About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Lunch Bunch does Chicago

(Our host for this week's Fun Monday is IamwhoIam at Dungarees Ablaze . She wants to hear about a favorite birthday celebration. It can be one of our own or one we planned, attended, crashed--you get the idea. So, for this assignment, I'll tell you a "twofer" tale.)



The stretch limo was flashing this ungodly hour when the driver carefully pulled up in my little cul de sac in early January '06. The limo had been hired by my good friends, the Lunch Bunch, to take us to the airport for a weekend celebration for me in Chicago. In the past couple of months, I had turned 60 and retired from the company where all of us worked together for almost 20 years.

Limo aside: if you haven't been to a prom or other fancy do in the last few years, let me tell you, stretch travel is highly overrated--especially for women of a certain age. I had to crawl on my knees to reach the other five members of the Lunch Bunch in the back of the limo. Luckily I had learned from Brittany that you really must wear underwear before mounting or dismounting a limo, but it was still a challenge. And then there's the champagne in a plastic glass. At that time of the morning I would have been happier with a Starbucks tall, extra cream. The thought was very much appreciated, though.

With the assistance of our able limo driver we were in the air and landed in Chicago before early morning traffic even settled down. Our hotel was in downtown Chicago handy to the best shopping. We got into our rooms and then headed to the nearest multi-story shopping center. We all found things to buy that we wouldn't consider in Louisville, especially with a little egging on from others in the group. Most notably, Sally and Linda found themselves in a foundation shop in the hands--quite literally--of a French fitter. Their "girls" had never looked prouder than they did on leaving that store! We were all excited to go through L'Occitane trying all the lotions and potions of Provence since we were still waiting for this store in Louisville. We all sat on a bench outside the store and sent all six of our Lunch Bunch group back in individually under the pretext of learning how to pronounce "L'Occitane" properly. And, by the way could we have samples for six people?


We had a memorable brunch in the elegant Drake Hotel. This sparkling floral display was in the lobby, hanging on from holiday decorations, I suppose. As I'm writing this, can't remember that we did anything in particular except shop, laugh, and enjoy each others company. I may have been the honoree, but that doesn't mean I got to go to concerts, museums, or art galleries. The mission was to hang out with a group of good friends. It was a pretty good plan.

I hope each of you are fortunate to have a few good friends who are always there to see you through the times of celebration and sadness that come to us all. I know I'm fortunate to have the Lunch Bunch. Now head over to Dungarees Ablaze to find out how the other half celebrates birthdays.

18 comments:

SwampAngel65 said...

Wow, that sounds like so much fun! I'm with you...give me a SBUX instead of champange in the morning! It's great you have such fun friends. Such a cool adventure. (BTW, I "think" it's pronounced L'OX EH TAIN??? Am I right?)

Have a great week!

IamwhoIam said...

Good Friends are the Best - it doesn't even matter what you do just haveing them is the BEST.
Thanks for sharing

Swampwitch said...

Oh, my goodness. I had a Lunch Bunch when I lived in Oklahoma. Nothing like having a group of friends like that. Everyone needs friends like that.

http://anecdotes.typepad.com

karisma said...

Oh that is the best sort of fun! I also had such a trip this year but added that to the bottom of my post as its a bit long to read for Fun Monday.

I hear you on the limo ride problems. Last time I rode in one I had a very huge dress on and found it rather difficult to climb in and out!

I love the name Lunch Bunch! Sounds like a very fun group of girls!

Hootin Anni said...

Ummmmmmmmmmm, my next question is: Did YOU have on underwear? [kidding!!]

A Slice of My Life said...

What a great celebration! Nothing better than hanging out with your girlfriends in a fun place.

Sayre said...

That sounds like an absolutely FABULOUS birthday! I'd love to have one like that sometime, but I'll make sure to ask for Starbucks rather than champagne!

Heather said...

It sounds like a wonderful and memroable birthday. You indeed are so lucky to have such caring friends. And lucky too that you know how lucky you are!

storyteller said...

I love the limo aside and totally relate to preferring Starbucks with extra cream to champagne in the morning, but what a delightful idea for celebrating with friends. There's really nothing like 'laughing' and hanging out together. Your ‘lunch bunch’ reminds me of my ‘retired gals’ group … and you’re right … a few good friends are precious indeed. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs and blessings,

Hula Girl at Heart said...

What a great birthday! Sounds like fun.l

Molly said...

Brunch at the Drake does sound fabulous. 60 has been one of my favorite ages.

Jo Beaufoix said...

Well that sounds like a perfect day to me. They sound like a lovely bunch. And I'm glad you took Britney's advice, snort. ;)

ChrisB said...

I'll remember the 'Brittany' reference if I'm ever (un)lucky enough to travel in a limo! LOl

Irish Coffeehouse said...

Oh I'm about to start dripping with envy. How positively awesome!

Keith said...

Your share was delightful. Thank you

Alison said...

what a wonderful celebration and a wonderful bunch of friends.

KittyHawk said...

Low Octane.


(heh heh heh)

Lane Mathias said...

This really made me smile Faye. Thank goodness for Brittany and her Limo etiquette eh?

What a great trip. I love the idea of all you girls going in for samples on the pretense of pronuncation:-)