The big day has finally ….
The big day has finally arrived. I have been waiting a long time for this event. The 100th anniversary of the Clark County Rehab and Living Center. At one time it was the Clark County Insane Asylum, the Clark County Hospital, the Clark County Health Care Center and the new name given it in 2015.
I knew of its history as I have some material from Clark County. I just wasn’t sure if anyone else knew. I got my answer in April when I was coming back from seeing a doctor at the Greenwood Clinic. Just as I turned the corner coming off Highway 73 onto Highway 98 there was the answer.
A billboard proclaiming the 100th anniversary was staring me in the face. I quickly found out the anniversary, which was July 1st, wouldn’t be celebrated until Sept. 17. What no one told me was it wasn’t just a celebration, but a weeklong event.
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It all got started on Sunday when Red Higgins and his wife Lisa Marie came and entertained us. I first heard Red a few years ago and he was introduced as being from northwest of Medford. Having had a cottage on Sackett Lake I knew where he came from as a few minutes to the north or west would put him in the Chequamegon National Forest.
Sunday when I was visiting with him he knew just where our cottage had been as the snowmobile trail he used came right by on Red Rock Road.
Monday and Tuesday were devoted to giving wagon rides around the campus. I can tell you the employees really put their heart and soul into their work helping people in wheelchairs into the wagons. Even as long as I have lived here it was still pretty interesting. County Trunk X had at one time been Highway 29 heading east to Wausau. Now it is just a stub bringing people into the center, then continues a bit for incoming employees to use and bit further yet down to Popple Creek for a turnaround. On the way back out I spotted a black walnut tree loaded with nuts. I’m betting the squirrels will be having a field day.
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Wednesday was split into something for the women in the morning and men in the afternoon. It turned out to be one of those days when wearing hearing aids is simply a mess. It was held in the resident dining room, which could be classed as a huge room. It would be bad enough with good hearing aids, but one of mine is almost dead and the other one, well getting there too. My new ones ordered a few weeks ago haven’t arrived.
We played some sort of a dice game, I didn’t understand the rules and couldn’t have understood them probably if I could have been able to hear. I can tell you, I didn’t win, but sure enjoyed the refreshments, which some kind lady saw to it I even got seconds.
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Thursday was just one of those justwait-
for-the main event. And that is just what it was. Fireworks! I feel I live in the best spot in the world. Right outside my room is a door and window so I can see right into the Memory Garden where all the activities are taking place. I just cozied up to the window and watched them going off. I guess it was quite the event for people passing by on Highway 29. Someone said they could hear cars honking their horns as they passed by.
Friday was kind of a quiet day, but we were treated to ice cream floats, something that’s pretty hard to turn down anytime.
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Before I get to the big event on Saturday, I have to share a disgusting event I saw take place. I was on my way upstairs to the resident dining room, but had a couple of minutes to spare. So I went outside the front door and just sat and enjoyed the fresh air.
Then a pickup truck pulled up and the passenger got out. I could see he was smoking and I didn’t think there was any place to put them out. He couldn’t either, or didn’t look but simply threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped on it. The butt he never picked up but left it right in front of my front door. The front door of everyone living here as well. I was a smoker myself one time and surely hope I was never that inconsiderate of others.
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Then came Saturday, the final finale with music by the Marshall Star Band. I’d never heard of them before, but reading their Facebook introduction, I’d say they outdid themselves.
There were also pulled pork sandwiches available, but not knowing just when Sue was going to come, I chose to eat at my handy in-room table. When Sue came we headed down to the action. Wouldn’t you know it, the minute we stepped out the door it began to sprinkle. Lightly at first but by the time we got down to the Memory Garden it was coming down pretty good. We ducked under a tent, set up with a display of pictures of years past and was happy to hear someone say, “Just eleven minutes”.
Sue got her little telephone, encyclopedia gadget out and that confirmed the lady was right. It was just a shower and once over we were able to move in the larger tent set up for those eating and those of us that just wanted to listen to the music.
If you want to hear a story of just how competent the staff is here, as Sue and I sat waiting for the rain to quit I saw one of the staff, who dispenses our medicine, walk by. He was carrying two small glasses, about the size he brings me my afternoon water pills in. After looking in the tent next door he came back and spotted me. It was then I remembered not taking them before Sue and I left. That is what I call a dedicated employee.
Is it any wonder I go around saying, “I don’t have a care in the world”.
