It's Been Busy!

I'm long overdue for updating the blog because it has been busy! The Presbyterian Communities Olympics were held on April 17th, and the month leading up to it was filled with practicing our events, pep rallies (not my thing!), send-off festivities, and anything you could think of related to a sporting event! I entered (was talked into) the women's speed walking, and Jimmy C entered the men's event. So, one to three times a week, we walked it, hoping to improve our time. 

On the day of the event, all 6 communities were represented. The smallest three, including Clinton, competed against each other, while the larger three competed in their division. We all got together in the chapel of the Columbia campus for a pep rally (still not my thing, but it was fun). Following the rally, we went off to our events. With the speed walking, I was the first on up....of all competitors! It didn't give me time to fret about it. I was up and off, followed by Jimmy. As soon as we finished, we were off to watch the other events, not knowing how we did. As it turned out, we both won in our division! Jimmy had the overall (of both divisions) best time (2.58 minutes), and my time (3.06) tied the winner of the ladies' larger communities division. I was totally surprised...and pleased that it was over! The Clinton Community tied with Columbia for the most wins, which had not happened before. So they will keep the trophy until October, when there will be some kind of event to pass it over to us for the remainder of the year. We were pleased for Jennifer, our Life Enrichment Coordinator, who had not had a showing like that before. All in all, it was a good day. Next year, I'm going to angle for something like cornhole!!

Before the Olympics, Anna (my lunchtime dining mate and friend), Betty (a fellow UNC-G graduate), and I met Pamela for dinner at Break on the Lake on Lake Greenwood. Pamela was the marketing person here when I visited, and she was SO helpful in making the timing work, which is no small thing. Unfortunately, she had been battling cancer for over a year and was let go. It was great to see her and catch up. She looked great, as she always did. Her hair had fallen out and grown back curly, which looked fabulous! It was a gab-fest, and we all enjoyed it. 

I also attended the No Kings protest. Previously, I had to find one nearby to attend, but this time, Laurens had their own. It reminded me of the old days in Bluffton, when only a few people would show up. Now, hundreds participate, and I miss that energy. My hope is that the same thing will happen here. About 75 people showed up, which surprised everyone. It was a good group, and the response was positive (with only the occasional A-hole).  Chris sent the photo of Mark, Maria, and their signs. It made me feel I was with Bluffton in spirit, knowing that my friends were representing well!

I'm going to resist a political rant, but I will tell you what I've been doing. I've regularly faxed Graham, Scott, and Biggs (our version of Mace, only possibly worse). I know it produces nothing, but to remain silent is to grant approval. With the SC abortion issue, I've added my state reps to my list. They are truly disgusting. I never thought I'd agree with Tom Davis on anything, or he with me, but he is showing sense and strength on this issue. Be proud, Beaufort County! I have found a lot of folks in this community who are liberal, but I've also been surprised and alarmed at those who are watching it all happen with no interest in doing anything. So, I made a contact sheet of our reps and passed it out to all the ladies at my dining table. At least one of them called Graham. It wasn't much, but it was better than doing nothing. I also attended the county Democratic meeting on Saturday, which included a candidate forum, and my tablemates (the ladies, not the male trumper) were interested in hearing about it. I was thrilled to learn that Annie Andrews will be here sometime in May. I'll offer rides to anyone who would like to attend with me. I'm doing what I can, but it's not enough.

These are just some photos of our happy hour group. Every Friday, we have a happy hour in the cafe. They've been doing some work in there, so Josh, our dining room coordinator, decided to have it outside. Things were just beginning to green or bloom, and the weather was perfect. I think we all enjoyed it. In one of the photos, you can see my little cottage (with the red car under the carport), so you can see how close I am to the main building. 

