Las Madres '80 East
FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER

Valentine Day kids

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
1st     Kacey Roessler Sunseri
3rd    Walt Wilson
10th   Shirley D'Agosta
14th   Jim Cuneo
22nd   Cortney Corral Morris
29th   Mathew Hennig






COMING EVENTS
Month of February
Saturday Coffees

9 am
LeBou at San Felipe/Yerba Buena
Contact: Vicki
February 6
Happy Hour
4-6 pm
Ciano's
RSVP: Vicki
February 15
Coffee Field Trip

9:00 am
Flower Flour
Contact: Vicki
February 20
Movie Meeting
6:00pm (dinner), 7:30pm (movie)
Oakridge
RSVP: Sue Butler
March 29
Beach Blanket Babylon
6:30pm

Contact: Shirley
July 20 - August 3
Pinecrest


February Meeting
When: Thursday, February 20, TBA
Where: Oakridge
What: Movie - Labor Day


Sue Butler has volunteered, once again, to be our hostess for the February meeting.  We'll be meeting in the Oakridge Food Court at about 6:00pm for dinner, movie begins at 7:30pm.  RSVP to
Sue Butler if you will be joining the fun.



January Meeting Update & Calendar

Thank you, Sue Butler, for hosting our annual planning meeting this year.

          Las Madres 2014 Calendar

January meeting summary from Sally:  "Sue Butler welcomed 9 intrepid souls for the annual planning meeting and white elephant exchange.  Sue cooked!!  She looked up a soup recipe on the internet and made beef barley soup that was declared yummy. The gift exchange yielded a nice cheese board that ended up with Marti. We all fit at one table and planning has never gone this quickly and easily. We all appreciate Vicki's offer to do something floral with us in November and Merilee to host the December holiday dinner.  Thank you to all for volunteering to chair a meeting. Spring and fall trips were planned. Next, next April, 2015, the spring trip can be to our remodeled house in San Luis Obispo!"
There were many requests for Sally's appetizer recipe, cheese puffs, from a recent Mercury News food section. 
(Editor's note:  It will be added to the appetizer section of our website soon.)

February 20:        Meeting hostess - Sue Butler     Activity - movie

March 20:            Meeting hostess - Shirley           Activity
- try a new restaurant
March 29:            Beach Blanket Babylon
                       
April 17:               Meeting hostess - Sue Ballard    Activity
- game night     
April 12:               Couples 8-ball at the Gomezes
                      
May 15:                Meeting hostess - Merilee          
Activity - hike at the Villages
May 2-4:              Spring ladies trip to Kathy’s

June 19:              Meeting hostess - Marti              
Activity - drinks and snacks at sunset
June 7:               Couples Bunko at the Nevoli’s
June 6-8:            Los Padres Golf
June 15:              Dennise And Paul’s wedding reception at Lake Almaden

July 17:               Meeting hostess - Randi               Activity - summer salad potluck & walk on new trail?
July 20-Aug 3:   Pinecrest

August 21:          Meeting hostess - Tina                  A
ctivity - Mexican train probably and sundaes?
August 23:          Bocce at St. Francis
                            
September 25:   Meeting hostess - Wanda            A
ctivity - TBA
September 20:   New Brighton Beach Breakfast (Camping September 19-21)
TBA:                    Fall ladies trip to Janis’s

October 16:        Meeting hostess - Robin              
Activity - TBA      

November 20:    Meeting hostess - Vicki                Activity - holiday arrangement

December 18:    Meeting hostess - Merrilee          Activity - holiday dinner and gift exchange



Happy Hour.....Vicki

February Happy Hour

Ciano's:  280 E Campbell Ave.  4-6.  Meet at Sally's at 3:15 to carpool.  Free parking next to water tower.
RSVP to
Vicki so we know to wait for you.

http://cianosmodernlatin.com




Condolences

Our condolences to Sharon Simmons & her family on the recent passing of her father.


Thank you to everyone, 

"Never are we more aware of how much friends mean than at the time of bereavement."

