Charbonneau Villager Newspaper August 2020 | Page 15

August 2020 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER 15 Charbonneau Book Club By DOROTHY HOCHHALTER Two new books for August As I write this we have not had our first “afterthe-virus” meeting July 14 so we still have not selected books for HOCHHALTER the rest of the year. I have taken the liberty of picking two books that had been suggested by fellow members for our August reads. I have not read them so am using their descriptions. On Aug. 11 we will review “Have You Seen Luis Valdez” by Catherine Ryan Hyde, a heartwarming coming of age story about a young man’s connection with an older woman. Then on Aug. 25 I have chosen a nonfiction book “Dutch Girl” by Robert Matzen, the story of Audrey Hepburn. I hope we have been able by then to get back to a new schedule of books. We meet regularly at the Charbonneau Clubhouse on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 1-2:30 p.m. The Villager has a list of requirements to follow during this time of social distancing. If you have any questions feel free to call me 503-694- 5651. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again. Solo Sisters � From Page 14 compounded when you can’t be with that child. Our hearts go out to you, Diane. She is also missing human touch, kisses, caresses and closeness, which is something all of us singles miss too! Gerri Gorney added she missed holding dear ones close. Carol Gambino, in her lighthearted way, misses human touch and sharing uncovered smiles, though she has not missed applying makeup! Many of us have had to cancel international or domestic travel. Lissa Willis and I have put off our Danube River cruise until next April, and even that is now feeling a little shaky. Our resident Brit, June Sturges, canceled a spring trip to England to visit her twin sister, and now fears that her fall trip will be canceled as well. Lesley Durham has missed out on her annual trips to Sun River and Hawaii and like many of us, is missing out on fun times with grandchildren. Diane Pinkney divides her time between Charbonneau and Astoria and, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, spent some of her time volunteering while at the coast. I enjoy my weekly volunteer work at the Tualatin Food Pantry, so volunteering is something she and I both miss. All of us miss eating out, celebrating birthdays, going to summer concerts and local wineries, movies, attending a great play (or musical) and doing all of these things while, as Diane puts it “feeling safety from disease.” I began with the most heartrending response and will end with the most heartwarming response. It came from Lissa when she wrote that she missed “getting my critter fix at my friend’s homes so much that I rescued a pup myself!” She became the happy owner of a beautiful female husky who has turned out to be an excellent companion and playmate. It goes without saying (so I will say it) that we all miss the fun and camaraderie of getting together at a happy hour or a games night with the Solo Sisters singles group. We all know how to enjoy a good time and if you are new to Charbonneau and are single, please consider joining our group. We are uncertain of when we will be back together again, but for information, please reach out to Deanna Morgan at [email protected]. If we don’t get to see you in 2020, we will look forward to welcoming you to our group in 2021.