An Unsual Evening

At least it was for us. We attended the Summer Kickoff dinner at our resort. It was, in essence, a normal happy hour--drinks and loud music--with a hamburger or hot dog, chips, a slice of watermelon and a cookie thrown in.

If you know us very well, you know we aren't often interested in parties and music so loud you have to shout at the person right next to you is an even greater irritant. Because John wears hearing aides, any situation with lots of people or other background noise makes communication impossible. But, the food was free!

Since summer is coming to Arizona, most of the resort residents have already headed north, but about 200 came to the party.

I mentioned happy hours. During the winter season, there is live music for happy hour in the resort two or three times a week. Those who attend can have two free drinks--if they wear their name tags. There is also popcorn available. We have never attended, but often they are held outdoors, one street over from our house, so we hear and see them. Many of the residents do attend and love to dance to the music. They did the same at the Friday dinner.

We did enjoy talking--or shouting--at the others seated at our table. The couple on my left are from Holland. Every year they come to the United States, pick up their RV, which they store in Texas, and travel the country. I enjoyed talking to Hilde about their life.

On John's right were Otis and Tina, two long-term residents of the resort. We will see them again.

There was another couple on the far side of the table, but we weren't able to hear each other and so we didn't try much.