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Solera Diamond Valley View January 2025

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16 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JANUARY 2025 By Annette Hillis, Resident What does it mean to lose a mother at the age of ve? For Clare Mendez, Solera Diamond Valley (SDV) resident, it meant nding family in new ways – through the unshakable bond of her siblings and a father who gave all he had to ll the gap le behind. Losing a parent so young could have le Mendez with a life dened by loss. Instead, it became a story of deep devotion, mutual support, and resilience. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, she came from an already tight- knit family, one with eight siblings. She was the baby of the family. But, when her young mother passed away in her mid-forties, her family members rallied and poured love into every corner of her childhood, shaping her into the woman she is today. "I don't have many memories of my mom. One of the only things I remember is brushing her hair," a teary-eyed Mendez recounts. "But I talk to her every day." "Mom died in the middle of the night. My dad waited until the morning, got all the kids dressed and ready for school, fed us breakfast, then broke the news to us." Mendez talks fondly of her dad. She remembers him as being very smart and kind and that he was a hard worker. Luckily, her dad was able to perform his job, at times, right at home. He was multi-talented in that he could work with his hands at odd jobs inside and outside the house; however, he was also a rened and accomplished musician. He played the piano, but it was the violin that was his instrument of choice. Her father's appreciation of the classics aected the music she learned to love. While other kids were listening to e Beatles, Mendez was listening to Mozart. Not knowing how to cook and living in such a rustic environment, Mendez remembers her family spending a lot of their time outdoors hunting, shing, and gathering. e nearby woods served as both a necessity to their way of life but also as a beautiful respite. An appreciation of the outdoors is one that she still treasures to this day. Here at SDV, Mendez stays very busy. During her time living here, she has been involved in EPAC, the Veterans and Friends Club, and the Communications Advisory Committee, in which she serves as chairperson. Other activities have included both water volleyball and billiards. It is the latter that has even won her a few awards. Living in Hemet has been good to her; for example, she is delighted that one of her brothers also resides in our community. Mendez attended parochial school as a child. She states that her faith played and continues to play a part in her daily routine. Her current values echo what she was taught growing up. "Don't wait to be asked to help people," she says. "Always think of others. Be kind and lend a helping hand." She believes her life story could very easily be entitled "Raised with Love." "If I could say something to my mom today, I would say I hope I made you proud. I miss you every day." Family Ties: Finding Strength After Loss Submitted By Linda Weiss, Resident When my husband passed away, I was lucky enough to be able to nd a support group of like people to help me through some of the hard times. Some of the material they gave me to read was a poem called "I Wish You Enough" by Bob Perks. I would like to share it with you now. I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how grey the day may appear. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting. I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get you through the nal good-bye. I hope these wishes can help you get through the highs and lows of life. I Wis Yo Enoug

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