home again

July 7, 2007

I am back from a quick trip to Rochester, NY. My dear friend, Jeanne Wenrich, died last Sunday before I could get there. I have known Jeanne since I was 6 years old and her husband since I was about 11 years-old. He, Jack, has been the fragile one and the one whom we all thought would go first. Even Jack thought that. He does not drive and has made no effort to keep track of their finances or any such pertinent things to know while running a household.

They moved to Cloverwood, an upscale retirement village in Pittsford, New York, about three years ago. Jack will be able to stay in their very lovely apartment as long as he wants to.

Chris and Judy Wenrich, whom I baby sat for and then who played with Clark when we lived on the same street as they, in Rochester, were there. Judy lives near Rochester and Chris came from the bay area in California. It was good to see the girls whom I haven't seen in years. Judy's children, Peter and Katy were also there. Peter came from Louisville and Katy lives nearby. Katy is the doer. Jeanne had shown her all the files and accounts not long ago. I gather Jeanne had some suspicion that things were not right, but hadn't let on nor gone to get checked out.

It was a difficult trip, but I'm glad I went. I think I made things a little bit easier for everyone, especially for Jack. I made him go out; we walked, took rides and went out for a couple of meals and he admitted he didn't think he'd every enjoy himself again, but that he did enjoy our outings.

I stayed at the Brookwood Inn in Pittsford which is along the Erie Canal. The last evening I was there Jim and Ann Owens, friends of ours, took me out to dinner at the Canal House. It is a renovated hotel which was a stop on the canal in years past. It was good to be with them for a while and I look forward to seeing them again in September when we return to Rochester.