Big Birthday for Jane Fennell

Hello, everyone! Has this not been the best July weather ever? I have really been making my friends and family in Southern California jealous. They are sweltering in unseasonable heat (like we usually are at this time) (like we were last month) and we are basking in beautiful mild days and cool nights (like they enjoy most of the time). I have really enjoyed it. Because I had the window open the last few nights, I even heard a hoot owl the other night. The first I have heard since the freeze.

Enough about the weather, the big news this week was a birthday party for Jane Fennell. Now that is one awesome lady! At Jane's request some of her close friends arranged for her to be brought to Rector to the community center to celebrate her 44th birthday. Between 1:00 and 3:00 Saturday afternoon friends from Rector and surrounding areas drifted in and out to share cake, ice cream and punch and every now and then a teensy little cry. She even got to talk to Jessica Earls from Florida. Another friend who has moved away, Sandra Roussel couldn't be here but she sends her best wishes.

Jane's daughter, Elizabeth (she is almost two now) was there, sitting on her mother's lap almost the whole time. It was so good to see them and to see them together. Jane still has a lot of work to do, but she has already made so much progress since her stroke two years ago, I have confidence that she will continue to improve. Besides, Amy (Holifield) Manchester is her physical therapist so we know we can expect the best.

In the mean time, with the exception of her uncooperative left side, she is the same old Jane. She still knows everyone's address who lived on her route and some others, she still jokes around and she remembers every single encouraging comment we have ever given her. And she still wants to go fishing. Anyway, Happy Birthday, Jane and thanks for letting us share it with you.

Rosie Hayes brought her mother, Ms Cleta Simmons up to see Jane as well. Rosie and her daughter Ashley Birch and Ashley's two children who were here from Nashville spent the weekend with Ms. Cleta. They were all enjoying the fine weather. Gracen and Whitt checked out the playground equipment at the Memorial Park and I believe found it to be satisfactory. That probably gave Ms. Rosie and Ashley their exercise for the day. Chasing after a two year old is a great cardio workout.

Ms Demitra Shultz has also been entertaining this past week, and she still is. She has been fussin' over her son Douglas just a little. He is sort of fussin' over her too. Douglas comes over from Springdale ever chance he gets to visit with his mom and sister, Terry.

Ms Demetra had other visitors as well. Her niece, Daphna Thompson and her husband David were driving from their home near Chattanooga TN to visit their son in Colorado and stopped by to see Aunt Demitra and cousin, Terry. It has been several years since they visited last and they all had a great time.

I got that report from Barbie Terry. You already know that her brother, Bo and his family were here over Father's Day. I think I mentioned everyone's name except Amy's. Sorry, Amy. You are much too lovely to have been so rudely omitted. My apologies.

Barbie says that Bo is coming back for Labor Day to play in the Rector Hall of Fame Golf Tourney with Mark Manchester. And, yes, Labor Day is already just around the corner. She says Brantley will be here too from Fort Polk. BK is still in Iraq and won't make it until October. We will all be ready to welcome him home by then. Until then we need to support the Dadbags program. BK and his buddies are really jazzed when they get packages from Rector. Thanks Mrs. Wimberly! And all the rest of you that care and help and keep Rector in the hearts of our soldiers and our soldiers in the hearts of Rectorites!

In case you have seen Barbie recently and noticed that she is a few shades darker, it is because she has been to Fort Walton Beach, Fl with Teah Jones, Mika Pellham, Ashley Mays and Christie Gurley from Kennett. Barbie says they were on the beach from 9-5 everyday. Sounds like they were really working on those tans. Barbie made a huge breakfast for them every day and they had lunch on the beach (no use wasting the sun time) then they had dinner at some really great places. Barbie's favorite was Baby J's, a boat restaurant on the pier. I can almost taste the seafood now. So good!

This past weekend Barbie, Ginger Sain and April Lindsey went to Little Rock to celebrate April's birthday a little early. They met Paulette Morris and her sister Connie for a surprise party at one of Connie's favorite restaurants Friday night. Saturday was devoted to poolside activities during the day, (don't want to let that tan fade) and a movie and dinner at PF Chang's. Sunday was brunch and then home. Ho hum! Maybe we all need to take some pointers from Barbie. All this sun and fun and food and friends just sounds too awesome!

By the way, when Jessica Earls called Saturday, she wanted to say Hi! To everyone. She misses us but I think she and Tillie are doing pretty good in FL.

Georgia Sallee, Nancy Kemp, Candy Hill, Paula Benton and moi went to see the stage play "Grease" at the Pocahontas Imperial Dinner Theater Sunday afternoon. It was such a lot of fun. Of course Georgia knows just about everyone there so we all feel pretty special sitting with her. What a wacky wonderful cast and staff they have there. The entertainment starts when you walk in the door. This time the motif was "diner" of course and who doesn't love those old fashioned waitress uniforms. So very flattering.

Then those "bad boys" in leather jackets kept cruising the room looking for trouble makers. Or maybe just looking for trouble?

As we were seated just in front of the stage we were honored to have the Rydell class president, Eugene Florczyk (Kelly Grooms) seated at our table before his introduction on the stage. Just a couple shades shy of looking dapper in his plaid sports coat and tortoise shell glasses, he had us laughing before anyone else in the house. It could have been that ah, charming? smile of his. And his snorting was hardly bothersome at all.

Oh, and then the most exciting part (for me, at least)! I got to dance with the star of the show. Yes Danny (Rick Rollings) just headed toward me like a moth to flame and I don't know how he even picked little ole me. I was just sitting there barely waving and screaming at all. I know he did stop at another table or two on his way to me but I am sure those were just for show. It was me he was after all along. It has been a while since I did the twist ("Like we did last summer," he said to me) in public, but then there I was in front of everyone twisting the night away. And he was pretty dreamy too in a Jimmy Smits sort of way. Sigh! Bigger sigh! Back in the day....... I really did go for those bad boys. Oh well........

I also want to remind you that the Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center in greater down town Rector now has two exercise classes a day Monday thru Friday. Advanced cardio, strength training and stretching is at 5:30 a.m. It lasts between 45 minutes and an hour. At 6:00 p.m. is a class designed more for beginners and intermediate exercisers. You can exercise on machines, go to exercise classes, life skills classes, take piano lessons and more are being added all the time. Thank you Jacinda! Go check it out everyone. It's fantastic!

Well, I have really prattled on today, haven't I. I had better go. I have to get my driver's license renewed today so I had better get a move on. Thanks to everyone who shared your goings on with me. I love hearing all your fun stuff. My address is 514 West 3rd St. Phone: (870) 595-3173 and email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net.

Keep all our soldiers in your prayers. Bye Now!!