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It was an early morning in September as I lay there, planning an upcoming event. The evening before I had been scouting an empty lot for its potential to host a community/ business fair at the east end of the newly built dam near Diamond Valley Lake. After, I enjoyed my first fried ice cream at La Fogata. These thoughts even now seem like a soft dream. Because what came next changed me. Changed my community and changed the country that I was born to. I had the news on making noise in the background. The news announcers started to report about plane crashes and as I started to tune in I watched as another plane crashed into the World Trade Center. I was now moving on auto pilot. I got dressed and went to work. I was employed at our local Chamber of Commerce. Going through the motions of turning off alarms and turning on lights I felt a force within that needed to feel connected to my community and my country. I set our American flag outside. I found comfort in this act. I wanted the world to see that we were here and we were united! Here we are almost 20 years later. My feelings for the flag have not wavered. This flag is a non-partisan symbol of our country, it doesn't belong to one side or the other. It is draped over coffins that hold Americans. We may not be able to gather in masses to remember the fallen on 9/11 but we can honor them from our homes as We Will Never Forget. The seasons of 2020 are moving swiftly; spring, summer, fall, winter. Southern California has so much beauty to offer but if we didn't change the decorations would we even know fall is approaching? Our traditions really seem to mark our time. At the beginning of September, I put out my fall décor (could even call it Pumpkin Spice season). On Oct. 1, add the ghosts and goblins. Nov. 1, I swap out the ghosts for the turkeys. The weekend before Thanksgiving I have my husband put up the Christmas lights (this is just in preparation for the official lighting after we finish our Thanksgiving dinner). This is your cue to start planning your outdoor lights and decorations for this year's competition. We are going to need these lights more than any other year. This year a front door décor category will be added. Virtual classes and seminars will be offered: Wreath Making, Finance, and Home Health. The Social Committee has been brainstorming creative ways to entertain you. I am hoping to add some outdoor shopping opportunities for our residents. Recently, I met a new resident at Four Seasons. Sgt. Don Krampe, USMC. While talking he mentioned an opportunity for Veterans called the Honor Flight from San Diego. He wanted to share this opportunity with the Veterans in Four Seasons at Hemet. Sgt. Krampe briefly describes his experience, "As a Korean Vet, I flew out of San Diego the weekend of Oct. 4, 2019 to Washington D.C. and returned Oct. 6, 2019. On Oct. 5, 65 patriots traveled by bus to all of our fantastic Memorials in Washington D.C. at no cost to them." He included the following steps for those who are interested. • Go to https://www.honorflightsandiego.org/ • Applications • Submit a copy of DD214 discharge papers and certificate The next trip is scheduled for Memorial Day 2021. The early bird gets the worm! ~ Tracie Rodgers 4 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | SEPTEMBER 2020 | A Note From Your Activities Director