I'll tell you a funny southern story that happened to me at Food Lion. I walked into the store, and in the corner of my eye, I saw a women whom I thought lived at the Clinton. At that time, she waved to me, and I turned to face her....then we both realized that we didn't know each other!! She said, "I don't really know you!" I explained that I thought she was a friend from the Presbyterian Community, etc. Well, we stood there and talked for 10 minutes. She learned all about me, and I learned that she knew folks in our community and had put a deposit on a place there, but didn't feel ready. We knew a few people in common, etc. It just made my day that two people who didn't know each other could just stand there and chat that long!

Just a little Rosie news: This is her new favorite passtime on our walks. She loves to sniff cars! I think it's something she was never exposed to in Bluffton, with most cars being in garages. She'll start at a wheel, sniff it good, and sniff all the way to the next wheel! I can imagine that there are lots of exotic smells on those tires, and she's identifying all of them!

Below is the only photo I took at the Olympics! It was of a sweet, gentle therapy horse. He was just adorable, like a big doggie with hooves!!

I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying life. Take care, my friends, you're in my thoughts.       Let me hear from you when you can.

Another Day, Another War!

Well, where to begin? Since my last post approximately a month ago, we are now at war with Iran - we being the aggressor, along with Israel. Both countries are controlled by two elderly criminals who will burn it all down to stay out of prison! I really underestimated trump as I didn't think even he would be foolish enough to ignite things in the Middle East. Silly me!  And I love how, when he feels it in his bones, he'll just put that genie right back in the bottle!! God help us.

I was reading The Sisterhood about women in the CIA, and there was a part about the first Gulf War and the bombing of Khobar Towers. I was there at that time, and we were awakened in the middle of the night by the explosion. We later saw the remains of the building. It brought back a lot of memories of being close to a war zone, hearing scuds fly by, flying out on a military plane, etc. And a week later, the Middle East is aflame again! It has really put me in a funk, and I feel sad for our country. When you think about it, we have no government! The republican controlled House, Senate, and Supreme Court have handed our republic over to a soulless madman. They have abdicated their oath to the Constitution and neglected their duty. We are rudderless....except for the madman! I hope I'm wrong, but it's difficult to see how we can ever recover if anything is left by the end of the trump era.

As though I wasn't in enough angst, I just finished Kamala Harris's book 107 Days! It was an audiobook, and she narrated it. It brought back the hope we had felt and clearly showed the contrast between her and what we wound up with. I think how (positively) different our nation would be if we had elected intelligent women when we had the opportunity! I'll stop there.

One very timely event I attended was a conversation with Ben Rhodes held at Presbyterian College. He was a speechwriter and National Security Advisor for President Obama, and is frequently seen on MS NOW. Needless to say, the first question was about Iran. He helped negotiate the agreement with Iran that trump trashed! His basic feeling was that the longer it goes on, the worse it will get, and the more we will feel it. I wouldn't argue with that! 

On a positive note, there are signs of Spring. In fact, this is the second go-around! Color was beginning to show very early when we had a weekend of ice, followed by a weekend of snow, which killed everything. We've had lovely temperatures and things are peaking out again, but there's still time for a cold wave. It is good to see the color and feel the warm temperatures. My hope is for a nice, long Spring!

Things have been pretty busy around here as we are preparing for the Presbyterian Communities' Olympics! In April, all 6 communities will get together in Columbia to compete in Bocce ball, miniature golf, cornhole, a quarter-mile speed walk, and a 3-dimensional puzzle. So, each week we get together and "train." I'm doing the walk. Every other day, the guy who is competing and I get together to do the walk to increase our speed. Bocce ball and cornhole would be much easier, but I've never played either, and my play is very erratic. They are fun, and I hope we continue playing them after the games are over.

We've also had a fine dining evening where our chef shows his stuff. He is excellent! We also welcomed newcomers with an Irish-themed dinner, and we'll have a special lunch for St. Patrick's.

