In this issue, meet your future neighbor, VIP Colonel Robert “Bob” Noble. What do Hawaii and peanut butter cookies have in common? They’re just some of the many loves of our newest team member—get to know her in the latest Kristen’s Korner. Should you remodel your home before selling it? Find out in a great article by Realtor Bruce Walpole. Ready to move? See if The Outlook’s Express Move-In option could be right for you. And once you do move in, you’ll have plenty of social events to look forward to—just ask our cottage residents!
Meet Your Future Neighbor
Colonel Robert Noble
Colonel Robert Noble’s move to The Outlook at Windhaven will be one of nearly twenty relocations in his lifetime. As an officer with The United States Air Force for most of his career, he and his family lived all over the United States and overseas.
Robert was born in Lafayette, Indiana and moved to Winter Park, Florida at the age of twelve. After high school, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. This was during the era of the Vietnam War, where one could defer being drafted throughout the college years. He had completed two years of Air Force ROTC and opted to join the Air Force upon graduation rather than being drafted into the Army. (Funnily enough, his first-ever plane ride was to basic training!)
Robert thought he would just go and serve his four years as an officer and then do something else with his life. Instead, the Air Force became his career. When he arrived at Officer Training School, it became apparent that he would not train as a pilot due to his eyesight. He was led to believe that because he could not fly, he could not expect to advance past the rank of Major. Robert disagreed, ultimately rising two ranks beyond that to Colonel.
Robert’s first assignment after he got commissioned was to a technical training base in Denver. He and a friend were allowed to live off base and were determined to find an apartment building with “a lot of girls.” They hit the lottery, moving into one that was full of female flight attendants, teachers, and nurses. A couple of the young women set their sights on Robert and his friend, and Robert ended up becoming very good friends with Ann, the one who “chose” him. They did not date because Robert was still involved with a hometown sweetheart. Robert moved on to his next assignment in Madison, Wisconsin, but he and Ann could not stop thinking about each other. A Christmas card sent by Ann got the two back in touch. They started talking regularly and eventually got engaged over the phone!
Robert and Ann were married for 58 years. They started their own family around the time Robert was sent to Thailand for a year. He was able to return for one week and be present for the birth of their first son, David. Two more children, Susie and Tom, followed. Their family lived the Air Force life, moving seventeen times over the years. “We loved the Air Force life so much we just kept on going!” says Robert. Ann was a K-8 teacher and would substitute teach wherever they landed, moving into full-time positions when she could. They lived in California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida, Colorado, and Germany. In 1978, Robert spent a year solo in Saudi Arabia in an advisory capacity at a Saudi air force base. He could only communicate with Ann and his young kids via mail. Robert marvels at his wife’s ability to cope; “She took care of everything; she was just the rock of the family.”
Germany was a favorite assignment, and Robert has many fond and interesting memories of their time there. Ann taught at the Department of Defense School and was able to take her students on amazing field trips. They also took many trips as a family and hosted lots of friends and family who wanted to visit. This was when Germany was still divided into east and west, and some of the most impactful moments came on a family trip on the “troop train” into East Germany. The differences between east and west were stark; they saw everything from soldiers guarding against East Germans trying to jump on their train to an old East German woman stopping their daughter to utter “God Bless America.”
Robert was an aircraft maintenance officer, which means he supported and was in proximity to state-of-the-art aircraft. When the B-1 was in development and facing challenges, Robert received a call from a staffer at the White House asking, “President Carter wants to know if you’re sure you can support this thing” (the answer was “Yes sir!”). He also provided support for the inaugural space shuttles and got to sit in the cockpit of the very first one. A friend of his who was an astronaut invited his family to view three separate launches from priority seating at Cape Canaveral.
