Heritage Palms - December 2023 by Seabreeze Communications

Between The Palms

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Tennis Event

By Lillyanna Peniza lpeniza59@gmail.com

On Saturday September 23, the HPTA and HPPA invited Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Sun Coast to the 7th annual HP/BBBS Tennis/Pickleball event. The kids and their mentors, along with HP volunteers, got the chance to play tennis and pickleball under the instruction of HP’s pros. The day was capped off with a pizza party, treats, beverages, and a raffle, which included tennis rackets, pickleball paddles, and balls donated by HPTA and HPPA members. HP staff made the event fun for the kids, with beginner level instruction and a skills competition.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Tennis Event on page 2

Event participants.

Thanks for Your Support

By Rich Jenkins, Commander, HPVA richjenkins43@gmail.com

Photos by Jane Breisch, Editor

The HPVA Board thanks all of you who supported us by participating in our 8th Annual fund-raising golf tournament on October 29. Support was provided by, not only the 228

who played, but also from those who purchased golf balls for the helicopter drop; who sponsored holes by purchasing signs either in memory of a Veteran or for advertisement; who volunteered their services; Bob Kelly, our Pro Shop and bag staff personnel; Larry German and the wait staff; Jane Breisch for photos; and to anyone I may have failed to mention. Without everyone’s efforts we would not have

Halloween Shenanigans

By Clark Broden, Clarkbroden@gmail.com

A couple of ghosts, a pumpkin, a King and Queen, Three Blind Mice, Spider-Man, the Lone Ranger, a Gangster, and a Flapper or two were among the great looking costumes worn by the 85 fun-loving members at the annual Halloween Party held in the Palms Dining Room October 31.

They were treated to a bountiful buffet consisting of three entrees and an array of delectable desserts. The revelers enjoyed dancing to the music of Mirage.

been able to donate $10,000 to PGA Hope. We presented a check to them during our post tournament luncheon and silent auction. For information about PGA Hope, and why

Thanks for Your Support on page 2

Halloween Shenanigans on page 3

L-R: Lillyanna Peniza and Jamie Unger.

L-R: Crispen (HP junior) and Jadon (little brother).

L-R: Rae (little sister) and Janda (big sister)

L-R: Adalynn and Sofia (HP juniors).

4-year-old Nova (employee grandchild).

Erica (little sister).

Darnell (little brother).

Check presentation to PGA Hope (L-R): Paul O’Connell, Bill Brophy, Steve Waugh (of PGA Hope), Rich & Barb Jenkins, Kathy & Steve Hall, Mike Brake, and Roger Moyer.

L-R: David & Chris Grusczynski, and Dawn & Steven Vanderhill.

L-R: Karen & Gary Buckler, and Stan & Mary Pat Urbanik.

L-R: Julia & John Whitney, Melissa Scully, and Carol Ann Wentzell.

1st place prize winners David and Kim Gaddie as Renaissance King and Queen.

2nd place prize winners Ric and Carol Anello as Ghost Dusters

3rd place prize winners Linda Cappella (flapper) and Anthony Plevniak (gangster) with servers Dado and Mari from Montenegro, who also handed out the prizes.

Staying Connected

By Jane Breisch, Editor cvgolfers@gmail.com

This BTP issue exemplifies what our community is all about… generous members donating time, energy, and treasure to help others in need. The Big Brothers/Big Sisters Tennis Event, Thanks for Your Support, and HPCO News are just a few articles which showcase your efforts. Thanks for being such a caring and supportive community!

***********

Just a reminder, our HP library, located on the 2nd floor of the Activity Center, has Christmas books and puzzles to help make your holiday season bright. Stop by and pick some up!

Should you have an article to submit for the January issue, my deadline is December 2. Please email to cvgolfers@gmail. com. Postcards from our members are always welcomed… especially from those traveling outside the state.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Tennis Event from page 1

Thanks for Your Support from page 1

we support them, please visit our HPVA website. The HPVA has donated over $400,000 to local Veteran organizations since our inception.

We sold 1,100 balls for the helicopter ball drop! The

four closest balls to the pin won $700 each, for a total of $2,800. The winners were: Larry German (TWO balls), Catlin Dental Group, and Mya Swe.

For additional photos from the event, please visit the HPVA website at hpvets.org, or see them in an upcoming Between the Palms EXTRA.

Donated prizes.

