9 April 1942 Bataan has fallen. The Philippine-American troops on this war-ravaged and bloodstained peninsula have laid down their arms. With heads bloody but unbowed, they have yielded to the superior force and numbers of the enemy.

 The world will long remember the epic struggle that Filipino and American soldiers put up in the jungle fastness and along the rugged coast of Bataan. They have stood up uncomplaining under the constant and grueling fire of the enemy for more than three months. Besieged on land and blockaded by sea, cut off from all sources of help in the Philippines and in America, the intrepid fighters have done all that human endurance could bear. Radio Broadcast - Voice of Freedom

April 9, 1942, Bataan was surrendered and Eugene Davidson began the longest trip of his young life. Sixty Eight years later, the one thing that burns in Eugene’s mind is the hunger that he and the others endured during those months before surrender and during his years in prison camp. To honor Eugene and ensure no one today has to go hungry, I am collecting food for the Linn Benton Food Share.

 Until April 9, 2010, · you are welcome to bring food to the Keller Williams Realty office behind Baha Fresh on 9th Street · you can ask me to make a pick up at your convenience · you can make donations to Linn Benton Food Share in honor of Bataan Heroes It doesn’t matter how or why or where you donate, it is right thing to do. Make sure no one today has to go hungry.

Options for seniors are to move or not to move.

Not moving, or staying at home takes a lot of planning.   Attachment to a home, neighborhood, friends or  family nearby are reasons not to move.  Aging in place simply means not having to move from one's present residence in order to secure necessary support services in response to changing personal needs. "Aging in place" is living where you have lived for many years, or living in a non-healthcare environment.

A significant concern as people grow older is that they may have to leave their home. This would mean leaving behind a comfortable setting, familiar community and many memories. In addition a certain amount of control is lost when one leaves home. This contributes to our feelings of dignity, quality of life and independence.  The home is a strong element in that sense of security.

Moving does not mean all this has to be left behind.  One might choose an aged regulated community or another house that is more easily assessable, such as a single level.   Whatever the choice, it is important to check over the house carefully and make sure it is safe for someone who will most certainly, at some point, have poor vision, hearing, and/or limited mobility.  Chairs need to be evaluated as to height and should have sturdy arms to enable ease of use.  Bathrooms should have grab bars and a safe way to enter and exit the bathing area.   If you plan on doing extensive remodeling, you might want to consider widening doorways to accommodate future use of walkers or wheelchairs.

An ECHO (Elder Cottage Housing Opportunities) unit is often a separate, small, manufactured home added in the side or backyard of a single-family house - usually an adult child's house.  It can also be an apartment within the main house or added onto the main structure.   Older parents can then live near their children but not with them. 

ECHO is an ideal answer for many families. It allows older adults to get the support they need while all can stay independent in their own homes. It gives everyone the privacy they may desire.

ECHO units permit closeness without sacrificing self-reliance or independence. Often, they foster a spirit of mutual support between the households. Grandparents and grandchildren are more apt to develop close relationships.   An ECHO unit can eliminate the hassle of distance traveling to offer needed support to loved ones.

 I have been checking out senior facilities in Corvallis but hadn't gotten around to Albany yet. This past week I had the sad job of helping research an appropriate place for my uncle.

Eugene Davidson, ex POW of the Japanese, survivor of the Bataan Death March.  90 years old and just in the past year stricken with Alzheimers to the point that his wife can no longer care for him at home.  The Corvallis Manor won't take him and the VA won't pay for Regent Court.  So, to Albany we went.  Timberview is on 6th Street right across the street from the hospital.  I talked with Admissions and went on a short tour of the building.  It was just a quick preview because ultimately it was his wife and children who would make the decision.  I was just a scout.  It was lunch time when I was there and everything was bright and clean.  No smells evident and residents seemed well attended.  They have a fenced in garden area where folks who want to get outside are able to walk in safety. 