I had to take my car to Greenville for servicing. It was time for a regular checkup, but there was also a recall to be corrected, which meant it would take longer. I was pleased when they offered a loaner, which allowed me to pursue my search for Indian food. Maria, Mark, and I had tried Persis, which was our favorite Indian restaurant in Savannah. The one here was good, but not quite up to our original. Since then, I've been to Saffron, which is a very attractive place, and the food was very good. This time, I found Hocco Indian Kitchen. It was more basic, with lots of people coming in for take-out. The food was also very tasty. So, now I feel I have a choice - if I want take-out, it will be Hocco. If I have company and want something nice, it will be Saffron. If anything else comes across my radar, I'm perfectly willing to give it a try, too. My next genre to explore will be Thai food.

The only other thing to report is that I've become addicted to Sudoku! I always had a book around, but would just do one every now and then, focusing mostly on crosswords. Since our two winter weekends of ice and snow, as well as the state of our nation, I've finished a complete book!! I've done them to the point of feeling I'm in a stupor! 

On that note, I'll close. I hope all is well with you, and that you're finding some silver linings!

Another Birthday and Lots of Weather!

It's a dark, rainy day, perfect for catching up on my blog. There is an ulterior motive - I'm avoiding doing my taxes! By "doing", I mean getting everything together for someone else to actually do them. Normally, that isn't too much of a problem, but this year, with the sale of the house, everything I sold or donated, the move, etc.. I have no idea what to expect. I just know there's a lot of stuff to organize in a way that someone else can deal with it! Not looking forward to it.

Yes, I celebrated another birthday in good fashion. Many thanks to those who called, texted, sent cards, and emails - it was wonderful to hear from you all! It truly showed me how fortunate I am to have such caring friends in my life. I shared lunch with Anna (to my left), whom I met when I first visited CPC, and who is in my lunch bunch. J Lynne, who was the front desk person here until her husband retired, came from Columbia to celebrate with us, and Mary, who moved here about a month after I did, and who also has a doggie. Dini sang her own inimitable version of Happy Birthday to me, as she does for all of us. It was great. If you look carefully, you'll see that I have three plates in front of me. I had ordered from the menu when someone told Chef Mark that it was my birthday (the lone vegetarian). He then made Eggplant Parmesan for me and came out with a chocolate bomb with a candle!! It was lots of fun, and the four of us closed down the dining room at lunchtime. J Lynne then came home with me for a short visit and to see Rosie! I also received a call from Rabbi Covitz, whom I worked for at Congregation Beth Yam. They were on their way to visit Ariel in her first year of college. She was born on my birthday, and it's difficult to believe she could now be in college. But then, I'm one year away from being 80, so a lot of time has flown by! Thanks to one and all who added to my birthday joy! I love you all.

That fun time was followed by two weeks of cold weather. The first weekend was icy, which led to just hunkering down and waiting it out. The greatest fear was losing power, which didn't happen. If we had known we would not lose power, we could have relaxed and enjoyed it. Since I knew I didn't have to walk Rosie, I had a pajama day, which I'd not had in years. It was wonderful. I did get Rosie out back. Sometimes she would go, and other times not, but we didn't sweat it. I have a pee tray for her, and she can go when she pleases, so no worries. I included the photo of the pizza because, while the ice was on the ground, our meals were delivered. Chef Mark treated me well again, and I had no complaints. 

The next weekend was just snowy. We got about 6+ inches, and it was lovely to watch the snow falling. As everyone was cozy inside, it was pristine, without even footprints until I walked up for lunch. It was so pretty, I hated to disturb it. Within the following two days, it was all gone, which is as it should be!

During those two weekends, I sat around doing crosswords and sudoku puzzles until I felt I was in a stupor. My eyes were bonkers from staring at arm's length for so long, and my brain was fried! I used to only do Sudoku occasionally, but now I'm addicted!