The event was well attended, including many current BBBS matches, along with kids waiting to be matched. Kids from HP, as well as our employees’ children, were also invited to play. Last year Jamie Unger volunteered to be a friend for the day to Valery, a sweet 11-year-old Hispanic girl. They’re now “matched,” and have been enjoying their friendship and time together. BBBSSUN is very thankful for giving these children the opportunity to participate in this event. Most of these children have never had the opportunity to play tennis / pickleball or come to a community as beautiful as ours. They’re always looking for volunteers to become Big Brothers/Big Sisters. There are many children waiting to have someone like you! If interested, contact me at 774272-2491 or 239-288-4224.

L-R: Bill & Georgetta McCabe, Debbie Maxson, and Steve Sergesketter.

L-R: Mari Lou McCann, Bev Bailey, Ginny Tucker, and Sue Dolega.

L-R: Mike McDevitt, Dan Schuman, Colby Vogt, and Randy Saba.

L-R: Bill & Miriam Shook, and Diane & Roy Shook.

L-R: Frank & Penny Stout, Dan McWeeny, and Marlene Kluch.

L-R: Jim & Pat Nasalroad, Tom Lonergan, and Lou Stack.

L-R: Roger & Barb Haberer, and Marge & Dave Olman.

L-R: George & Melody Smothers, and Paula & Dave Kraft.

L-R: Bill & Sally Harman, and Chris & Bernie Chiasson.

L-R: Chad Marks, Heather Angell, Eve Famiglietti, and Todd Frey.

L-R: Ed Passineau, Mary Griep, and Deb & Jack Mosesso.

L-R: Bob & Elaine Uhlenhake, and Bo & Jane Gast.

McArthur Palms 7th Annual Nine and Dine

By Marcia Leadbetter malead1@aol.com

Welcome Back neighbors! Our 7th annual event was a huge success. We had 40 golfers; plus, a dozen more joined us for

cocktails and dinner. A 3 p.m. shotgun on a warm, breezy, sunny day was perfect. Cocktails and dinner followed at 5:30. The full Pasta Bar and a Caesar salad bar were enjoyed by all. Thanks Larry, Cheyenne and our F & B staff for a wonderful event.

We had three foursomes come in two under par. Winning team (see photo) was determined by a match of scorecards. Congratulations to everyone who participated! You made our annual event fun and successful. Thanks to our Social Committee: Kitty Jedd, Mary Ann Caccoma, Clare Crist, Rena Gordon, Jane Gast, Judy Stedman, and Marcia Leadbetter.

HPCO News

By Lou Bottitta, HPCO Committee lbottitta@gmail.com

During the summer months and into the fall, committee members of the Heritage Palms Charitable Organization ( www.HPCOnonprofit.org ) have been focused on administrative work, event planning, and charitable efforts. Here are some highlights:

• HPCO completed its paperwork requirements to register as a nonprofit in Florida. We’re now listed on the FL “Check-A-Charity” website, and our numbers YTD for 2023 show that we donated 97% of the donated funds we received.

• The date for our 2nd annual golf outing is Sunday, April 14, 2024.

• We’re in need of someone with tax experience and who is familiar with QuickBooks to help with end-of-year taxes. If you are interested, please contact Anthony Plevniak at 330-207-8363.

• During the summer we received one request from an employee in need of financial assistance. We’re pleased to share that HPCO was able to provide financial assistance to this employee in his time of need.

• Our dinner dance fundraiser was such a success last year that we are bringing it back! An Evening in Paris will be held on Wednesday evening, January 31, 2024 in the Palms Dining Room. With cocktails at 6 and dinner at 6:45, followed by music, it promises to be a fun evening for a good cause. Tickets are $50 per person which includes a $20 donation. For tickets or more information, contact Barbara Gregg ( brbrmartens@aol.com) or Anthony Plevniak (Aplev4u@aol.com).

Please visit our website at www.HPCOnonprofit.org for more information on the dinner dance, the golf outing, and the organization’s mission and efforts.

Ace Face

Kim Miller

October 8, 2023 #3 Royal 74 yards

Gap wedge

This is Kim’s 1st hole-in-one!

Halloween Shenanigans from page 1

Denise and John Allis.

Laura and Bob O’Flynn. Christy Smith and Bob Gerlicher.

Each of the costume prize winners were given a bottle of wine, with first place also nabbing a $25 HP gift certificate.