Thank you for your cards and emails, they are beautiful !!
It means so much to me that you took time to think of me
and send your kindest thoughts and prayers after my dad's passing.
Sharon



Beach Blanket Babylon
.....Shirley

    The date for this activity will be March 29th, 6:30.  At this time there are 16 people (D'Agostas, Brooks-Schulkes, Gerligers,
Heinrichsens, Kranaks, Roesslers, Nevolis and Butlers) going, which is not enough for group rates, so everyone needs to order their own tickets.  After looking at the web-site which has views of the stage from the different open seating areas, I felt that the Front Cabaret area looked the best of the open seating areas.  It is $59, so if you'd like to join the group, make your reservations.  (NOTE:  There is a service fee also.)  Good to be there at 5:30 when the theater opens if we want to sit together/close by.  Small tables.  The show is over at 8 PM. We will get some input on places for dinner.
For reservations, 415-421-4222 or beachblanketbabylon.com

Just some things to know:
CASH only beer and wine there
Parking: 3 lots on Green St
2 valet parking lots on Powell
2 garages on Vallejo
(NOTE:  Info for parking also on the BBB & SF Parking websites)




Pinecrest.....Shirley

Hopefully you've made your reservations already!  We have decided on dates of July 20th to August 3rd.  Most of us will go around the 24th-26th time, but the Nevolis usually make it the whole 2 weeks.



New Brighton Camping & Beach Breakfast.....Sue Butler

New Brighton annual camping trip on the weekend of September 19-21, you need to go online on March 1, 2014 for sites.

The Butler's will be getting a group site, so those that are tent camping and would like to be included, you don't need to get your own site on March 1st.  DON'T CALL..
Let me know if you are interested in being included on the group site. 
I already have Sue Ballard on the list.

Also, we will be doing the beach breakfast again on that Saturday, September 20th.  Details to follow.




Saturday Coffee Clatches Continue
We meet every Saturday morning at 9 am at Le Boulanger at San Felipe and Yerba Buena.  There is a Starbucks across from it if you need something "special" to go with your bagel or pastry.  Vicki has graciously volunteered to be our new Coffee Coordinator!

We will be continuing away coffee on the 3rd Sat of the month during 2014. Here are some new places for the first part of the year. Hope to see more of you at our coffee adventures this year. Look for a carpool email a day or so before the event.

February 15: Flower Flour, 896 Willow St. (west of Bird Ave) 
http://flower-flour.com/

March 15: HannaH Coffee, 754 The Alameda (between Bush & Wilson) 
http://hannahbakedthis.com/  
https://www.facebook.com/HannaHCoffee 

April 19 (day before Easter): Cafe Legato, 5663 Snell Ave (close to Blossom Hill)
http://www.cafelegato.com/  
https://www.facebook.com/CAFELEGATOLLC


e-Mail Tidbit
a

The Cab Ride

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.
After waiting a few minutes, I walked to the door and knocked.
'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice.
I could hear something being dragged across the floor..

After a long pause, the door opened.  
A small woman in her 90's stood before me.  
She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it,
like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase.
The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years.
All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.
In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said.
I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness.
'It's nothing', I told her.
'I just try to treat my passengers
the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked,
'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 
'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.'

I looked in the rear-view mirror.  
Her eyes were glistening.
'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice.
'The doctor says I don't have very long.'
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
She showed me the building where she had once worked
as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she
and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds.
She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse
that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building
or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
It was a low building, like a small convalescent home,
with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.
They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.
The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked,
reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.  
She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.
'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand,
and then walked into the dim morning light.
Behind me, a door shut.
It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift.
I drove aimlessly lost in thought.
For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.
What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,
or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run,  
or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review,
I don't think that I have done anything
more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives
revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-
beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.


PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID,
OR WHAT YOU SAID.....BUT.....
THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.


Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we are here, we might as well dance.




Valentine candy
FEBRUARY WEBSITE

Fun Valentine Candy Facts
http://candy.about.com/od/thecandyindustry/a/vday_trivia.htm

Trivia and history of Valentine's Day candy.



CLUB OFFICERS
President -
Sally Brooks-Schulke
Treasurer - Sue Ballard
Newsletter & Webmaster - Ginny Gomez
Coffee & Happy Hour Coordinator - Vicki Rasmussen
Executive Committee - Randi Heinrichsen,
Merrilee Claverie, and Tina Cuneo