The Treasure Hunter

This morning I wrote a frendly message to all of you, but while trying to publish it, I lost the message. And then I couldent remember what I had written. So here I am trying to write once more. This is certainly not the first or last time for me, because I often make mistakes and wan’t to try again. (That’s is my eternal effort which usually works even though it takes a lot of time and trouble.) I am writing today because I care abougt the health and safety of good people. I won’t be satisfied if most people just survive.

What I wrote above may sound corny to you, but I wan’t to live more years myself and have the same for my friends, family and every one else who has been honest, worked hard, and cared about the needs of other people. Whether or not you share my beliefs or feelings, I wan’t you to know that I lost a strong connection to any religion several years ago.  Now, I believe that all human beings deserve the best opportunity for health, long life, and good companionship. For all who are playing the game of life honestly, there should be no early illnesses or deaths caused by human carelessness or dysregaurd in this world.

Joanne Yatvin

As I write today I will not be complaining as I usually do. Why?  Because not only have I spent very little money this weak, not eaten at a restaurant, gone to a movie, had my hare cut, or bought any new close. So what dose it matter if I don’t look pretty?

I’ve also  lost a few pounds by not eating a lot of food every day, and that has really surprised me.  Most of the food brought to my apartment doesen’t look very appealing even though it is the same kind I used to eat before in the big dining room down stairs. I guess because it’s cold, comes in a cardboard basket, and without flowers, music, or friends. So I just gobble it down while I’m standing in the kitchen, and I take the desert first because that’s what I like the most. Unfortunately, eating a meal that way is messy, and I usually leave bits of garbage on the floor. But that happens fast and dosent force me to get dressed up and play with other people.

After I’ve finished eating I get into my pajamas and try to find something worth watching on television. But that often turns out to be the best part of my day.  On the large television in my living room there are hundreds of programs, many of them the same or  looking similar. Most of them are about twelve or more years old, but that just makes me feel young again.

Although I go on every day doing the same things and watching the same boring television shows, I feel good. I havant picked up any virus yet, or organized a militia to go outside and meet the guards protecting the building. That means success to me.

Dear friends,

I don’t know exactly how long I have been confined in my apartment, but I think it’s about three weeks.  All of us living at The Watermark are in the same situation. We get too much food every day and help if we are not feeling well or having problems. Today I called down on my phone because I couldn’t turn on my television. About five howers later a young man came up and turned it on in a second.  I have decided not to turn it off tonight.  Instead  I will just turn down the sound when I go to sleep because I’m afraid that I won’t know how to turn it on tomorrow.

I won’t mention more of my problems except the major one: Now I can’t remember how to do the things I was doing regularly for many years, and there are so many of them. (The worst one is not being able to spell words anymore.} You don’t see that often because my machine puts a red line under a wrong word, and then I work hard to correct it. I think that all of this has happened  because I am so isolated, and I will become normal again once I get free. (Please don’t tell me that freedom will not happen.)

I am sorry about what I have written, but I thought you should be warned of the results of being isolated, which I hope will never happen to you.  I also hope that I will return to normal feelings and behavior. Whether I do or don’t,  I will try to never talk about this problem again.

I will send this message very soon, and in the future I will deny that I wrote it.

Joanne

What Children Can Do When There School is No Longer Open

Instead of moaning about the closing of schools right now, think about what you did last summer or when you and your children were living far away from home. Then make a plan that will work well.

Fifty years ago my husband, our four young children, and I lived in Belgium for a year. You may wonder how we managed, but in fact our experience was not only pleasant, it was also beneficial. All our children — except for the two year-old — learned some new skills and they were successful when they returned to American schools.

No, they didn’t learn a new language or much of the curriculum that was taught. But they did learn how to live well in a knew country, gain new friends, gain some foreign language, and how to spend there time well.  Back then we traveled on every school holiday, so in addition to visiting other cities in Belgium, they got to see parts of Italy, Germany and Switzerland. We also took them to Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam and London.  They learned to ski on a school ski trip to Switzerland with their classmates and teachers.

In Belgium we had a townhouse with bedrooms for all of us a kitchen, a living room, and a backyard where we kept a bunny. Our children went to an international school where their classes were in French, German and Dutch (Flemish).  They picked up parts of those languages, but did not become fluent in any of them.  Fortunately, most of their classmates spoke some English and they were eager to practice with our children.  On weekends we would drive across the border to Eindhoven in The Netherlands, where we were able to buy English books, some foods we missed and electronics, and have lunch at our favorite Indonesian restaurant.  Thanks to those books, our children were able to read regularly. We also got the International Herald Tribune and listened to Armed Forces Radio, so they could keep up with the news. Very little on television was in English, so they didn’t watch much of it.

When we got back to Wisconsin our children were able to advance to the next grade.  Our oldest had to take the biology and drivers education classes he had missed while overseas. Although they had missed a year of classwork, our children were able to resume school with their classmates, but without any problems.

Dear frends,

I have written nothing in the past few days because I have done nothing but sleep, eat, and watch television.  I also spent a lot of time trying to correct misspelled words. I don’t know why I have forgotten how to spell, but my desk makes me aware of all the many misspelled words, and I may be able to fix a few of them (It took me only ten minutes to correct misspelled words with the right words)

I really want to post knew words and songs, but I think I have already posted all I remember. If you have time and are also bored, please send me any songs you remember. I would be happy to receive even misspelled or nasty words.

(I was amazed  that I was able to correct the misspelled  words I wrote here.  It only took about  20 minutes!)

Joanne Yatvin

(At least I was able to spell my words correctly the third  time I wrote  them.  I guess I will be promoted to the third grade next year.)