Whew! The days are flying by as we move into Florida’s high season and the annual holiday season, starting with the celebration of our veterans on November 11. The ceremony at Picnic Pointe was attended by several of our Schooner veterans, including Phil Aponte, Al Wagner and Ric Tauson.
Thanksgiving saw the return of some of our snowbirds, albeit some briefly, like Michele and Chris De Tombeur with daughter, Alex, now enjoying her sophomore year at Alabama, and Estelle and Bob Wilson with son, Scotch, now working at Oracle in Austin, Texas after his recent graduation from the University of Southern California.
The November Schooner Ladies’ birthday luncheon coordinated by Jackie Wagner and Linda Tucker, celebrated the birthdays of Margie Nahnsen and Chris Dixon (in absentia) in the Compass Rose.
And the Mullarkeys, Gosses, and Thomases hosted the first pool party of the season. They provided hot dogs and two chilis – one chicken, one beef – perfect for the weather! The decorations were particularly festive.
Speaking of festive, Schooner Village is now decorated thanks to a host of volunteers including Deb and Hank Lawrie, Milt and Theresa Brooks, Becky and Mark David Goss, Renelle and Doug Nelson, Michele and John Shepherd, Trish Thomas, Steve Noyes, Annie Fox, Deb Gustafson, Linda Tucker, Kathy Armstrong, and Mary Wilson-Tauson.
Deb Lawrie recruited all the volunteers. Forgive me if I have overlooked any other elves!
Lots of travel in December included a family cruise for the Gustafsons; a trip to Lake Zurich in Illinois for Lori Emmons to celebrate several family birthdays, and a visit to Colorado for Scot Elrod and Crystal Day, among others. For the moment we can take a moment and cherish our Thanksgiving memories. We all have so much to be thankful for – our families, our friends and neighbors, our community, our health and our freedom. I, for one, have never been more thankful. Amen
