A Letter from T. G.

Dear Reader,

Change is never easy, but it can lead to new joys. Let me tell you how I came to live at Ten Twenty Grove:

Leaving my big four-bedroom, two-story home in northeast Evanston where my husband and I raised our three children and lived for over 40 years did not come easily to me. The neighborhood, the cherished memories—just the thought of leaving it was a wrench. But there came a time when I had to think about the future and the possibilities it might hold.

When my husband’s health began to fail, I needed help to get him up and down the stairs at home. It was a difficult time. A couple of years after he died, I began to think about what I would do if my own health were compromised. How would I manage? Living in a large house was probably not the best plan.

Thinking about the “what if” pushed me over the edge.

I decided to put myself on the list to live at one of the Presbyterian Homes’ communities. I was told about a few vacancies and responded with “I’m not ready yet.” Some time later, I received a call about an apartment at Ten Twenty Grove, a nine-story, independent seniors’ building close to downtown Evanston. By this time I had remarried, and both my husband and I looked at the space and liked it. We were especially pleased to find we could redecorate it in any way we wanted to make it feel like home for us. 

We liked the fact that we would be within walking distance of the library, movie theater, restaurants, and bookstores. We could easily walk to our Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes at Northwestern University. The location was ideal.

We took the plunge and the apartment and have been delighted ever since. We have gained new friends, kept old ones, and we appreciate the real sense of community at Ten Twenty Grove. This is not just a building; it is a neighborhood. We look out for each other and yet have great respect for each other’s privacy. People here are interested in a wide variety of topics and what’s happening in the world. We have bonded over more than just being retired, and have more in common than we imagined. We look forward to our weekly social hours to enjoy coffee, cookies, and talk.

Options for activities and bus trips to plays, concerts, and museums are abundant. We also attend events of all kinds at Presbyterian Homes’ King Home, just across the street. We have used their dining and meeting spaces to host events of our own for friends and family.

Another major factor in our decision to move to Ten Twenty Grove was the full access to all of the health care services (if needed) and other amenities at the larger Westminster Place campus of Presbyterian Homes. We go there often to swim and to exercise at the Kimble Fitness Center.

We love the new apartment where we had hardwood floors installed, picked out new kitchen tile, and added a corner cabinet. We have room for dinner parties and even out-of-town guests.

We hope you’ll consider taking a look at Ten Twenty Grove. Please do call 847-864-5451 to set up a time for a visit.   

Cordially,

T. G.