Keeping My Resolution

My resolution was to play more pickleball. I played 4 times last week and played this afternoon so the resolution is lookin' good. Of course, we're only into the second week of the new year. :-)

Tuesday night, Arne and I were treated to an "Up Close and Personal" show at Katie Belle's with The Crystals. Our friends, Roger and Nancy, invited us to join them. The Crystals were popular in the early 60's for songs such as "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me" and "He's a Rebel." Only the gal in the middle is one of the originals. She started singing at age 15. The Crystals were preceded by 45 minutes of Rocky and the Rollers, a VERY popular group in The Villages. About 400 Villagers, including 24 from our Village, are joining Rocky on a Caribbean cruise the first week in February. It sounded like fun but it's on Oasis of the Seas, over 6000 passengers, which sounded bigger than we'd like. We'll see how it goes and maybe join them next year.

Thursday night, I led our book club discussion of "The Help." It's an excellent book. As someone who grew up in the Midwest, the novel gave me insights into southern life where many white women had black help who raised their children.

Yesterday, Arne and I attended a breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King. Our neighbors, Dr. Lew and Barbara Jones, were the hosts as Dr. Jones is president of the MLK Commemorative Committee. Three young people were awarded scholarships, including a 16-year-old girl who just completed her first semester at University of Florida with straight A's. She graduated from The Villages Charter High School with a 4.7. The guest speaker was Val Demings, the first woman, also black, to be Chief of Police of Orlando. Her husband is Sheriff of Orange county. Quite a couple!

Basketball started up again after a month off for holidays. Talk is on the National Senior Games to be played in June in Houston. We're looking at fielding a team. Will see.