Cactus Corners

We all celebrated New Year’s with a bang, those who could stay awake long enough to hit midnight. Everyone struggled to stay up past their bed time, and then we toasted in the New Year, did a few belt buckle polishers, and spread the hugs and hand shakes around for a half an hour. The noise makers were at the right level. You can’t imagine how many people reminded me how John Epler would go on with the noise makers forever. We still wish he and Rosie had been with us.

It was wonderful to have Lea Perez join us on New Year’s Eve. We don’t get to see her nearly enough these days. Great to see you Lea!!!! You will always be a part of the Cactus Corners family.

Charyle Hartje won Gary’s “Identify the CW singer” contest, mainly because Charyle was the only one that got Darryl Worley right. Gary told us that Darryl’s picture came directly out of Playgirl Magazine. Darryl wore a towel. Does that mean Charyle subscribes to Playgirl? And GARY??? If Debbie K had been there, she would have guessed Darryl. Many of us can reminisce about our trip to the Grand Old Opry in Nashville. We were sitting in the seventh row. The singers were almost on top of us. Darryl Worley came out and Debbie K took out her binoculars. What for, Debbie?

We had our traditional pass the cow two-step dance contest. Dave Peterson and Yvonne Banchero were the winners. Yvonne was in this to WIN. She ran across the dance floor, passing that cow around with vigor. I think the 49ers should talk to Yvonne about some of her moves. However, Illegal Use of the Hands is a 15 yard penalty. Yvonne would have been penalized at least 45 yards during that contest. Dave wasn’t a slacker either. I think he dropped a couple of pounds passing that cow around. And then there was that dessert table. Oh well.

There were some very kind words of thanks towards the three outgoing Board Members, Barbara, Bonnie, and Phil. And thanks were given to everyone that brought the desserts that are causing everyone to wear pants with elastic waistbands for a month. But it’s time that we single out one person for 15 years worth of adding delicious cellulite to our backsides. One person has donated 3864 raisins, 12,234 chocolate chips, 50 pounds of walnuts, tons of secret ingredients, and at least 400 hours of her valuable time. Thank you LEE PISCHKE. No one in the world makes chocolate chip cookies like you do. Do you ever have one with a brown bottom? Every one of them is perfect. They must be fantastic if people are paying $30 a dozen at our silent auction. (We hid ours from our children and grandchildren. Share??? Not a chance.) Thank you Carl for staying out of Lee’s way and providing some of the considerable financial support.

And then we owe some year-end thanks to Penny for bringing a fantastic dessert to just about every dance, and not just the Cactus Corners dances.

You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends. There are quite a few good choices at all of our dances.

Lets go for another great year in 2008.

This will be my parting shot at the Dance Reminder. Penny will get the Reminder done in the future. Penny took over Rosie’s job of supervising Phil, so she has a full year of experience.

Everyone was well-behaved, with no errant behavior on the dance floor. Of course Carl and Lee are on a motor trip to Alaska. Everyone looked pretty good, but we have missed John and Cindy, always dressed up like the cover of the Sheplers Catalog (seniors edition). They are back from their Europe trip and will grace us with their presence this Satuday night. John is still in good health, as I was pretty sure he was going to get into a political discussion with someone in France.

It was good to see John and Rosie at the dance, as they came up from their brand new Arizona home to visit family and friends. Yes, we are all part of that family. We miss them. Needless to say, I have been on my toes with Rosie in town. I’m getting nagged about my Reminder by both Penny and Sallie. Our ex-Pres keeps me on my toes with everything. (I’m not denying that I need help. CRS, you know.)

A bunch of us were reminiscing about the Prop Dances that we have had in the past. Actually, most everyone brought the props to ALL of the dances. Don’t you remember Karen leading everyone in SPLISH SPLASH, carrying a rubber duckie, shower scrubber, and towel and wearing a shower cap. NEW YORK, NEW YORK was absolutely fantastic. With top hat and cane, I remember being the only thorn among the roses in the front row. None of the other guys were willing to check their dignity at the door. But I got all the gals !!!!!

We’ve got our current props too, the SPIDER, the LIGHTS, and the………….My mind is blank. I’m still envisioning
Karen doing SPLISH SPLASH with all those props. And then during our Prop Era, yours truly attended a Halloween Dance as Karen’s twin sister. I wore all the props that were currently in season, along with a very fashionable ensemble, which unfortunately included a black skirt. My white leggings were a prefect match for Karen’s untanned legs. I took the liberty to give myself an “enhancement.”

Bonnie was disappointed that we missed the Twins and Triplets Dance. I’m not too sure that I could have worn that skirt again. Besides, who could have topped Laura and Julia. And the evening started out with a dance that they could do a conjoined twins.

Alway think YOUNG, and keep on dancing.