A Place We Can Call Home Again

Summary: The summer of 1995 brought the citizens of Chicago, Illinois, a killer heat wave. The city experienced an unprecedented loss of life, the heat claimed the lives of more than 700 people. The victims were mostly housebound senior citizens. More accurately, their cause of death was neglect by family members and a society that no longer valued their participation in the affairs of this world. No one came calling or phoned to see how they were faring during that long deadly week. Five recently retired individuals, all single and living alone on fixed incomes took what occurred in their city to heart. They became motivated to radically alter their predictable existence before they became a future statistic themselves from similar circumstances. Once their plans were set in motion, what happened for them was so much more than a new address. The strangers young and old that were to meet these people helped assist them on their continued life journey. By sacrificing their individual lifestyles and combining their talents and incomes, this became the vehicle for unexpected end-of-life adventures. These five people, all living now under one roof, became a living productive force in society again.