UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Brunch
Sunday, May 3, 2025, 10:00 am, Linda Lucas’ house, Merced
Check out the Programs page for a schedule of other upcoming events!
APRIL/MAY MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
I like to think of “seasons of our life” in terms of “seasons of the year”. Springtime surely equates to childhood and especially our teenage years. Springtime with its rains, hail, and snow – its strong winds, lightning, and thunder – and sometimes its floods, landslides, and tornadoes can be a handful – just like impetuous teenagers. In July at our annual planning session, we picked March 29th for the date of our Yosemite trip. Kathleen Hull and I assured the group that March 29th would be a lovely day for the trip. Springtime in Yosemite! The waterfalls! So, the date was set in cement on our calendars. Then March arrived. A landslide closed Highway 140 in both directions. (CalTrans was trying to get the road open, but YARTS was doubtful.) Snow was predicted for the day before and the four days immediately following March 29th. It was supposed to be a low of 26 degrees and a high of 45 in Yosemite Valley that day. And still we decided to take our chances. Funny thing about teenagers, when you’ve just about had as much as you can take from them, they turn around and are absolute sweethearts. And so it was on March 29th. The road opened, the red bud trees were in full bloom against a background of emerald green grasses and newly sprouted tree leaves. The waterfalls were running at full tilt (with unnamed smaller waterfalls here and there). Half Dome was snowcapped. It was delightfully cool – not cold – not icy. The sun shone all day long. Kathleen delighted us with walking tours that highlighted some hidden gems in Yosemite Valley. We proudly showed first-time visitor, Mona Kowalczyk, the sights. Kenra Bragonier explained her (and Don’s) role in restoring the Valley facilities following devastating floods and Dena Traina explained her role in the complicated engineering and installation of Yosemite Valley’s wastewater system. (To quote Kenra, “Say a special thanks to Dena each time you flush a toilet in Yosemite!”) We shared stories and laughs, meals and drinks, and some unexpected discoveries. The day couldn’t have been better!
And true to form, “teenage Springtime” made yet another turn. After our glorious day of sunshine, it snowed the next 4 days in Yosemite Village. Looking ahead – mark your calendars for:
• our SPRING BRUNCH
• in Linda Lucas’ lovely garden
• 2501 St. Augustine Ct.
• Saturday, May 3rd
• 10am to noon
We’ll enjoy brunch and coffee with friends, book reviews, a table talk, and the installation of next year’s officers. Come join in the fun and cheer next year’s president, Sharon Spinardi, as she assumes the mantel!
It’s been a joy serving as your president this year! Many thanks for your support!__________________________________________________________________________________________