With the weather being harsh, things have been pretty quiet. I did take a painting class. What I didn't know at the time of signing up was that Presbyterian College students would be there to help us out. It was part of their MLK service project, and they volunteered in many areas of the community at large. Asia helped me, and she was a sweetie. The final project was as amateurish as I expected, but we had lots of fun doing it. Just having them in the room added to the enjoyment of it (PC students also join us once a month for a trivia competition). We recently had a cornhole competition. I'd never played it before and was excited to try it. I wasn't particularly good at it, but it was fun, and I'll definitely try it again. I may have already mentioned that I've joined a Strength and Balance class twice a week. It isn't all that strenuous, but it's better than nothing, which is what I'd be doing on my own! To negate all of that, there's Happy Hour on Fridays!

CPC, and probably all facilities like this, celebrate everything! Christmas almost did me in! There is also a monthly celebration of birthdays, and a lot of us celebrated in January. Valentine's Day was no exception to the rule. We were entertained by a musical couple singing familiar love songs. There was lots of good food and prizes. Those in the photos are, in order:

Brittany - Life Enrichment assistant

Jennifer (and volunteer) - Life Enrichment

Catherine and Trudy (lunch bunch)

Trudy and Susan

Susan and Jan (lunch bunch)

Except for Jan and staff members, we are all Independent Living in the cottages near the main building.

Not a lot else to report. I am listening to Margaret Atwood's memoir, Book of Lives. I know little of her work except The Handmaid's Tale from TV, and I was a bit put off when I saw her audiobook was 26 hours long! I'm glad I didn't give up, because she's quite the storyteller. She has a wonderful memory for detail and a wry sense of humor.....and she narrates the book! It's made up of vignettes of various aspects of her life, which cover a variety of experiences and travel. Much to my surprise, I've thoroughly enjoyed it and am motivated to read some of her work.

With all of the horrendous things happening in our country, I'm back to faxing my senators and congresswoman weekly, as well as our wackadoodle state legislature. I get flustered on the phone, even with notes, but I can write it much better. I can do it all on my computer, even without a fax machine. Faxzero.com allows five free faxes a day, which is plenty. This may come in useful if you can't email the government official you want to contact, though some do not even list fax numbers!! Yes, they really want to hear from us, especially those in red states! With ICE doing what it is doing, illegally and unconstitutionally, I'm not sure why everyone isn't concerned. 😞

I'll leave you with a little video of Rosie enjoying her squeaky toy. I'm happy to report that she's doing well. I have to tell you a little story that made me laugh. One of her favorite people came up to me and said, "I'm going to have my attorney contact you about joint custody of Rosie!" I laughed out loud! That was so cute. He plays with her every time we run into each other, and she loves it!

Take care, my friends. Sending lots of love to all.

A New Year and a Walk for Peace

It's a dark, rainy day here. Perfect for me to sit and update you on my doings. First of all, I think everyone here was ready for December to end and things get back to normal (whatever that is!). We had a lot happening around Christmas, much more than I'm accustomed to, and it was so accessible and easy. As happy as I was to put it behind me, I just got Christmas items stored yesterday!! I was ready to get it out of sight, I just didn't want to actually do it! Anyway, it's over for another year!

Thanks to one and all for the Christmas greetings. I loved the cards, e-cards, calls, and messages in all forms, but there was only one envelope that tickled my fancy! I'm not sure what gave David this idea, but I loved it.

The New Year was kicked off with a visit by Maria and Mark on NY's Eve. We had planned a leisurely visit, but they had car trouble in Columbia and had to leave their car at a dealership for repair. That meant renting a car, unpacking, repacking, etc. .... just the way you want to start a trip! By the time they arrived and we had lunch, the dealership was calling, and they were trying to make decisions on the fly. I felt so sorry for them, as I knew it would likely dominate their entire trip. Even so, it was wonderful to see them, and I'm so appreciative that they make the effort to stop by. Rosie was happy to see Felix (on the sofa with Maria) and Henry, as was I. I hope their next visit will be calmer and more relaxing.