His family visited and were pleased with what they saw and sometime this week Eugene will move into his new residence.  Maybe he will think he is visiting a fancy hotel in a far away country.  Hopefully he will forget the unbearable hunger of his war years. 

 How thankful I am for the people who dedicate their lives to care for these folk that have no where else to go.  They take on tasks that most of us could never imagine ourselves doing.  They care for our Vets everyday, those who have been dedicated enough to care for us.  God Bless.

Yes, I am old.  I am moving slower and thinking slower.  To you I am just an old person.  But you don't know ME.

Think of my age and others my age, those with names you might reconize.  Did you ever think that I might have known any of those people, dreamed with them, traveled with them?  Maybe I was lucky enough not to have been on the FBI most wanted list.  Maybe I wasn't around the day the big one went down.  I might have watched Further sink into the swamp.  I might have hung with Janis, smoked some with Jimi, maybe I knew Tania.  There may be more than a few things that I would rather forget and never will.  Do know anything about the political unrest of the 70's?  Kent State, Democratic Convention, SLA.  What about Charlie? Abbie? Angela?

Yes, I am getting old.  Moving and thinking slower.  But now just an old person.  You don't know ME.

Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website.  They let you lend to the working poor.

http://www.kiva.org.  I just came across the web site and while I haven't taken the time to read through it or do any research it certainly seems like a great idea.  I just wondered what someone elses take on it is.

I currently go to www.freekibble.com   where you answer their little quiz and they donate food to shelter dogs and cats.  This does not cost to play and they really do donate the food.  You can play once a day and im my case the food goes to Safehaven in Linn County.

Recently I spent some time helping at Vina Moses.  This is a place where everything is free to the people who sign up to shop there.  They put out nice clothes, (nothing with stains or tears).  They have bedding, kitchen items, shoes, full layettes for newborn babies.  Everything thing a person donates is given to a family (or individual) in need. It is like a free Goodwill store.  The volunteers are the nicest ladies you could hope to meet. Right now they are putting aside all brand new things that come in and before school starts they will outfit childen with all they need to go to school feeling good about themselves.   This is a true angel organization.  What an opportunity to give back to a community that provides us such a wonderful place to live.   I will certainly want to spend more time here.

This care center will be closing as soon as the current residents can be placed in other residences.  Corvallis Manor is now the only short term skilled nursing facility in Corvallis.  While Corvallis Manor is an excellent nursing home with a better than wonderful physical therapy team, it seems to bad that there is not going to be a choice of where to go for short term rehab.  Unless you go to Albany or further.  Heart of the Valley is the sight of the old Corvallis Hospital.  I'm telling on myself, but both of my children where born in that hospital.  I wonder what will become of it.  Yes, it is old and in need of repair.  Time passes and things change.  Just like in the real estate business.  Just like the weather in Oregon.  Cheers. 

Two hours after I scanned and e mailed my rescind. to the other broker, he called and said my clients offer was approved.  When I called my clients to see if they wanted to proceed, they just laughed and said "well isn't that good timing, we will let you know".  Haven't heard back from them.  By the way,  thank you for all the kind words.  It is nice to have the moral support.  Kathy

I had clients involved with a short sale and I guess that they just got tired of waiting.  I got a call saying that they want to withdraw their offer and are buying something else with another agent.  I could never really get through to them that the banks work in mysterious ways and we agents had nothing to do with the long process of getting an answer back.  I am sorry, not only to lose the sale, but to lose the clients I really liked and thought I had established a relationship with.   It's a hard lesson to learn and i guess everyone has to pay his dues.  Give me a day or so and I will be fine and back on track. Until then I will hide my head under the covers and pretend this day isn't happenning. 

Several of the agents from our office are putting together a seminar to be held in our local library meeting room.  We have invited a loan officer and someone from a title company to give a little information on loans and escrow.  Since time is getting short for those who want to use the tax credit, we have created a sense of urgency by limiting the number of seats available and asking for RSVP.