I have had some very funny and often strange âmomentsâ sent to me by readers since I started this column last year. This one, however, probably most typifies life as an active senior here in our Sun City community. It comes from Joan and Jim Rice, and originally was too lengthy to use in the space allotted for my column, so Iâve had to do some serious editing to make it fit. Hereâs their story:
Calendars are easy! Itâs writing things down on them correctly that is the PROBLEM! What could be so hard? Here we are, nine of us, all of us friends since we were kids, with calendars out and sitting at the brunch table at our bi-monthly gathering, setting our next date. We are looking for an open Sunday, which happens to be the easiest, consistently open day for everyone. Itâs our turn next, and we find a good date in August. Well, not so hard after all. Date accomplished!!!
A week passes, and someone calls and says our date is not good for them. We could just say, âWe will see you next time,â but thatâs not how it works. We start calling everyone to see what other date might work. We eventually find one, and now it will be in early September. Just after we erase the previous date, someone else calls and says the new date isnât going to work for them. We go through the same process and end up with a late September date.
Itâs a beautiful Sunday in late September; Jim is playing volleyball, and Joan is backing out of the garage to go shopping when friends Arlene and John pull up. They get out of the car and say âWhere are you going?â Joan replies âShopping.â Arlene, potluck dish in hand, says âITâS BRUNCH DAY!â Joan is thinking, âHow did I get this wrong? Isnât it next week?â Unfortunately, the friends are correct, it is Brunch Day. Seconds later, the rest of the group arrives, potluck dishes in hand. Every time weâve met thereafter, they will be giving it to me for not remembering.
Months pass, and Joan needs a sub for her bridge club. She calls Arlene, and she graciously agrees to fill in. The day of bridge comes; itâs 11 a.m. and bridge is at 1 p.m. John calls Joan and says, âArlene asked me to call you to say that she canât fill in for you at bridge today. She has eight people coming for lunch and to play euchre! People have been calling all morning and asking what time to be at our house! Arlene is on her way home from Springfield and wonât be home till noon. SHE WAS SURE THE LUNCH WAS NEXT WEEK, but wanted me to call you and let you know she couldnât play bridge this afternoon.â Joan now has to rush out to the Jewel and get some food for them.
So, like I said, CALENDARS ARE EASY; ITâS WRITING DOWN THE RIGHT DATE THAT IS DIFFICULT!!!
P.S. For the women who may be wondering ⌠we ordered pizza at the brunch, and with the potluck dishes everyone brought, we had more than enough to eat. We had fun and a lot of teasing of guess who. And the bridge game? Rescheduled and written on the calendar.
Thanks, Joan and Jim. Iâm still waiting for one from you. I know you have âmoments.â Send them to me at greengeezer9@comcast.net. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sammy
