Jon Tofte
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
I am not vain enough to think that many of you are spending much time wondering why I am moving. But, since I have been referencing it more and more, I thought I would put my story out there for anyone who might be interested.
I have lived in Florida most of the last 45 years other than a few in Chicago and 7 in Asheville, NC. I consider myself a Floridian and had no inclination to move. However, my wife's aunt Eunice (82) had married a man with Huntington's Chorea, a horrible genetic disease. Before he started showing symptoms, they had four children. Eunice cared for her husband for years until he finally succumbed to the disease in his early 50's. Although it is supposedly a 50/50 probability, ALL FOUR of her children also inherited Huntington's from him. Two, who were like sisters to my wife, Faith, have already died. The oldest, their only son is 61 and has lived unusually long because of an aggressive effort to maintain athletic fitness. Even so, he is now in the advanced stages of the disease.
Eunice had been caring for her youngest daughter Sarah (~44) who has had an earlier onset of the disease. She took Sarah to the Charlotte NC area to be close to her son and daughter-in-law so that they could help each other out. Unfortunately, Sarah started having more serious mental issues of paranoia, etc. After a long stay in the hospital, Eunice was told that Sarah could not go home but also could not stay at the hospital. That began a long search for a facility that would accept Sarah in spite of her difficult diagnosis and limited funds (disability). The only thing they could come up with was a small 22-bed facility in Cloverdale, IN (1 hour SW of Indianapolis) that exclusively serves Huntington's patients. Sarah miraculously was admitted.
The problem, then, is that Faith's Aunt Eunice - at 82 and with macular degeneration - is not able to even see her daughter, and there is no family in that area who can either. I told my wife that Eunice had given most of her adult life to caring for others and that it was about time that someone did something for her.
So, we will be moving very near Cloverdale, taking Faith's aunt in to live with us (along with Faith's father who already lives with us), with Faith and I working remotely. The area is very rural, and our life is about to be flipped upside down. I have enjoyed working for the non-profit organization that among other things manages a retirement residential and campgroud community where I live. I have given the last 7 years to trying hard to rehabilitate many dilapidated old facilities and give our unique place a future. While I will still be doing financial work remotely for our organization, it will be hard to leave...
Still, I am looking forward to a new life with new possibilities. I told my wife that I was totally good with doing this move, but that I wanted three things from this deal:
:
If I can't organize my stuff, set up efficient racks, tools & supplies, and finally start producing in this place, I will call Bruce and have him bring his trailer to haul my grills away, too! Concrete floor, electricity and running water, too. Even skylights! Covered outside place on the left for spray painting and grinding. Dream come true. Just praying
it will all come together. Expect to move in mid-June.
Oh, my wife's aunt already has a dog(#1), so I will be getting one
. I told Faith that we won't have to "get" a cat
. Living out in the country, I am sure one will find us soon enough(#2). I plan to name it "Weber."
I have lived in Florida most of the last 45 years other than a few in Chicago and 7 in Asheville, NC. I consider myself a Floridian and had no inclination to move. However, my wife's aunt Eunice (82) had married a man with Huntington's Chorea, a horrible genetic disease. Before he started showing symptoms, they had four children. Eunice cared for her husband for years until he finally succumbed to the disease in his early 50's. Although it is supposedly a 50/50 probability, ALL FOUR of her children also inherited Huntington's from him. Two, who were like sisters to my wife, Faith, have already died. The oldest, their only son is 61 and has lived unusually long because of an aggressive effort to maintain athletic fitness. Even so, he is now in the advanced stages of the disease.
Eunice had been caring for her youngest daughter Sarah (~44) who has had an earlier onset of the disease. She took Sarah to the Charlotte NC area to be close to her son and daughter-in-law so that they could help each other out. Unfortunately, Sarah started having more serious mental issues of paranoia, etc. After a long stay in the hospital, Eunice was told that Sarah could not go home but also could not stay at the hospital. That began a long search for a facility that would accept Sarah in spite of her difficult diagnosis and limited funds (disability). The only thing they could come up with was a small 22-bed facility in Cloverdale, IN (1 hour SW of Indianapolis) that exclusively serves Huntington's patients. Sarah miraculously was admitted.
The problem, then, is that Faith's Aunt Eunice - at 82 and with macular degeneration - is not able to even see her daughter, and there is no family in that area who can either. I told my wife that Eunice had given most of her adult life to caring for others and that it was about time that someone did something for her.
So, we will be moving very near Cloverdale, taking Faith's aunt in to live with us (along with Faith's father who already lives with us), with Faith and I working remotely. The area is very rural, and our life is about to be flipped upside down. I have enjoyed working for the non-profit organization that among other things manages a retirement residential and campgroud community where I live. I have given the last 7 years to trying hard to rehabilitate many dilapidated old facilities and give our unique place a future. While I will still be doing financial work remotely for our organization, it will be hard to leave...
Still, I am looking forward to a new life with new possibilities. I told my wife that I was totally good with doing this move, but that I wanted three things from this deal:
- A dog.
- A cat.
- And a SHOP!!!!
:If I can't organize my stuff, set up efficient racks, tools & supplies, and finally start producing in this place, I will call Bruce and have him bring his trailer to haul my grills away, too! Concrete floor, electricity and running water, too. Even skylights! Covered outside place on the left for spray painting and grinding. Dream come true. Just praying
it will all come together. Expect to move in mid-June.Oh, my wife's aunt already has a dog(#1), so I will be getting one
. I told Faith that we won't have to "get" a cat. Living out in the country, I am sure one will find us soon enough(#2). I plan to name it "Weber."
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