Eventually, Robert retired from the Air Force. He worked other jobs, including a longer stint at Northrop Grumman in San Antonio and then Chicago. He retired at age 65. He and Ann regretted that their kids did not get to spend a lot of time with their grandparents over the years and wanted a different experience for their own grandkids. They decided they would move to the place where their first grandchild was born, and that is how they ended up in the Dallas area (Frisco). Their youngest son and his wife have three girls who are now high school and college aged. Robert and Ann’s daughter lives in San Antonio, and their older son lives in Jupiter, Florida.
When Robert and Ann decided to downsize, they looked at several communities and found The Outlook through an advertisement. It especially appealed to them because they were not quite ready to move and The Outlook had yet to be built. Sadly, though Ann was really looking forward to the move, she passed away ten months ago after fighting heart problems for most of her life. She insisted that Robert continue the move, so he sold their house and has been staying with his son in Frisco until work on The Outlook is complete. He has loved being with his family but is also looking forward to being on his own again and taking part in Outlook activities. Though his knees no longer let him play, Robert loves tennis and continues to exercise several times a week. He is eager to try out The Outlook’s new fitness center.
From the Executive Director
Kristen’s Korner
For those of you who have not met her, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Angela Short, who has joined us as the new Business Office Manager. Angela will be handling the closings for our VIPs, so if you haven’t met her, you will very soon. Angela comes to us with extensive accounting experience and has served as Senior Accountant for various municipalities. Angela has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Master of Science in Human Relations and Business.
Here is a little bit about Angela:
- Angela’s favorite vacation spot is Hawaii or any beach (fitting, as she is also a pescatarian!).
- Her biggest accomplishment is completing a master’s degree during Covid.
- Angela’s favorite dessert is peanut butter cookies or strawberry cake with no icing, and her guilty pleasure is Wendy’s Frosty.
- Bailey is her 5-year-old Dalmatian mix.
- Favorite meal is manicotti or anything Mexican.
- Angela’s favorite sports are tennis, baseball, and college football.
- Angela loves to read, and her favorite authors include Grisham, Patterson, Colleen Hoover and Jodi Picoult.
On another note, I’d love to see each of you at this year’s Each Moment Matters Luncheon. Outlook VIPs and residents are offered discounted tickets. Please see the invitation and reserve your seat today!
Do I Need to Remodel in Order to Sell My House?
By Bruce Walpole, REALTOR®
Walpole Realty Group
Keller Williams Realty
Selling a home is a significant decision, and one of the biggest questions homeowners face is whether they need to remodel before putting their house on the market. While it might seem obvious to update your home to attract potential buyers, the answer isn’t always straightforward. The Collin County real estate market is unique, and whether or not you should remodel depends on several factors, including the current market conditions, the condition of your home, and your personal financial situation. Click here to read the full article.
“If you plan to move into The Outlook in late fall and you apply standard intervals for the home sale process, you should be working with a Realtor now to prepare to list your home in Sept.”
– Bruce Walpole
Timeline working backwards:
- Dec. 15 Move-in to The Outlook
- Nov. 15 Closing Date (allow for 30-day lease back)
- Oct. 15 – Contract Date
- Sept. 20 – List Home for sale (average days on market: 25)
- 2-4 weeks for pre-listing work (paint, declutter, etc.)
- You should be planning with your realtor NOW!
Move-In Planning with Dear Rachel
Dear Rachel,
What are the benefits of choosing the Express Move-In option at The Outlook?
Sincerely,
Ready to Move In
Dear Ready to Move In VIP,
We are excited to share the many benefits of our Express Move-In option for those eager to join The Outlook community sooner rather than later! Even though the second half of our north apartments won’t be ready until late November or early December, the Express Move-In option allows you to become a part of our vibrant community right away. Here’s what you can look forward to:
- Early Community Membership: You’ll be an integral part of The Outlook from the very beginning, helping to shape the community spirit as we grow together.
- Full Resident Benefits: From day one, you’ll have access to all the perks of being an Outlook resident. This includes dining services, fitness and wellness programs, and a full calendar of lifestyle activities, ensuring you can fully enjoy your new home and surroundings.