Honorable Mention: Ronda Schlie and Tim Claytor as Progressive Insurance workers. The Lone Ranger, Clark Broden, and Rena Gordon. George and Melody Smothers.

Three Blind Mice (L-R): LeaAnn Schultze, Sue Ryan, and Dianne Schade. (L-R): Tom & Kathy Jecklin, and June & Greg Black.

(L-R): Kevin & Shelleigh Birlingmair, Mary & Scott Henrichs, and Colleen & Mike Liesman.

The closest to the pin winners (L-R): Sue Sauro and Debbie Wells.

Event attendees.

The winning foursome (L-R): Mike Wallin, Sue Sauro, Sue Hibberd, and Greg Baker.

Post Cards

From Cheryl Whiles: Peter Busch, NBC2 news anchor, joined my husband, Bob, Director of Golf, Bob Kelly, and me for the round on October 10. This was Peter’s 3rd time playing here. We had a great time!

Jane Breisch: My husband, Bob, and I just returned from a South American Road

Program.

visited Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The scenery was awesome… especially Iguazu Falls and Machu Picchu.

Our group dressed up in Carnival costumes in Rio de Janeiro.

Iguazu Falls are spread-eagled along the Argentina-Brazil border, and boast around 275 separate falls. They’re taller than Niagara Falls (and four times as wide), and are spectacular!

More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is a symbol of the Incan Empire and built around 1450 AD. It’s designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings, ranging from baths and houses to temples and sanctuaries.

Welcome Back Picklers

By Joy Weiner jcweiner3@hotmail.com

HP is a wonderful place to live, but is even more special as “season” approaches with holiday celebrations, reunions of friends, and increased activities. Nothing is more delightful than seeing our Pickleball Courts bustling with play. Mike Lawver, Tennis and Pickleball Director, reported our courts were far busier this summer than any on record. No surprise if you look at the number of people playing pickleball in our country! The number of Pickleball players has increased from 4.4 million in 2020 to 48.3 million in 2023!

Statistics from the US Tennis Assoc., Statista Research, and the Assoc. of Pickleball Professionals

Why this explosion of Pickleball Players? Troon (world’s largest golf management company) President and CEO, Tim Schantz, states, “There’s something in the game that combines competitiveness for people that like racquet sports, but also the ability to play at a competitive level for a long period of time. That’s kind of the magic with golf too.”

Consistent with the U.S. participation, HP’s 2023 Operations Survey Results indicated that 22.8% of our homeowners who answered the survey play pickleball. The only other sport with greater participation at HP is golf.

LNHGA News

By Stasia Arcarese larry.arcarese@verizon.net

Welcome back to the LNHGA ladies! The new season began with a little over 80 members playing in the first game of the season. On November 8, the LNHGA held its welcome back luncheon celebrating the League’s 20th anniversary. Members viewed memorabilia from the past 20 years, and also received a birthday gift.

The annual Christmas Scramble luncheon with 9 and 18 holers will be held December 6. The theme: Making Spirits Bright “A Cosmo Christmas .” Christmas attire and Cosmos will add to the spirit of Christmas. Donations will benefit the charity Guardian Ad Litem.

Mark your calendars for the January 10 luncheon, and a fun Monday evening Music Bingo on January 22. Watch for member emails or our website on these and future events.

Upcoming Pickleball activities:

• Friday, January 5: Welcome Back Breakfast and Membership Drive at the PB Courts (Coffee and Donuts)

• Sunday, January 7: “Back in Season” Party at the Palms Dining Room starting at 5 p.m.

• January 2024: “Play It Forward” Charity Event in collaboration with the HPTA (TBA)

• January 17 and 18: Men and Women’s Tournaments

• February 17 and 18: Men and Women’s Tournaments

• Monday, March 18: Mixed Doubles Tournament with “End of Season” Party at the Lodge with fun and games!

If you’d like to become involved in the HP Pickleball Assoc. (HPPA), whether you are a seasoned player or new to the sport, please call the Tennis/Pickleball Pro shop. Our member fee is $20 for the season.

At this time, courts are open from 8-12 for open play; 12-5 for reserved play (through the Chelsea System); and novice play is from 11-12 on Tuesday and Friday. If you’re interested in private or group lessons, please call the Pro Shop.

See you on the courts!

