PHELANLAND PERSPECTIVE: February 2014

ONE SHOULD BE SO LUCKY AS TO HAVE FRIENDS SUCH AS THESE!!!!

Turning 65 is one of those milepost birthdays that some of us are lucky enough to reach. Having survived a 40th and 60th surprise party I was not really expecting anything special for my 65th.

I was told that I would be picked up at noon and would be gone for lunch and supper on our usual Tuesday bridge day, two days after my birthday. The only other hint I got was that we were going to have a fun day and I should dress kind of flowery. I have been the one to organize events for other bridge ladies with milepost birthdays so I was expecting maybe lunch out and a cake. Little did I know what an incredible day was in store for me.

Red Carpet Event #1 - Amazing Hippie Party at the Waterpark Condo Room

Well you can see my expression as I walked with embarrassment into the room. I was greeted by a sea of colour and at least 35 smiling faces singing "for she's a jolly good fellow."

Everyone was dressed in a plethora of colour, beads and scarves a la hippiedom......some of the ladies had been collecting from thrift stores and some squeezed into old attire. It was a delight to see my daughter Miranda among them with our new grandson Colby. Her presence was extra special because she was in Austalia and missed my 60th birthday party.

Check this link to see my arrival and the parade of outfits. Check out this link to see the ladies setting up for the party and mingling.

Miranda is wearing my blouse & a leather vest that my parents brought my sister back from Brazil in the 70's.

Check out the décor which was quite psychedelic, thanks to the incredible decorating efforts and hours of work by two talented sisters.

Susan Giesler spent hours making vibrant circle streamers, tissue flowers, tie dyed back drops, thematic displays of hippie clothes and books and table centre pieces. Yes, purple table cloths were in order.

Belinda Burt made some these wonderful five foot high hippie chalk drawings. Munchies anyone? They were posted on the windows.

Steph had organized and set up a gorgeous display of home made pot luck food which tasted as good as it looked. Check out the meal.

How nice that Bev was able to provide us with a helper to clean up and thanks to Lorraine for organizing the room in their condo. We dined by the pool so to speak.

Jean, one of our many teachers made a toast to me via an object lesson featuring cards, stained glass, vans, rings etc. She was too kind. I think we are both kids at heart I was presented with many other riches: a beautiful display of flowers (see link above) in a gorgeous orange glass vase; a card shuffler; a bag of over 60 cards from people in my many groups, all with lovely personal messages, some even home made; a photo cake organized by Helen Clough, lots of hugs and a substantial monetary gift which will be used for guess what? A ring of course to remind me of so many lovely friends!!! Can't have too many of either.

Jean toasts me with an object lesson and presents cash, a bag of cards and these gorgeous flowers. One was a Bird of Paradise which reminded me of a stained glass piece I recently made.

And then followed the piece de resistance. The ladies gathered round the piano to sing a song Shelley wrote as another toast to me. The song was called "Don't Worry, Play Bridge" and it was sung to the tune of "Don't Worry, Be Happy". It was hilarious!!!! I was thinking 'now what have I unleashed here?' You can tell that they had lots of practice sessions.

Asking Nanci seems to be one of the big themes of the song. We meet every Tuesday to play what we call Discussion Bridge. Every time someone has a problem they call me over for advice. Hopefully you'll find this song to be a great incentive to play bridge!!!

The above link will take you to a larger and clearer video of the ladies cheerful singing. You can also click below. The video picks up for the last third of the words copied below so feel free to sing along!!!

Thanks to Shelly for writing the song and sharing your playful era music with us during the party.

Don’t Worry, Play Bridge - by Shelley Trueman

(words in brackets in italics are spoken by one person after the sung line)

(Whistling): oo-ooo-ooo (don’t worry)

oo-ooo-ooo (be happy)

oo-ooo-ooo (don’t worry, be happy)

Repeat:

Here’s a little Song we wrote,

All about bridge so Please take note,

Don’t worry

Play bridge

In every hand we Have some trouble,

If in doubt You can double,

Don’t worry

Ask Nanci (don’t worry, ask Nanci)

oo-ooo-ooo (don’t worry)

oo-ooo-ooo (be happy)

oo-ooo-ooo (don’t worry, be happy)

oo-ooo-ooo (play bridge)

oo-ooo-ooo (ask Nanci)

oo-ooo-ooo (play bridge, ask Nanci)

Ain’t got no spades, ain’t Got no hearts

Got no partner to Bid her part

Don’t worry

Get a dummy (don’t worry, get a dummy)

Even if you’re a New bridge kid

You always gotta have a Second bid

She told you

She meant it (she told you, she meant it)

oo-ooo-ooo (have a problem?)

oo-ooo-ooo (call Nanci)

oo-ooo-ooo (need a visit, bring flowers)

oo-ooo-ooo (plan a party)

oo-ooo-ooo (stain the glass)

oo-ooo-ooo (make the coffee, do the dishes)

♣ ♥ ♦ ♣

Go to three, Pass or double,

You don’t know, then You’re in trouble.

