel walked the Kiln Creek Trail (KCT) with us, and we returned two houseplants we’d cared for while she was in California. The walk was very hot—around 92°. Afterward, I took Jerilyn to Dollar General for birthday cards, then to Kroger for groceries. Between plants, cards, and food, it was a full-service errand day.
I watched a good Marco from Christine (GD), then recorded one of my own and sent it to “The Girls,” our family distribution list scattered across the USA. After lunch, I called our friend Ann Derby’s room in Healthcare to see how she was doing. Her sister told me Ann was close to the end; she has pancreatic cancer. It was a hard conversation. We will miss Ann at our Monday dinners; she was sweet, kind, and always brought warmth to the table.
Later in the afternoon, our son Dean, daughter-in-law Tiffany, and granddaughter Alidia came to visit from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. The day closed with dinner alongside Mary Jane, Mary Stuart, Betty, and Peggy. It was one of those days when joy and sadness quietly share the same schedule, and both feel strangely at home.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Cloudy, 79° at 7:00 a.m., high 96°, with smoke still hanging in the air from the Canadian fires.
I spoke again with Ann Derby’s sister and learned that Ann had passed away a few hours earlier. She was a good friend, and her absence will be felt. Goodbyes never become routine, no matter how many birthdays we’ve collected.
I talked with Nancy and Betty later, and those conversations helped soften the day’s rough edges. Sometimes the best comfort is simply a familiar voice, a shared memory, and the knowledge that someone else misses the same person you do.
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Sunny, 79° at 7:30 a.m., with a high of 89°. A day of numbers, newsletters, and a very clean car.
Days on Earth (DOE): 31,216 — because He wants me to be thankful. Days on Wegovy (DOW): 158. Weight: 202.5 pounds, down 10 pounds. When I receive my next prescription, I’ll need to move from 4mg to 8mg; the 4mg dose helped me lose weight at first but now mostly keeps me in maintenance mode. Apparently, even medicine knows when it’s time for a promotion.
I worked on and completed this Hale Family Weekly Update and sent it out. Sally went to AutoBell for her weekly bath and came out looking like she just rolled off the showroom floor. My wife manages the same effect with a shower and pretty clothes—Sally and Jerilyn are my two favorite examples of “before and after.” 😊
We had brunch at 11:30 with our friend and neighbor Nancy, who usually joins us on Sundays. It’s remarkable how much enjoyment a good friend can add to your life; conversation with Nancy is proof that you don’t have to travel far to enjoy friendship over a good meal.
In the afternoon, Debby came by for a visit and brought chili she made, knowing how much I like it. Later, we took our friends Margo and Stephen for a ride in Sally so they could experience the self-driving car. Sharing that bit of the future with friends was a fun way to finish the week—and a reminder that even in retirement, there’s always something new to marvel at.
Closing Message
This week had a bit of everything: birthdays and airport runs, hoses and houseplants, poetry and chili, a new story posted, and a good friend gone. The days reminded me how closely ordinary chores and extraordinary moments live side by side—sometimes in the space of a single afternoon.
As the weeks roll by, I’m grateful for the trails we walk, the family who visits, the neighbors who share a meal, and the small routines that keep life steady even when the news is hard. Thanks for taking the time to read along and share this journey.
Six Quips to End the Week
- I was going to age gracefully, but I got distracted, and now I’m just aging humorously.
- My body tells me, “go for a walk,” but my recliner keeps winning the debate.
- I don’t need a smart home; I just need my gadgets to stop acting out in public.
- Retirement is when you have all day to do the things you used to postpone—and still somehow run out of time.
- My memory is like my garden: some things I meant to keep, some things just keep popping up on their own.
- I measure a good week by three things: fewer doctor visits, more laughs, and at least one dessert I didn’t feel guilty about. …Tommy