Sue Nink and Julia Purcel with decorations and memorabilia of our League’s 20-year history.

There’s still time to join our League so you can participate in upcoming golf and social activities. The LHNGA is a great opportunity to make new friends and enjoy golf no matter what your handicap. Contact the Pro Shop. Member charge is $50 for the year.

From

Scholar

L to R: Bob Kelly, Bob & Cheryl Whiles, and Peter Busch.

L-R:

Joan Jannelle preparing for the Christmas Scramble.

HP University Club News

The University Club is pleased to announce our January 2024 programs. All Heritage Palms residents are welcome to attend . You can register online NOW for these events.

Thursday, 1/11: “Best Sellers” presented by Jean Lewis, professional book reviewer. Jean returns for an unprecedented 7th season, with her book giveaways, cogent reviews, and her predictions for the top 20 books of the upcoming season, along with her own mini-reviews and recommendations. 4 p.m. at the Activity Center, Rooms A,B,C. Charge $18.

Thursday, 1/18: “Encore…Behind the Scenes at the Florida Rep” presented by Artistic Director Greg Longenhagen. Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as “one of America’s Top Repertory Companies,” Florida Repertory Theatre is in its third decade of presenting professional live theatre productions in the heart of downtown Fort Myers. Join us as Greg discusses what goes into putting a season together for Lee County’s largest non-profit arts organization, reaching over 100,000 with its programming. This event offers a glimpse into how productions are selected, how actors are hired, how sets are constructed, how rehearsals are developed from first reading until opening night. 4 p.m. at the Activity Center, Rooms A,B,C. No charge.

From The Pro Shop

By Bob Kelly, Director of Golf bkelly@hpgc.com

Hello from the golf shop. I hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful holiday season. Prime season is right around the corner and full courses will again be the norm. We’re happy to have both courses fully operational and in great shape. We ask all members to make “Care of the Course” a priority every time you play. We have two of the best golf courses in SW FL and it is your responsibility to take care of them. I know it sounds like a broken record, but please fill your divots, fix your ball mark plus any others you see, and keep carts on the path around all tees and greens. Also, when you see directional stakes blocking off areas, please don’t drive over them. Golf course maintenance puts them there for a reason, so please abide by them.

On January 1 we will switch Chelsea to season mode. This means points will be assigned at the time of placement and won’t be removed for cancellations unless the course is closed. Members will receive points for bringing guests. Members will not receive points for League or Club

Tournament play, any tee time booked 2:30 or after, and walk-ons on the day of play. Please check with the golf shop staff if you have questions regarding the in-season operation of the Chelsea System.

Please make note of the major golf events for the upcoming 2024 Season. With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Sunday and Easter on March 31, some of the events have shifted from their normal time slots.

• Mixed Club Championship: February 4

• Men’s & Ladies Member/Member: March 9 & 10

• End of Season Tent Party Scramble: March 22 & 23

• Men’s & Ladies Club Championship/Presidents Cup: April 6 & 7

As season approaches, we again want to focus on pace of play. Last year was one of our best years for pace of play with rounds averaging 4 hours and 15 minutes. Playing ready golf is crucial. When all members keep this in mind, we can keep a good pace every day. We’re all looking forward to another great season. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your experience the best.

Thursday, 1/25: “A Glimpse into the World of Widowers” presented by HP resident Bonnie Merryfield. Based on her award-winning book The Ultimate Widower’s Guide: Advice for Men. This presentation will help both men and women better understand the widowers in their life. If you’ve been recently widowed, you’ll be gratified to learn you’re not alone in what you are experiencing. If you’ve been widowed for some time, you’ll be able to relate to many of the experiences and much of the advice shared by the author and the 21 widowers of all ages she interviewed. Bonnie’s presentation will be of interest not only to those who have been widowed but also to those who interact with widowers within their family or circle of friends. 4 p.m. at the Activity Center Rooms A,B,C. No charge.

Tuesday, 1/30: “iPhone Basics” presented by Maggie DeBonis. This seminar will provide a basic introduction to the iPhone and much more. Maggie will answer any questions you may have during the session. Space is limited. 4 p.m. at the Activity Center Room C. No charge.