Don’t worry

Ask Nanci (don’t worry, ask Nanci)

You need thirteen tricks for A grand slam

You only made twelve Oh! Damn

Play bridge

Be happy (play bridge, be happy)

oo-ooo-ooo (need to move?)

oo-ooo-ooo (want a ride?)

oo-ooo-ooo (call Nanci for her van)

oo-ooo-ooo (that’s our Nanci)

oo-ooo-ooo ( volunteer queen)

oo-ooo-ooo (we’re so lucky, she’s the best!)

Count your cards for a Major fit,

If you do, Nanci’s Eyes are lit

Don’t worry

Nanci’ll help you (Nanci will always help you!)

Down one, down two Three or four?

Am I in my hand or On the board?

Whatever

Play bridge (whatever, play bridge)

oo-ooo-ooo (play bridge)

oo-ooo-ooo (call Nanci)

oo-ooo-ooo (play bridge, call Nanci)

oo-ooo-ooo (don’t worry)

oo-ooo-ooo (be happy)

oo-ooo-ooo (we love you, O Nanci!)

So after that we had to actually play a little bridge. Check out the happy faces. For some reason my daughter left at this point.

Oh the memories. I loved all the hugs and happy faces. This was over and above expectations and I was humbled by their giving and joie de vivre. Well as you can see this alone would have been quite enough but there was more in store for the rest of the day.

Red Carpet Event #2 - Crazy Bridge Ladies and Friends take over the Princess Theatre for Private Showing of 'Mama Mia'

Next I was spirited away to the Princess Theatre where the entire place had been rented on my behalf. I had no idea where we were going or what the movie might be until it actually started... and what a great choice.... Mamma Mia!!! It doesn’t get more hippie than that or more happy. I was also delighted to see some new faces in the crowd, some people from Grand River Unitarian, my book club and my other daughter Amber with her boyfriend Matt.

Well we certainly took over the theatre and these crazy women went ape by dragging us down to the front to dance along with Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia. We were given boa’s to wave about and lots of laughter ensued. I might point out that when I was back to the Princess the next day, the manager of the theatre mentioned that they were a bit surprised to see the floor covered in feathers... they wondered what had been going on, had the group perhaps had a stripper in??

It was an uplifting entertaining good vibe feel good movie. What a great idea for a special celebration and a wonderful way to share our love of movies. Thanks to all those who attended that outing. It was so neat to be in a theatre surrounded by so many special friends. Laughing and dancing together... well it just couldn’t get better than that.... or could it?

Red Carpet Event #3 - Birthday Supper at the Bauer Kitchen

No not over yet. I was once again spirited away to the Bauer Kitchen for a delicious meal. And more surprises. Once again some new people from different walks who had not been at the other events were present. How thoughtful to have this evening party as well so those who worked or couldn’t make it to the other events could attend.

The staff were wonderful and efficient and it was a great ambiance. My steak was excellent and now I got to enjoy a glass of wine. Maike read another toast to me, an article she had tried to get published in the Record and I felt humbled and quietly thankful for such wonderful friends as these.

The ladies again entertained with their “Don’t Worry, Play Bridge, Be Happy, Ask Nanci” song. Now of course we had to have a second cake!!! Oh my this one was also very special as it was made to look like stained glass.... the top layer of fruit was encased in clear gelatin. It was delicious and once again I managed to not blow out all the candles in one breath – a true sign of getting old and not of how many boyfriends I have.

Of course I wasn’t allowed to leave empty handed, snow storm or not. Our car was full of flowers, balloons, left over cake, punch, art work, other presents (imagine someone thought to get me a card shuffler – have been trying to find one of those for years.) Thank you Alicja!!! I also had a huge bag of cards to open..... over 60 in that bag. What a joy to receive such personal remembrances. Thank you so much everyone. Your cards were each different and precious to me. Thanks for all your kind words and personal touches. I love each and every one of you and am so glad you are in my life.

And of course your gift of friendship is the very best gift of all. You are all such lovely people and isn’t this life’s greatest pleasure, seeing the richness in each other and sharing our joys and sorrows. I am still blown away by all the giving and a bit embarrassed by being in the limelight... your outpouring of love and generosity makes my cup runneth over!!! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Oh and I must add an Oscarian touch while I'm handing out thanks. My family also had a party for me the day before my birthday and we had ice cream cake, the world's best spaghetti made by my husband and I got to blow out the candles and open gifts with my four grandchildren. I am truly blessed.