Doris Renna

Many years ago, probably in the 40’s, when I was a poor little girl from way on the other side of town, Franke Tobey Jones was something to be revered because it was special, kind of like the Weyerhaeuser mansion.

Many years later, I lived in the complex next door to Solstice.  This was way back in 2002, and I was looking for some place to take an exercise class since I had exercised most of my life. I asked a friend, and she told me about the Wellness Center, so I came down and joined.  (That was the old Wellness Center, not the big one we have today.)  We were mostly doing strength and balance exercises.  One summer, someone brought a boom box and that was a really great idea, even though the room was so small and kind of dark and hot in the summertime. I invited my neighbor because she had been asking, “Where do you go for all these morning exercise classes?” That just kind of started it, and whoever else became my neighbor started exercising with me.

When the (new) Wellness Center was first built in 2004, FTJ wanted to keep the Center open on weekends, but there was a concern that people might fall or hurt themselves, so FTJ hired me to come and just watch to make sure nothing happened.  I used to have a little dog keep my company on these weekends.  During the week, I went to class and continue to exercise.

I eventually started helping out at the Point Ruston Senior Center.  At first, I would occasionally fill in for someone else on vacation, but she eventually retired and I’ve been there ever since, probably about six years ago. I continue to go over three mornings a week and lead exercises that I’ve created.  That’s my therapy.  We do strength and balancing exercises with weights and straps, with an average of 26 people participating. It’s not a big space and there’s not a lot of room to stretch, so it’s kind of a trick to find enough room for everybody.  But the participants love it and we have almost a party atmosphere.

When Colin came to work at FTJ, I immediately recognized what at asset he was.  But he was working too hard, so I let Heidi know that he needed more help!  So, she did!  He is just irreplaceable.

I’ve heard residents in the exercise classes complaining that the classes are getting so crowded, but the exercises classes bring people to FTJ.   Many people have come to FTJ from my old neighborhood, so the programs of the Wellness Center really help to market FTJ.

As you can see, I’ve been acquainted with FTJ for many years.  I knew Judy when she was brand new and I also knew Jim way back when.  I used to walk from the Wellness Center through the gate by the Maintenance Department to get back to my home, so FTJ was kind of like a section of my neighborhood. I’d been in my own home for over 30 years, but the house and the yard just became a lot to take care of.   I checked many other places but I just thought that FTJ felt more like home.  I moved into the Tobey Jones building in 2022.  Any kind of change is difficult, and it did take some adjusting.  Now, I’m very comfortable here at FTJ.  (As told to Claire Griffin)

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