Season is Full of Fun Things to Do

It’s a little cold right now, but some people are lovin’ it, and can enjoy sports and walking and all the good things that come with cold, including baking cookies and hiking! I hope you are doing just that! Enjoy - whether you live here year ‘round or just in the winter. We do live in a paradise, don’t we?

* An exciting event is coming up shortly at San Marco Parish on San Marco Road in the Parish Hall. The ‘Sons and Daughters of Erin’ will again present their fabulous Annual Shamrock Dinner and Dance. Our entertainment will feature everyone’s favorite:  Moose & Mary Jo O’Regan from Ireland!! They put out music that warms your heart and makes you wish you came from Ireland. There are usually other entertainers as well, like Irish Dancers, lovely music that makes you tap your foot when they come to the stage, and great music for you to dance to after you eat! And there is always an Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage by our own world-famous kitchen chef! Tickets are $55 and are available in the church office. It would be so nice if you could purchase them in advance so the cooks have an idea of how many to cook for. There will be music, dancing, laughter, and lots of fun all night long! If you’ve never come, make this the first time of many. Personally, I wouldn’t miss it for the world, and I don’t think I ever have! I’m not Irish, but that night I always feel like I’m Irish (a little tid-bit of information: did you know we have three, yes three, Kathleen Reynolds on Marco Island?) One of those Kathleen’s puts this event together along with her dedicated volunteer work force. And I’m guessing all the Kathleen Reynolds attend this event. I’ve met all three, and just like the Irish, they love music, fun, laughter and family. 

* In the last few weeks, I’ve attended two plays at the Marco Players – a different play every time. The ones I’ve attended were sold out!!! No wonder though. They are fun, and you leave feeling very happy inside. You’d think only women like fun plays? You’re wrong! There are almost as many men laughing and enjoying themselves as there are women! I was surprised at that myself, especially the first one I saw called Hallelujah Girls. Surely men wouldn’t go to something like that! Oh, how wrong I was!!! Men like to laugh just as much as women, but they have a great, booming laugh, which I discovered that first night. In fact, I think they laughed louder and harder than women, which then encouraged the women to let their hair down and enjoy! When you leave the play, you feel happy inside and thankful that you went. Outside you get to meet the actors and tell them how great they were! I have no idea how Beverly Dahlstrom – President and Artistic Director – finds these gems. I’ve been going to plays for many years before, but never found out how one person can make all the right choices every time! You can bet that next year I will be one of the first ones to buy season tickets! I just bought my ticket for the next play and invited my girlfriend, Nancy, who is a GREAT cook and “dessert chef” in my humble opinion. “The Bona Dea Challenge,” which is a World Premier by Carole Fenstermacher, beginning on February 9th through February 27 is about seven American women, six of them winners of Nationwide cooking contests, as they gather for the grand prize; a week at the Bona Dea Scuola di Cucina in Umbria Italy, to be taught by Master Chef Vincenzo Bologni. They live with the peculiarities of the adventure until the fifth day when they discover that they are not your average contest winners. Surprise!

* The last play – “Silver Alert” - was about a woman who had three grown children. She lived by herself and enjoyed life to the fullest because she could do everything she wanted to do, was very healthy, was sharp as a tack, and dressed like a million bucks! Well, one son felt she was too old to drive anymore and convinced the others that they should take her car keys and sell the car. They didn’t agree because she went every place she wanted to, never was dependent on anyone to take her any place, never had an accident, never got a ticket, and loved life with her friends, but the one forced the issue, and they all sat back and did nothing. Oh, my goodness, the fun started there, and just kept getting better and better! I wish you could have seen it. Because there might still be others who haven’t seen it, I won’t say anything else, but if you need a laugh, please go see it.

* Right now, I’ve been busy gathering all my receipts and information to prepare for the IRS, and when I’ve gotten everything, I take it to my accountant. It kinda makes your head spin, doesn’t it?