Another high point of early January was seeing the Buddhist monks who are walking 2,300 miles from Ft. Worth, Texas to Washington, DC for peace. I had been following them for a while online, and they were supposed to come right through Laurens County, but at the last minute, they changed their schedule. So, I went to bed undecided. The next morning, when I checked my tablet, the first screen was of them, giving their location for lunch about 50 miles away. I plugged it into my GPS, and off Rosie and I went. They were having lunch at Liberty Hill Lookout, which turned out to be an abandoned lookout tower and residence in the middle of nowhere!! Even so, several hundred people were there to greet them. As the numbers have risen, I realized how lucky I was to see them there. It was before Aloka, their trusty dog, left for surgery, before crowds grew so large, and before one of the older monks returned to his temple in France. He is the one in the red hat who always had a wonderful smile. While the setting was pretty inhospitable, the monks made themselves at home, and the crowd was respectful and attentive. There was a sumptuous lunch prepared for them, by whom I'm not sure. My feeling was that it was local Asian residents who tended the table and served the food. I had a spot at one end of the table and could see each monk as they passed by. Venerable Bhikkau Pannakara, the lead monk, served himself last, and before eating, they did a wonderful chant. They sat on the ground along the edge of a square tarp, with Aloka, their trusty companion, resting in the middle. While they ate, I went back to the car and gave Rosie a little walk and a snack. By the time I got back, the lead monk was getting ready to speak to the crowd. He spoke quietly and calmly about peace, loving-kindness, mindfulness, and compassion. While he spoke, Aloka was lying right behind him, accepting love from one and all. 

An amazing observation was their calm, unhurried manner. It is this that sets the tone for all they do. It seemed to encourage more of the same, for the crowd was quiet, attentive, and respectful. As if walking that much, that far, each and every day wasn't enough, I became aware that they are all carrying bags. Most of them carry two! One contains their bowls for eating, and I have no idea what else. Their schedule is also very demanding. They rise and set out early, stopping for lunch around noon. This involves lunch, greeting people, and speaking. Then, they do the same thing in their evening stop, with visiting hours ending around 9 PM! That's a long day!  Since seeing them, I always check their feet now! The day I saw them, Venerable Bhikkau Pannakara was wearing thick socks only.  When they started out the next day, the balls of both feet were bandaged with no socks or shoes (the monk behind him had his feet bandaged the same way, except each toe was also individually bandaged). I can't imagine how their feet feel at the end of the day, and the damage long-term walking has done. They really are impressive, and I'm so glad I saw them. It's also been interesting to follow them after seeing them. The crowds have been building, which is encouraging. I wish them well in every step of their journey.

The only negative thing about it was a young "preacher" with a loudspeaker! He ranted on the entire time, and I couldn't help but think of the damage he was doing to his own religion. Buddhists don't think of Buddhism as a religion, but as a practice, a way of being. It complements any and all religions.....but this young man didn't know this. He went on and on, telling us we were going to hell, Jesus was the only way, etc. At one point, the lead monk gave him a bottle of water and invited him for food, but he righteously declined. I, for one, thought his religion appeared very small and limiting. But, as I said, the crowd ignored him and appreciated the monks. 

Other than that, things have settled a bit. I've finally been able to join a Strength & Balance class that has been newly implemented. It's very adaptable to one's physical limitations, and just the type of thing I need. It's held twice a week, and I'm about the fittest in the group! I don't often get to say that!! I continue with the Trivia group, and tomorrow, I'm doing a painting class! I'm not the least bit artistic, so that should be interesting. You may or may not see the results!!

I'm happy to report that Rosie is doing well, better than in a while. She has a calming collar, and I've found a calming treat that seems to be making a difference (and, unlike the first I tried, she will eat it!). She's eating better, and all is well. You can only imagine the difference her improvement makes to my life. Long may it continue.

