As a continuation of Chester River Manor’s “Living Life’s Wish List” program, manor resident Efrain “Sandy” Rosario was taken for a ride in an 18-wheeler Friday, 2 September. The rig, which is the property of Delaware-based Willards Agri Service, was arranged to pick up Mr. Rosario in the parking lot of Chestertown Lumber by Mr. Tot Strong.
Riding high in the passenger seat, Mr. Rosario was able to relive some of the excitement of his own days as a truck driver for the J.B. Hunt company. Following his emigration to Delaware from Puerto Rico in the late 50s, Mr. Rosario worked intermittently as a truck driver for about ten years. After this period, he worked as a photocopy machine service man in Dover while living with his wife Lida in Pondtown. They had four children together, and Lida passed away after 36 years of marriage in 1995.
According to Julianna Valencio of Chester River Manor, Mr. Rosario loves dogs and practical jokes. She said when she asked him why he wanted to ride in an 18-wheeler, he explained that it was “because I remember it being a lot of fun, up high, and out on the open road.” Mr. Rosario, who was born in Puerto Rico in 1936, turned 75 last month.
While there was not quite as big of a crowd as there was for the last “Living Life’s Wish List” event, which was held for the 92 year old Mrs. Lillian Hynson at the Bay Bridge Airport, Mr. Rosario still had the support of his Chester Manor friends. Cecil Saunders, a fellow veteran of the trucking business and native of Kingston, Jamaica was there, cheerily holding a sign as Mr. Rosario was assisted into the rig via forklift.
Idling at the lumber yard’s exit on 213, the rig would be heading north to Kennedyville. With hazy skies and temperatures in the low eighties, driving conditions could not have been much more favorable for Mr. Rosario and his driver.
lisa stallings says
THANK YOU FOR SHARING STORIES LIKE THIS, IN A WORLD WITH SO MUCH SADNESS THIS BRINGS A SMILE TO MY FACE.
Maryann says
Thank you for your thoughtful coverage of the first two stories about “Living Life’s Wish List” program at Chester River Manor. Community donations have — and will continue to make many more of these ‘bucket list’ wishes come true! I hope all readers will consider the meaningfulness of this program to the residents at The Manor and will lend a hand!
Maryann Ruehrmund
Executive Director
Chester River Health Foundation