Named after the famous Roman, August is a hot and passionate month; summer at full speed, open wide and ready to be lived fully. Soon enough autumn will come with its the list of holidays and obligations, but now is the time to barbecue, swim, have fun and enjoy today under the golden sun. Bask in it, with sun block of course, and try going barefoot. Feel the cool contrast of grass under your feet; spritz your self with the shock of a cold shower. Brew homemade sun tea, and remember we are all kids in summer.</p><p><b>Josephine </b></p><p>When I wrote last week's column about Josephine Foleta, it was on a Wednesday; the same day she died. I was not to learn of the lovely lady's death until the day my tribute to her was printed. </p><p>I was honored to be at the rosary, said at Whitehurst followed by a Mass at Saint Joseph's church and a reception at Foletta's home, which seemed sadly empty without Josephine's presence. </p><p>Josephine looked lovely; her skin like a woman's decades younger. She was buried with her stuffed black kitty George and her favorite hat. I am glad I wrote when I did, still free of grief, but enveloped in thought of the life she lived. </p><p>It is how we lived that matters, and Josephine lived to the fullest. Josephine was very proud of her rich Swiss heritage and her family's philosophy of hard work, Christian values, and giving to their community. Her family moved to Los Ba&#241;os in 1909. Josephine, like her family, left her mark. She certainly left her mark on me.</p><p>Be an angel; give the gift of life</p><p>My daughter Lara Olson's life was once saved due to the availability of blood thanks to the generous donors to past blood drives. I long ago pledged to be a devoted advocate of these drives, so here I am reminding you of another opportunity for you to become a life saver. Yeah! </p><p>On Aug. 7, the Central California Blood Bank will host its drive from 3-6:30 p.m. at the Church of Later Day Saints located at 1826 South Center Ave. This month's drive is sponsored by the Kiwanis with refreshments hosted by Our Lady of Fatima 4-H. </p><p>Your friends and neighbors needing blood donated in their name includes Lugie Alvin, Belinda Arce, Marie Arnold, Willis Brewster, Freda Chounet, Christina Curiel, Dean Collins, Theresa Cornwell, Lillian Craig, Gabrillla Garcia, Irma Grijalva, Luce Joseph, Mei Lu, Maria Madruga, Clarence Marshall, Migule Morales, Debbie Newton, Maria Parraz, Mary Parreira, Gloria Payton, Alicia Samaniwgo, Charles Uley, Ana Valencia, Horinge Vandebrand, James Willis, and Ellie Ybarreche. For more information call Helen Gallichio at her office 826-5150 or after 6 p.m. at 826-2365.</p><p><b>Methodist church</b></p><p>Bargain hunters unite and run over to the United Methodist Church today from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. and on Saturday from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. for its annual gigantic rummage sale. </p><p>Its sales each year are always great fun and they have a unique $2-a-bag gimmick this year. You guessed it: stuff all the goodies you can get in their bags for that bargain price. You can feel good knowing that your cash donation will help the church with its many local mission projects such as Manna Ministries and the Rescue Mission. </p><p>There will also be tempting larger items such as furniture individually marked. You will even be able to stay cool while you shop as the huge sale is being held in their Fellowship Hall. I hope you will come put and support this event; happy shopping!</p><p><b>Birthday balloons </b></p><p>My most sincere happy birthday wishes to my friend Madeline Pereira whose big day is Aug. 4.</p><p>Belated happy birthday wishes to Janet Gonzales, my granddaughter's mother-in-law. </p><p>A special happy 11th birthday wish to Darby Gundry with lots of love from her adopted Gramma. It was great to get to see Darby and her family; Mom, Shannon, sisters Shelby, and McKenna while they were in Los Ba&#241;os visiting from Utah.</p><p>Happy 10th birthday to handsome David Mitchell. I just adore him and enjoy watching him grow up.</p><p>Aug. 6 is the big day of a special lady, sharp as a tack, heart as good as gold and as lovable as a teddy bear, my friend Margie Cotta.</p><p><b>My thoughts of sympathy</b></p><p>My condolences to Mark and Marcy Fahey and daughters Megan and Morgan on the recent death of Mark's mother. Your family is being held up with prayer.</p><p><b>This and that</b></p><p>Kudos to Memorial Hospital's Diane Hambley and all involved with this years Children's Health and Safety Fair and Teddy Bear Clinic held at the fairgrounds on July 26. I hear that it was just a fantastic event and an example of community and service co-operation. Plans are already underway for next year's event.</p><p>It has been such a pleasure to have my granddaughter, Amanda Gonzales, visiting us for the past two weeks while her husband Craig has been stationed in Key West. She is busy preparing for the Masters program. What a great young adult she is; I am so proud. Just wish she still lived in Los Banos.</p><p>Loretta and Jim Garcia are returned from their wonderful European trip, I hear Rome was beautiful.</p><p><b>Washington DC fundraiser</b></p><p>The seventh- and eigth-grade students of Our Lady of Fatima School are having a fundraiser dinner to help defer costs of their Washington D.C. Trip. The wonderful meal, prepared by Cecilia's will feed a family of four for just $22. The meal includes a whole cooked chicken, beans, rice, Pico de Gallo and homemade corn tortillas. Ask any OLF seventh- or eigth-grade student or check by Lou's Beauty Salon, 836-5653, for more information</p><p><b>Oriental chamber</b></p><p>Had a great time at the Chamber of Commerce Mixer held at Memorial Hospital on July 24, good company and great refreshments. I was fortunate to have won one of the many raffle baskets. </p><p>Chamber president Geneva Brett did a good job of making all feel welcome and we were enticed with news of the Memorial Hospital of Los Banos Foundation big fundraiser set for Oct. 4. The Gala event this year will be called "The Royal Orchid, An evening in the Orient." The elegant evening begins at 6 p.m. and will end at the strike of midnight. For more information call 826-0591, ext. 276. Margie Lagmay looked absolutely fantastic in her oriental dress.</p><p><b>A brief colorful visit</b></p><p>Some images are lasting, colorful flashes fastened to our mind as negatives that redevelop over and over again. One of those for me is of Chancey, a small parrot that came uninvited into my home for a few days. </p><p>My downstairs bathroom also holds our laundry room so it is a room I am often in and out of quickly. One day I did a double take when I glanced at my bathroom counter and saw, staring at itself in my large mirror a turquoise, yellow, and orange long beaked bird resting on my ornamental towel rack. </p><p>The bird was enraptured with its own image and I was, well, amazed to find a bird in a house full of kitties. Over the two days he lived with me I became quite taken with this colorful, pride filled creature who had appeared from nowhere, or at least none of my cats were telling. I knew it was injured, but he was eating and I was trying to decide what to do with my feathered friend when Monday broke. </p><p>Before that decision came, Chancy passed on to the happy feather ground. Just the other day I was in doing laundry and I found one of his colorful feathers. I smiled. That room will never be the same to me, now forever instilled with mystery, color, hints of the orient and glamour. I can still feel the silkiness of the feathers, the ivory surface of its beak; hear its own unique song. As my life rolls along like a giant snowball gathering up experiences, each one enhances the other. Open your mind to each new experience and until next time, may all your news be good news.