I would comment on the state of the nation, but I don't have the heart or the space to share my thoughts and feelings. I NEVER imagined we would be where we are today, and it saddens me to the core. I'm not sure we'll ever be able to recover from all that is going on, and I'm saddened by all we're losing, thrown away at the hands of a corrupt, soulless administration. It is truly sad.😔

Happy Holidays 2025

It's been a busy month here with more Christmas cheer than I'm accustomed. The main building is decorated to the nines, and we've had lots of Christmas entertainment from children's school choruses, to harp music, the Carolinian Senior Jazz Band, and more. We had a Christmas Drop-In on December 4th, where each resident could invite two people for munchies, music, and good cheer. On the 11th, we hosted Santa's Supper, a formal dinner for residents. This included the best Santa I have ever seen! And at an old-folk's home! I'm sure his schedule is full for the remainder of the holiday. The artwork in the photos is by a resident, and I'm shown with 1) Jennifer, our sweet and talented Life Enrichment Director. 2) Jimmy, another resident, and one of Rosie's favorite people. 3) Our Lunch Bunch - Trudy, me, and Anna (Jan and Jim are not shown).

One of the highlights of the season was our trip to Presbyterian College for the Christmas program, "Light of the World." The music was outstanding, and it ended with a formally dressed bagpiper and a Celtic Blessing of Light, all of which brought chills!  I didn't take photos, but hopefully you can see a few here. I think if you click on a photo, it will open all of the photos.

One other event deserves mention, and that was a Christmas Market that was held here over a period of a day and a half. I didn't pay it much attention, and didn't actually check it out until about 2 hours before it was to close! That was a mistake! I was surprised at the variety and quality of available handcrafted items, and at that point, I'm sure other things were snapped up early that I didn't even get to see. Even that late, I found some little things for my lunch bunch and other people I'd like to remember. Next year, I'll know to attend early!!

One of the Christmas items I brought back from Bluffton was a set of Christmas plates that I've had for years.....and never taken out of the box. They were made in Germany, but I'm sure I bought them in the Middle East, either Saudi or Bahrain. Anyway, I donated them to the community so they can become part of the holiday decorations. They are displayed in the windows of the chapel. Each large window has a wreath in the middle, and on the ledge below, a plate is displayed. I'm glad they can use them, and I'll actually get to see them during the season. When I bring the remaining items back, I'll see if they can use any of them also.

Needless to say, my little cottage requires much less decorating than a 3-bedroom house. Everything was quick and easy, except decorating the metal Christmas tree. Last year was the first time I used it, and I couldn't remember how I strung the lights. I started and stopped over and over, taking a full week to get it done! I imagine that taking the lights down will be a nightmare that may take even longer! In any case, it's up, and I've done as much as I can tolerate, even though there are some things I didn't use. Maybe next Year!

Winter has definitely arrived in the Upstate! We have actually only had a few days as shown here, and we're handling the colder temperatures better than I expected. Rosie definitely prefers the cooler days to the hot days of summer. Since the two days of freezing temps, we've had a few days of rain, but most are sunny in the 50s and 60s, which I think will hold through Christmas (almost reaching 70!). That's not too bad at all!

A source of recent excitement has been our visiting pig! While he hasn't been lately, he was showing up about once a week, and everyone was reporting pig sightings. The first time he showed up, he came right into my front yard, and Rosie had a fit. She usually barks at cats, squirrels, etc., but this time she was on her hind legs, pounding her front paws on the storm door, with non-stop barking! When I checked it out, I saw why! The pig just wagged its tail and kept on munching and moving. Another morning, I opened the door to take Rosie for her morning walk, and he was right across the road. We think he belongs to someone nearby but has found an escape route.

As always, I have to share a little Rosie! I went to Petco in Simpsonville to pick up her food and found this pig. I loved it because rather than squeaking, it oinks! My only hesitation was its size, but that didn't stop me - or Rosie. All I had to do was put it on the floor and squeak it once, and Rosie was away! I think the size became a challenge to her, and she did eventually find a way to pick it up. I hope this short video includes the sound so you can hear her "fussing" at piggy.

