Again this year the fall luncheon was held at Friendship Village. Twenty-two members and three guests enjoyed a nicely served lunch and chit chat with fellow retirees. After lunch had been eaten we had a very nice musical program given by Russ Schmidt on piano and vocalist Vicki McDermitt. The program featured songs by Cole Porter and the Gershwin brothers including: Can’t Take That Away From Me, It’s Alright With Me, Embraceable You, Don’t Fence Me In, Summer Time, Not For Me, Someone To Watch Over Me, and ending with Our Love Is Here To Stay.

Not only did Vicki sing she also supplied us with little snippets of information about the songs. For example while Cole Porter is credited with writing Don’t Fence Me In; he actually got the words from a poem written by a highway worker who gave Cole the poem while Cole was on a trip out west. Cole was willing to give credit but the publishing company refused thinking it would put a blemish on Cole’s reputation. Vicki pointed out the enduring quality of the songs; they all over 70 years old and yet most members of the audience recognized them.

Story and pictures by Barry McNeill