Ladies’ Reciprocal at The Sanctuary

On Friday, September 29, our Director of Instruction, Heather Angell, took eleven HP ladies to The Sanctuary Golf Club on Sanibel Island to play a summer reciprocal. Back row (L-R): Shirlee Firebaugh, Kathy Hazard, Pat Johnson, Barb Barlow, and Sharon Hulick. Middle row (L-R): Jane Breisch, Bev Bailey, Tammy Snell, and Marcia Leadbetter. Front row (L-R): Melanie Roetting, Holly Osler, and Heather Angell.

Do You Know the Rules?

By Dave Kraft dkraft_sr@yahoo.com

You’re playing from white tees on #16 Sabal. You hit your drive into the bank on the other side of the water in the penalty area. Are you allowed to take unplayable ball relief in this situation?

No.

Rule 19.1

Player May Decide to Take Unplayable Ball Relief Anywhere Except Penalty Area

Unplayable ball relief is allowed anywhere on the course, EXCEPT in a penalty area. If a ball is unplayable in a penalty area, the only relief option is to take penalty relief under Rule 17. Rule 17.1b the player may either:

• Play the ball as it lies without penalty, under the same Rules that apply to a ball in the general area (which means there are no special Rules limiting how a ball may be played from a penalty area, or

• Play a ball from outside the penalty area by taking penalty relief under Rule 17.1d

Rule 17.1d Relief for Ball in Penalty Area

The player has these relief options, each for one penalty stroke:

1. Stroke-and-Distance Relief. The player may play the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made.

2. Back-on-the-Line Relief. The player may drop the original ball or another ball outside the penalty area, keeping the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped (with no limit as to how far back the ball may be dropped).

Here is this month’s etiquette tip As we are in high season, please do your best to keep up with the group in front of you.

Upcoming Local Sports Events

By Clark Broden Clarkbroden@gmail.com

The Inaugural Grant Thornton Golf Invitational and the 50th annual Culligan City of Palms Basketball Classic highlight the December sports calendar.

• The LPGA and PGA are teaming up in a new mixed team invitational held Dec. 8-10 at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples. 16 LPGA and 16 PGA players will compete for equal prize money of $4 million in a unique co-sanctioned

Read On…

By Karen Harris heritagepalmsbookclub

@gmail.com

The HP Book Club will meet on Friday, December 8, at 2:30 p.m., to discuss The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin. The novel follows two women from different parts of the globe who unexpectedly find themselves involved in spy-gathering intelligence during World War II. One reviewer wrote, “ultimately it’s a tale about the power of words and their ability to bring hope even in the darkest hour.” Sandra Wurdeman will lead the discussion. Club meetings are open to all residents who read the book. If you wish to be added to the HP Book Club mailing list, please email me.

tournament featuring nine hours of live coverage on the Golf Channel and NBC. The invitational will support a variety of charities including CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and Golisano Children’s Hospital. Notable teams include Corey Connors/Brooke Henderson, Jason Day/ Lydia Ko, Tony Finau/Nelly Korda, Rickie Fowler/Lexi Thompson, Joel Dahmen/Lilia Vu and Billy Horschel and Andrea Lee.

This event replaces the QBE Golf Shootout. In addition, the Live Fest Music Festival will be held Saturday Dec. 9 from 5-10 p.m. outdoors at Tiburon. For more info visit grantthorntoninvitational.com

• The Culligan City of Palms Classic is widely regarded as the premier boys’ high school basketball tournament in America. Held Dec. 18-23 at the Suncoast Credit Union

WGA News

Lynda Dechert, WGA President lyndadechert@comcast.net

Our WGA Board would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and festive holiday season-filled with friends, family, fun, and food!

We’re looking forward to our annual Christmas Scramble and luncheon with the 9 hole league on December 6. This fun event also raises money for the charity “Guardian Ad Litem” through the purchase of 50-50 tickets. If you have the opportunity to buy a ticket, please do so. You don’t have to be present to win!

As we approach the start of a new year, here are some important dates:

MGA News

By Joe Vescio, MGA Secretary 1joevescio@gmail.com

The MGA December schedule offers:

•December 7: Team Quota

• December 14: Scramble –Lunch and MGA Meeting & Harry Chapin Raffle

• December 21: 2 Best Balls of 4

• December 28: 2 Best Balls on Even Holes; 1 Best Ball on Odd Holes

Registration opens for the January Pick-a-Partner on December 15. Teams are flighted, with multiple winners in each flight, and lunch follows the morning shotgun start. Registration opens for the 2-Man Match Play tournament on December 29. Registration will be limited to 128

Elmquist

Arena in Fort Myers, it features several of the nation’s top teams and future NBA talent. The 26-team field is divided into four individual tournaments. Local schools Bishop Verot and Fort Myers high schools are playing. Last year’s #3 nationally ranked team Long Island Lutheran of Brookville, NY is the highest ranked team in this year’s field. Go to cityofpalmsclassic.com for tickets.

