Around the Town

Hildy Shields has been a busy lady. Her daughter came for a visit from Spain and her brother was here from El Paso, Texas. Hildy hosted two parties. One in her home for friends and one at Borsalinos for her friends in the bridge club. Both parties were in honor of Patrick, her late husband.

Suzanne Donlan and her husband were at the helm for a "Rain Pool Party" to celebrate the coming of the rainy season. Only trick is you have to be the closest to guessing the date the first rain will start..

The Garden Guild made a donation to a favorite charity of Norris and Nancy Price in honor of Nancy, who was a past president of the Guild.

Some complaints about the long lines for food at the Canadian/American/Mexican holiday bash at the Chapala Society. Seems like a chairperson has to do something once to know how to improve it next time around. Sandra Loridans and her crew faced with an unexpected over-flow crowd did a fine job for their first time around. Sandra is well aware of the trouble spots and plans to make vast improvements in several areas should she run things next year. Sometimes being a volunteer is a thankless job when the gripes are first thing on the list and deserved praise is given grudgingly or not at all. Maybe we ought to have a "Salute our Volunteers," party. Without them, nothing much gets moving. .

Debbie Barton doing the Tonala three step when guests were in town. Her company couldn't get enough and visited the place where visitors like to roam three times in a week to shop till they dropped.

Who was that gorilla? Turned out it was Bob Hocking in a gorilla suit complete with banana. No, it wasn't his Sunday best; he was attending a costume party given by Mardy Anderson, Helane Carver, and Winnie Waddell in the home of Margo Thomas., It was a great party rubbing elbows with sheikhs (no camel) harem girls, Superman, Sultans, a drum majorette (left her baton at home), Alcatraz escapees, and Raggedy Anne, just to name a few. The musicians, although only three pieces, made it sound like a big band. Even the children dancing to the beat on the roof next door enjoyed the party from afar.

It wasn't Ascot Downs, but close to it as the ladies turned out in their garden party frocks complete with hats to honor the Queen Mum on her 100th birthday. The gents did not wear bowlers, but they were all "suit"-ably attired. Queen Elizabeth sent a picture of the grand old lady and a letter. The picture was blown up and sat beside the birthday cake. Finger sandwiches, scones with butter and jam were on hand as well as coffee and tea. The light rain caused things to be moved around, but didn't dampen anyone's spirits.