Unit Happenings

Unit 27 activities

Sue Case

Fira Stout arranged for another unit Dine Around on Sept. 24, at Contigo Latin Kitchen, which is located within the grounds of the Westin La Paloma Resort. The diners were seated in a room that had library shelves of wine on one side and windows on the other—a very inspiring ambience for ordering the food. And the menu offered selections from Spain as well as various parts of Latin America, so there were plenty of options to choose from—all very colorful.

Melody and Jim Branstrom hosted the September Snack and Chat on Sept. 27. It was well-attended, and thanks to the good weather, attendees gathered both inside and out. In fact, at one point, so many folks chose the outside that some ate standing at the big outdoor BBQ. Those who did venture out were treated to the sight of a large male deer with a beautiful, big antler rack. It was clearly the highlight of the evening!

In addition to Dine Arounds, Fira also organizes bocce ball for the unit. She advises that the games will be held the second Thursday of every month through the winter and possibly longer. Look for announcements. She says no experience is necessary, and advice is free.

Also look for details about the Ladies Holiday Luncheon, to be held at Vivace on Friday, Dec. 6, and for the unit holiday party, to be held at the MountainView ballroom on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Every day’s a holiday at The Preserve

Ann Lange

Here in SaddleBrooke, some of us are starting to function like old corroded cogs in the mind machine—forgetting to reprogram our “rememberer” to rewind our timer to reset our recall button to recalibrate our auto-switch to rejuvenate our brain cells to re-sync our social life with a calendar so that we can keep track of which holiday is coming next. Never fear, the SaddleBrooke Homeland Senility Program (under the direction of Social Chair Bonnie “Bar-a-zany”) has the perfect solution: a mish-mash, merry-making, all-holiday season. Bonnie’s invitation to come bangled, jangled, and spangled dressed as a favorite holiday left us wondering if her mind had gone on holiday and whether the men in white coats who come and take you away make house calls on holidays.

On Oct. 20, the Preserve (Units 42, 43, and 45) met at their old boot scootin’ stomping grounds at the MountainView ballroom for a dinner and dance to welcome the snowbirds back home to our local version of Dizzney Land and for a little pre-holiday madness. The five o’clock festivities started with a round of holiday cheer of some season or another as we uncorked the holiday spirit. Eighty slightly glazed and holidazed partiers sat around ten tables, each with a different holiday-themed centerpiece. The season’s eatings were salad and warm rolls, followed by a choice of New York petite steak with red wine demi glaze and herb-roasted potatoes or salmon filet with lemon beurre blanc and rice pilaf. The grand finale, a chocolate cake tower with Chantilly whipped cream and strawberry coulis, was dazzling enough to top a holiday tree.

As if we weren’t already confused enough from all the holiday hijinks, havoc, and hokum going on, we thought we were suffering some serious holiday hallucinations when Santa, confused and calendar-challenged himself, flew in with the snowbirds! His snow globe moment must be due to age, combined with the cerebral side effects of global warming, culminating in brain-freeze. But, despite the recent tariffs on the North Pole, he arrived with a huge bag of special gifts for some special people. Walt and Tiggy Shields opened a hiking kit containing everything ever needed to find their way back home. Tim Morsani, often seen wearing earphones as he walks and talks rehearsing for the next SaddleBrooke Community Circle Players production, received a pedometer so he won’t walk far enough to get lost. New residents Paulette Kasperski and Patty Stark, who are involved in every activity and club possible, unwrapped calendars to help them be at the right place at the right time. And Mark Weisel got a spare pair of glasses to glue to his nose, since he can never find his and keeps walking off with glasses that don’t belong to him. Confused, yes, but like a true Preserve resident, he can always find his wine glasses.

But the best gift of all was local Tucson entertainer Chuck Moses returning to sing all of our favorite songs. Chuck has become like family, and we were honored to have his wife, Lisa, share the evening with us as well. Whether it was a girls’ dance, line dance, couples’ dance, or western dance, Chuck’s music had us out on the floor dancing like old crazy folks in the middle of a swarm of bees. Those who remembered to recharge their hearing aid batteries enjoyed songs like “Old Timer Rock ‘N Roll,” “Hang on Droopy,” “Rhythm of the Pain,” and “Whole Lotta Breakin’ Going On.” We just can’t get enough of Chuck Moses, and he obliged us when we begged for more, even in the hours well past our bedtime.

Every day is a holiday, a special day, and a day to be celebrated and thankful for at the Preserve. But living the good life is tough. Since the weekend lasts at least seven days a week with hardly ever a day for rest, we never really know what day it is, and we run around acting nuttier than fruitcakes. All we know for sure is that we love each other eight days a week, and that around here, fruitcakes are always in season.

Unit 48 news – brunch at Loews Ventana Canyon

Madelaine Salas

Is there actually such a thing as too many food choices? Well, Unit 48 decided to scientifically investigate this question at Loews Ventana Canyon Blues, Brews, and BBQ Sunday brunch. If you’ve never attended this brunch, you should know that it consistently ranks in the top five Sunday brunches in Tucson. With the great food and gorgeous mountain and desert vistas, it’s easy to understand why.

Twenty-seven of us Unit 48 residents ventured over on Oct. 13 to test our food choice theories. We started off with mimosas, champagne and bloody Mary’s then proceeded on to the main event. The large outdoor area is where all the grilling takes place. Choosing from salmon, pork, chicken, ribs, Sonoran hot dogs, and various other grilled meats was no problem for our group. We moved onto the grilled vegetables and fruits, which were sublime! Then, we made our way inside to the made-to-order omelet and frittata station where all the accompaniments were also arranged, including sushi, cocktail shrimp, and oysters on the half-shell—oh my. Once one of us discovered that this is where the cinnamon roll baked in a cast iron skillet was located, many of us followed and did some damage to that presentation. The desserts were all laid out as you enter the dining room so that one can decide what is worth holding back for before making the initial plunge—very thoughtful.

So, in conclusion, judging from the satisfied customers of Unit 48, the empirical evidence shows that no, no, and no. There is no such thing as too many food choices. There was something for everyone and then some!

Life is great in 48!