TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME.....ETC.!

Spring is finally here and with age seems to come a change in my body's tolerance for the "unknown" pollens, weeds, etc. Never before has it been an issue but thanks to my advancing age, it is just another gift of Father Time. Thanks, huh? It has not kept me from enjoying the spring-after such a cold and miserable winter. In addition to golf, dancing, gardening, etc., Duncan and I are enjoying the new baseball park-home of the Winston-Salem DASH. Has been lots of fun to take friends-yes, the picture is myself and friend Prudy with Bolt-the mascot. We look forward to more baseball through the summer; the bar, buffet and spirited staff has raised my level of tolerance for the game. GO DASH !

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

"God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers."

Yiddish Proverb

APRIL IN NEW YORK !

Duncan and I shared a great weekend in New York with friends Gail and Jim Bland in early April. Beginning in Raleigh, NC on Friday evening, we revisited a favorite "The Angus Barn" for a great start to our weekend. Saturday morning we flew out to the city-it was glorious! I love the city and we arrived with an agenda that kept us on the move for two days. We were entertained with musicals "Billy Elliott" and "Wicked" (this one may be my favorite of all time!), dinners at "Scalini Fedeli" and "Mas Farmhouse", brunch at "Blue Fin" and a little culture with a tour of The Cloisters which houses the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection of art and architecture from medieval Europe-views of the Hudson River from its gardens made us feel as if we were not even in New York! We taxied, we walked, we ate, we watched and overall had a tremendous time. Just had to share the fun!

"....THE ONE IS SILVER, THE OTHER GOLD"

"Make new friends, but keep the old.....the one is silver, the other gold! Should I call us the golden girls? It was a great evening when ten college friends who graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1971 met March 27th at Sara Hill's home in Greensboro. Many of us had "misplaced" each other for many almost 40 years-I had not seen Virginia (Ginny) and Terri since graduation and the others since a reunion in 1981. Over the years paths crossed on soccer fields with Ivey and Lee, Betty was great staying connected through emails and my roommate Sarah regaled us with a wonderful online journal in 2006 when she and husband Roy took a cross country motorcycle trip. Susan had been busy with a career and family-now enjoying retirement- and Beverly, who married while in college, is still supervising many at work and at home-she took the prize with 13 grandkids! Christmas card photos and emails put time in perspective for many of us over the years but nothing can compare to actually spending time together. Although everyone's story was important I enjoyed confirming Lee's singing talent (she and daughter Lauren had won second place in a national contest hosted by Garrison Keiller), Betty's math acumen (she has a PHD in math and a "force" in the Mathematical Association of America) and then there is Ginny (Virginia Wright-Frierson) an amazing artist and author (who created a mural in the remodeled Columbine High School- www.hopecolumbine.org/pictures.html and www.acolumbinesite.com/remodel.html) Brief and lengthy histories helped recall so many memories not the least of which were stories shared about our good friend Bettye Rose who had passed away in late 2009. As we listened to the soundtrack of "Hair" and drank wine from glasses instead of plastic cups, I was back on campus in Cone dormitory-it seemed our last conversation was just yesterday- you are golden, girls!

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN!

The winter months seem longer this year...could it be because there has been no sunshine for days on end? HIGHLIGHTS: Dancing (another fun trip to The Odyssey for a talent show)... Dancing demos for many weeks at Creekside Terrace-a retirement community-where Duncan and I probably received more blessings than the residents we performed for and danced with...A brief and chilly beach trip-did you realize that on any given day you can find "Top Gun" on TV? And then there was the eighth annual MAC-MAR INVITATIONAL in late March hosted by myself and good friend Betty. Photos do not do justice for the great time sixteen women can have when they get together to golf (three rounds), gossip (endless), drink (bottomless) and dine (divine)! Four days pass too quickly-I am already looking forward to 2011!

SKIING AT MY AGE ?

Birthday week was spent with friends in Vail, Colorado skiing-last time I was on the slopes was 1999 ! Yes, ten years makes a difference in attitude but thankfully not aptitude. Duncan and I were able to make our way down the mountain for five days without a fall or any broken bones so we considered the trip a huge success. Never more than a basic intermediate level skier, the years proved to make me more cautious but was still exciting to once again prove that sixty plus can survive a "run down the mountains". Down time with Lynne, David, Jane, Paul, Stevie and Kevin to include the hot tub, movies, puzzles or just reading by the fire was a great way to celebrate. And not to worry, why just yesterday (the 16th) I had another wonderful birthday lunch-the month is not over yet !

OMG....IT'S 1:00 A.M. !!

For my younger readers 1:00 a.m. may seem early-as in the night is just getting started-but for two 60 somethings it is way past our bedtime! It is Friday night (after our weekly dance class) and we venture out to Johnny & June's Ultra Saloon for the "Last Chance Dance" event-a final "hail Mary" to win tickets for the George Strait/Reba McEntire concert on Saturday night. Who would have guessed that everyone 20 to 40 years old in Winston-Salem would be there as well? No, our ticket was not drawn for the concert tickets but what a great time! FIFTEEN HUNDRED packed the saloon which features a mechanical bull, sports bar area and a HUGE dance floor. Who knew you could actually dance in a space the size of a postage stamp, holding a beer and it be so much fun! Will definitely go again...We were on a roll so at midnight we stopped in at Club Odyssey (an alternative lifestyle nightclub) and thoroughly enjoyed the midnight show with female impersonators Simply Liz, Tiffancy Bonet and Arabia Knight-the beer buzz probably helped. After driving by the club for more than fifteen years and always saying "one day we should go.." our day/night finally arrived. I have checked that experience off my "bucket list". My only regret? I did not bring my camera! Maybe next time?