Halcyon House News

Mary Meeks had a surprise visit Sunday afternoon from her niece, Raeanne Piefer and her 7 month-old son, Christopher from Cedar Rapids. On Tuesday, Mary had lunch at the Frontier with her sister, Audra Williams, brother-in-law, Wayne Brock, nephew, Ron Brock niece Raberta Shafer, from Fairfield, and her niece, Donna Waddell from Jeffersonville, Indiana. Raberta and Donna had just returned from a trip out west so a lot of catching up with them was enjoyed.

Halcyon House Wellness Department hosts a monthly Share A Little, Learn A Lot program to encourage residents to share their passions and interests. Wrapping up summer, September?s theme for Share A Little, Learn A Lot was to share a memory, photo, or souvenir of a favorite vacation. Halcyon House resident, Loretta Gardner shared memories of a vacation she and husband Don took to California for the New Year?s Parade! Loretta and Don had the opportunity to see how floats are created out of thousands of fresh flowers! Betty Osincup shared photos memories and a poem she wrote while on her last vacation with husband Herb before his passing, to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Eva Gallagher told of one of her most exciting trips. It was a vacation she took to see her son in Washington, D.C. Eva was sitting on a plane at Reagan Airport, waiting to fly home, when the Pentagon was struck by a plane on 9/11. Eva shared how the airport was immediately evacuated and how she had to extend her visit five more days due to no flights leaving the Washington, D.C. area. Ruth Gardner spoke of many trips she took. One of her favorites was a trip to Orange Grove, Texas, in 1946 to visit family. Phyllis Lyle shared photos and memories of two trips she took to Europe, visiting England in 1986 to spend time with daughter Nancy and her family, and back again in 1988 to celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary and with a bonus trip to Scotland! Lastly, Mona Paul brought photos of beautiful wildlife at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in western Iowa and Nebraska, a favorite place of Mona?s to visit!