The only downside of the month has been another episode with Rosie. Over the weekend, she had two nights of shivering, which left us both with about 4 hours of sleep each night. I got her to the Vet first thing Monday. She checked her out and didn't think she was in pain. The weather was stable, so no storms were approaching; so what was the source of the problem? The Vet suggested a calming treat that was successful with her older dog, as well as "pheromones" for dogs. In the meantime, she had a day and a half of diarrhea. So, I called the Vet again, and she gave me something for that. One was a tablet and the other a liquid in a syringe. I knew I couldn't give it to her by myself without wasting most of it, so I texted Tiffany and Penny, our cleaning ladies. They came right over, and Penny held Rosie while Tiffany gave her the medicine. What lifesavers! I managed to give her only 1/2 of a dose of the tablet medication before constipation set in! She had been eating very sporadically through all of this. So, I suspended the medication and hoped for the best. It has taken a while, but she's about 95% at this point. This is always emotionally draining for me and physically stressful for Rosie. As these things seem to be happening more often, I'm concerned for her, as it's almost impossible to medicate her. Either I have to improve at it, or we need to come up with an alternative treatment. In any case, she is much better, for which I'm very thankful. Update: As far as the calming treat goes, Rosie won't eat it! I even mixed it in with one of her favorite treats - she ate her treat and left the new one! That's what I'm dealing with! Now, I have a pheromone collar on order. Keep your fingers crossed that it works.

On that note, I'll wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year! Here's hoping 2026 is a little kinder to us than was 2025!  I'll leave you with The Celtic Blessing of Light from the Presbyterian College program. May it warm your heart and pave the way for the coming year. Much love to all.💖

One Down (Halloween), Two to Go (Thanksgiving & Christmas)!

 

We're in late November, and we've had such beautiful weather. Today, I took my walk after walking Rosie and having breakfast, and I didn't even need a light jacket! Even so, growing up in NC, I remember Thanksgiving as being the harbinger of winter! In keeping with that, we are expecting a temperature drop from 70°F today to 53°F on Thanksgiving. 

I've really loved seeing the leaves change color, fall, and tumble along the ground with a gust of wind. This tree is in my backyard, and you can see the progression over a period of a few days. The photos of our main building were taken during the "golden hour," when the sky and light were just awe-inspiring. And the grapevines, lush and full in the summer, have gone bare again. I'm glad there are enough evergreen trees to keep the landscape from looking too bare.

I'm pleased to say that Halloween is behind us. Being a former teacher, I've had enough of that holiday to last me for a lifetime!  Even so, it was fun here, and I showed you the decoration contest by the staff, which was very creative. 

One morning, we had first-graders from a local school pay us a visit. We were seated along the hallway, and as they passed by, we filled their trick-or-treat bags with candy. They were cute and very excited about it all. Then on Halloween evening, the staff brought their kids by, and we did the same. It was great to meet the families and see their kids.

The staff also had a costume contest, and no expense was spared! It, too, was lots of fun. 

The highlight of the month was my trip to Bluffton. The reason for going was to pick up my Christmas decorations that have been stored in Chris's garage. I spent so much time socializing that at some point, I texted Chris and asked her to not let me forget to take my Christmas items!! I actually touched base with 20 friends over 3 days. It was non-stop fun and food.

We arrived around noontime and were staying with Maria, Mark, Felix, and Henry. We had just enough time to unpack the car and have a light lunch before heading to see Lynn and Tom in their new digs. Both Chris and Tom have November birthdays, so I ordered a birthday cake as a surprise. We had so much to catch up on, and it was great to see that they are liking their new place and settling in nicely. The worst part is over!! We gabbed over wine and red velvet cake.....it was very nice, and I hope Chris and Tom had a good birthday.

Tuesday was jam-packed. We began with lunch at Olive and Fig, where we received a warm welcome from Tammy. Chris, Maria, Mark, and I were joined by Rhonda and Melodie (John couldn't make it). It was lighthearted, and the conversation flowed. I have missed my longtime, liberal friends who are well-informed and can pick up where we left off without missing a beat!! I'm finding my people here, but it isn't like the oldtimers! It was a fun lunch, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

From there, I went to visit Tippy, who has been dealing with health issues. Kieran was out of town, but she was being well cared for by Florida friends. We didn't have nearly enough time (and I forgot to take a photo, and Tippy always reminded me when I forgot!) to catch up as I would have liked, but it was good to see for myself that she is improving and is encouraged.

