June 18, 2017. Canyon Lake, Texas. Home #3.

When we moved to The Medical Center in Galveston, we were given the opportunity to live in the school apartments, built specifically for married students and Residents..  They were inexpensive and convenient but when we saw them, we turned them down.  They were fine but tiny and the living room furniture was plastic.  As we would both be earning a salary, we decided to look elsewhere, and we did.

 A brand new apartment complex was just  ready to be rented, one block from the beach and an easy walk to the hospital.  And it was rented furnished so it was perfect for us.  The living room and dining room was adequate in size and the bedroom was fine too.  The kitchen was tiny.  By standing in the kitchen I could reach everything without making a step.  That kitchen was efficient.  We lived there for 2 years.

We rented the first floor unit on the left side.  The complex was in a U configuration.  On the top floor on the right side moved in Alice Anne from Arkansas, who came to the school for her Residency in Pediatrics.  We became friends.  She wore her hair long and she played and sang her guitar.  I was working as a recreation therapist in the division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry so it was not long before I asked her to sing and play for en evening program.  The kids loved her as it was the 60's and Joan Baez was popular.  At the beginning of the evening, she had a little song introducing herself to the kids/patience.  Then she went around the group in order, asking each kid their name.  The hour evening sing along ended.  Alice Anne returned to her original song of introduction but instead she said good night to every kid by name.  There would be 20 to 30 patients at a time and I never once saw her make a mistake.  Amazing display.  She played once a month the whole time I worked there for 3 years.

Every home has had a special aspect of living.  With home #1 it was the generosity of Bernie and Kitty.  In home #2 it was the kindnesses of our elderly landlords.  This home #3 was special because Alice Anne has been a life long good friend of ours.  The apartment was just fine but friendships lasting a life is invaluable.