This was one busy week. Along with completing a variety of Community Association tasks and packing, we hosted two big birthday parties – one on Sunday for family and friends, some from as far away as Tucson and Sarasota, and Thursday, for my aerobics classes. 140 guests at two fabulous venues, both with outstanding food and amazing waitstaff. Vanzant’s hosted us Sunday and the Beirut at the Tyrone Train Depot yesterday.

With family and friends coming from out of town, we put on an Italian dinner at the house Saturday evening. 23 people in the house warmed things up and brought memories of visiting our folks in the past. As you can see, the master chef had lots of help in the kitchen.

The party Sunday began at 4:00 PM and late in the Happy Hour, we all watched a 30 minute video on Fran’s 80 years. Unlike previous travels and blogs, I forgot to take photos of the three different meal selections offered but the cuisine was wonderful, everyone loved the video and we had a great time.

The party on Thursday took place in an old train depot, superbly rigged out for functions like ours or for weddings or any other festive event. The Beirut, a Lebanese restaurant well-respected in this area, catered the event. There was a beautiful buffet table set out in a red caboose adjacent to the banquet room. The table was loaded with tons of food. Most of us took “to-go” bags home for our supper meal and there were still leftovers! Once again, we blew the photo op!

After all of us made it through the buffet line and were settled at our tables, we showed the 30 minute video of Fran’s 80 years. That video includes several hundred photos, and video clips of some activities. Speeches for both events stayed short but emphasized how important our friendships are. Of course, with 80 people in the two aerobics classes, a lot of people in our neighborhood stay pretty darn healthy. I (Jim) would be remiss if I didn’t add that those folk know Fran cares about each one of them. Some even report that their physicians are aware of and attribute their patients’ health to her classes.

Speaking of aerobics classes, we were all back at it this morning, perhaps with even a few more people than usual exercising. Fran was on fire – had to be a combination of the two events showing the love, the fact that she is bugging out to Italy tomorrow and another major accomplish. She had asked that in lieu of presents of any type, would her friends consider donating to PAWS Atlanta, the no-kill animal shelter she champions. At this point, here friends and family have donated $6,000 to PAWS! It was not a killer hour but it was very active. Laughing, clapping, singing along – just one healthy, happy crowd.

And then there is the 10:00 class. Chairobics, using gentle movements and focusing on balance, circulation and strength exercises. They have some weird people in that group!

No embellishing to this post. We gotta finish packing, double-checking everything and do a walk-about the house. Electronics to unplug, heating/cooling system to set to vacation, and on and on. Probably be two or three days before you hear from me again and that’ll be from Tuscana, Italia! Ciao (ya’ll)