Chris, David, and I had coordinated plans so I could visit when Drinking Liberally was meeting! Needless to say, I touched base with a lot of friends here - David, Bob and Julie, Sally, Kathy, Rhonda and Chris joined us again, and others. It was a fun evening. Rhonda and I hung back for a second glass of wine after everyone had left, and, lo and behold, Carol W stopped by! She was leaving the next day for her new digs in Vermont. That was a nice surprise. I didn't have time to talk to Sally about her trip to Antarctica or any upcoming plans. Bob and Julie had JUST returned from a trip to Africa with OAT, and we didn't have nearly enough time to compare notes. I know they enjoyed it as much as we did, and I hope to hear more about it. Just not enough time! Thanks to Chris and David for making this a fun evening.

Wednesday was supposed to be a quiet day! I wanted to treat Maria and Mark to lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant as a "thank you" for putting us up and for putting up with us!! Persis was a long-standing favorite when we were neighbors, and we were not disappointed. It was like old times! 

I have to mention that on our morning walks with the doggies, Mark was very tolerant as I rang doorbells of former neighbors and had quick visits! That's something I would not ordinarily do, but a short visit is better than no visit at all. Even so, there were many former neighbors I didn't see at all.....just not enough time.

As soon as we got back from lunch in Savannah, I headed to Chris's to pick up my Christmas items. Somehow, I thought I could fit everything in my car, but not so! I looked through and brought back those things I thought I might use, and will go back for the rest another time. There is no way I can use all of it (or even most of it!), so I'll have to get rid of a lot. I'm hoping they can use some of it here in the community. 

That evening, Maria and Mark invited Becky and Jim over, as well as Becky's sister Kathy, who missed a fun evening (and we missed her)! You know you're with your people when the conversation flows from personal to politics to philosophy to whatever, with lots of laughs sprinkled in between! It was a lovely evening and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a perfect end to a delightful visit. I am just so fortunate and thankful to have such wonderful friends that I reconnected with and appreciated over these few days.💕 Thank you one and all for making my visit so special.

Rosie and I came back on Thursday, partially unpacked the car, and collapsed! We had to be rested for J Lynne's going-away party on Friday afternoon. She is one of Rosie's favorite people (and mine!). Rosie checks on her every morning. While J Lynne pets Rosie, she and I chat. This also happens again in the afternoon. J Lynne is at the front desk and has a welcoming smile for everyone. That is one thing I remember from my first visit here. She is also kind and helpful to everyone she meets, and makes everyone feel welcome. That is a gift that not everyone has, and it isn't the same without her! There are fewer people about, reading the paper or a book, chatting, etc. She was the one who made everyone feel comfortable, and she will be missed by many, especially Rosie and me. 

I also reconnected, via technology, with another friend, Cheryl, whom I haven't seen in a while. She had recently been to Newberry, SC, which is not too far from me, and posted some wonderful photos of the town. It's also where I went for the No Kings protest, though I didn't see the scenic part of town. This past Sunday, a lunchmate, Anna, and I took off to see it, and it really is a charming town! They've done so much to maintain the beautiful buildings, and the Opera House is noted for the entertainment, which hopefully brings people and revenue to the town. The weather was nice for our visit, and it was a very pleasant morning. I've decided that Sunday mornings may be a nice time to do more exploring. Cheryl and I didn't connect when I was in town, but I hope our paths will cross again soon.

I'm going to wind this up so I can send it before the day is out. My neighbor two doors down, Miss Erna the Cat Lady, just stopped by and invited me to join her for a Laurens County Chorale concert in about an hour. I'm going ot rebuild myself, and join her for the concert. I'll come home, reread this post, and send it out, with my best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving for those celebrating.