• Both the FGCU Men’s and Women’s basketball teams have home games in December. The Women were ranked #2 in the preseason mid major top 25 poll. Go to fgcuathletics.com for tickets.

• The FL Everblades hockey team won the ECHL for a 2nd consecutive season and 3rd time overall last June. With a record of 3-2 at press time, go to floridaeverblades.com for tickets. Games are played at Hertz Arena in Estero.

• January 17 Luncheon meeting

• January 24 Start of Match Play

• January 29 Evening “fun” event themed “Margaritaville” in honor of Jimmy Buffet

• February 21 Challenge Classic themed “Golfing Thru the Ages”

• March 13 Charity event with the recipient “The Dubin Center”

• March 20 Low Gross/Low Net

• March 27 Low Gross/Low Net

• March 27 Evening Cocktail Party/Elections and Awards

• April 10 Member Guest

Wishing you all a “Happy New Year,” your Board looks forward to seeing everyone and our exciting season of golf and fun events in January.

teams, assigned to eight 16-team flights. Both events always fill up very quickly, so look for emails from the Pro Shop for further details and registration instructions. Golf Genius usage for Men’s Day scorekeeping continues to climb, but we have yet to approach our goal of 100% usage. Any new technology can seem daunting, but this app is very simple and easy to use. You need only to enter the correct gross scores for each player, and your work is done! The Golf Genius app will automatically apply the player handicaps and game format to the scores you have entered. This eliminates computation errors, which were always the most frequent errors found during scorecard audits. If you haven’t yet kept score on your phone for your foursome, please give it a try this season. You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is!

November 10 – December 25

Based on the popular film, this hilarious musical comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Raised in the North Pole, Buddy is unaware that he is human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. Buddy embarks on a journey to New York. This holiday classic is sure to bring out the true spirit of Christmas...after all, the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear!

Dec. 30, 2023 - Feb. 17, 2024

Dates may be subject to change. This official Elvis Presley biomusical takes a closer look at the rock star and cultural icon whose impact shaped the history of music. Spanning from his childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi to his triumphant 1968 “Comeback Special” and his ascent to be “The King.” You’ll hear iconic hits including All Shook Up, Heartbreak Hotel, Burning Love, Hound Dog, Don’t Be Cruel, Jailhouse Rock, Blue Suede Shoes and more!

Nina Burt, OD

Kate Wagner, OD Yasaira Rodriguez, MD

A Simple White Envelope

By Anonymous

It’s just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so.

It all began because my husband hated Christmas - oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it - the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma - the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth. I reached for something special just for him. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended.

Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind

of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat.

My husband, seated beside me, shook his head sadly. “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.” He loved kids -- all kids -- and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball, and lacrosse.

That’s when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling my husband what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years.

For each Christmas, I followed the tradition… one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn’t end there. You see, we lost my husband last year due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas

•

Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope.

My Husband’s spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

Bonnie Wins Again!

HP resident Bonnie Merryfield’s second book, The Ultimate Widower’s Guide: Advice from Men , has won the CIPA 2024 EVVY award, placing second in the Nonfiction/ Self-Help category. Bonnie’s first book, So Now You’re a Widow: Tips, Advice, and Stories from Widows to Widows, won this prestigious award in 2020.

The CIPA EVVYs is one of the longest-running book award competitions on the “indie” publishing scene, running for nearly 29 years. (“Indie” refers to smaller, independent publishing houses outside of the “Big 5” established publishing firms, such as Simon & Schuster. Choosing to go the “indie” publishing route, eliminates the need for authors to spend excessive amounts of money for agents and their connections while maintaining complete control over creative material, production, and distribution procedures. “Indie” publishing also allows authors to develop a direct connection with their public.) This award contest is sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA), along with the CIPA Education & Literacy Foundation. The competition receives entries from all over the world, including England, Belgium, South Africa, Russia, and Dubai. Books are entered in nearly 50 categories.