- Prime Parking Selection: Moving in early means you can choose your parking spot before anyone else, securing a location that is most convenient for you.
- Maintenance-Free Lifestyle: Start enjoying the peace of mind that comes with a maintenance-free lifestyle immediately, leaving behind the stress of waiting for your new home to be completed.
- Priority Access to Your New Apartment: When your north apartment is ready, you’ll have priority access to move in, ensuring a seamless transition to your new space.
- The Outlook will handle your second move: The Outlook will schedule & cover the cost of your move from the temporary residence to your permanent home, including light packing with our preferred provider, WellRive.
We would love to welcome you as a resident of our community and help you make the most of the fall season with a sunny new Outlook. If you have any questions or are ready to take the next step, we’re here to assist you every step of the way!
Sincerely,
Rachel
PS: Please remember it’s important to keep me in the loop on all moves and large deliveries. We must have a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for those companies, even for the cottages.
Social Events for Cottage Residents
(Click photos to enlarge)
Mary Kay® world headquarters is right here in Addison, TX. The headquarters is also home to the Mary Kay museum that boasts 3,500 square feet of display space, showcasing the company history and the legacy of Mary Kay Ash. Bob, one of our cottage residents, talked about his experience working with Mary Kay in the ’80s. We also visited the 13th floor (Mary Kay’s lucky number) to see her office, which has been preserved as a museum. We even saw the gold sink in her private bathroom. This was a special experience for us, as not many people get the privilege to see it.
From the Cupid Shuffle to the Boot Scootin’ Boogie, we are dancing into the second half of the week with kick ball-changes, heel twists and stomps!
(Click photos to enlarge)
Stunning views, fabulous live music and the beautiful Texas sky at BarnHill Vineyards in Anna made our outing to see Raised By Journey, tribute band, quite an experience. We are looking forward to getting out to see another concert in the near future!
Join our team
The Outstanding Outlookers
Saturday, September 28, 2024
The Stage at Grandscape
4001 Destination Dr.
The Colony, TX 75056
Ceremony – 8:00 am
Walk – 8:30 am
Scan the QR code or visit TheOutlookAtWindhaven.org/outlookers to donate and join our amazing team!
Don’t feel like walking? Donate and “sleep in.”
Any $20 donation or more receives a free Outlook at Windhaven T-shirt, customized for the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Questions?
Do you have questions about how things will work when you move into the community? Here is your go-to email: TheOutlookatYourService@nullForefrontLiving.org
Construction Corner
See the great construction progress we are making. Take a look at our most recent timelapse video as of August 2024:
In the next six weeks, The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) construction progress will include:
- Nearing completion of Assisted Living/Memory Support (AL/MS) residences, 2nd and 3rd floors
- Continuing finishes for AL/MS community areas, 2nd and 3rd floors
- Countertop and backsplash installation, ceiling and lighting finishes
- Installing ceiling and floor in Yoga Room
- Installing ceiling grid in Therapy Gym
- Continuing finishes in Pool Area
- Preparing for flooring installation in Fitness Area
- Continuing finishes in Independent Living (IL) residences and IL community areas
- Installing furniture for Common Areas, including Wine Bar, Bistro, Multi-Purpose Room and Private IL Dining
- Continuing landscaping and hardscaping around Commons Building and IL Pool Courtyard
IMPORTANT!
Our lobby, dining room and other common areas will be open in early September. If you haven’t moved in yet and you’d like to see the space, contact the sales office for an escorted tour by calling (972) 996-3887.
On the Forefront
Want to know more about Forefront Living and how we actively serve seniors across all our nonprofits? Click here to view the August 2024 On the Forefront newsletter.
Welcome Select New Outlook VIPs
Sarah and Al Wayland
Perhaps you know someone who’d be ideal for The Outlook at Windhaven?
If so, let us know at (972) 996-3887 or Info@nullTheOutlookAtWindhaven.org and get rewarded! Click here to see updates to the referral program.
