A turning of seasons

AVIVA GOELMAN

November always brings back memories of living back east, watching

the leaves on the trees turn from green to a rainbow of reds and

ambers and oranges. November and the leaves turning always made me

realize that it was time to say goodbye to another summer and welcome

the chilled air, the rainy days and the episodes of snow and sleet.

A writer whose name is unknown to me once wrote “that the leaves

are the messengers of a new season, a new beginning, of new hope, new

dreams and being together with those we love, as if Mother Nature’s

wrapping her arms around and whispering, ‘Wake up, look around, I’ve

put on a new dress for you.’”

The Costa Mesa Senior Center, like Mother Nature, is putting on a

new dress as the seasons change. We are gearing up for the holidays,

beginning with Thanksgiving.

There are so many things we have to be thankful for at the Costa

Mesa Senior Center: new carpets courtesy of the city of Costa Mesa;

and new furniture, which is on the way thanks to our amazing board of

directors.

For me, the meaning of Thanksgiving is spending quality time with

family and enjoying the bounty of a satisfying supper on turkey day!

In that spirit, I encourage you to stuff yourself here at the senior

center when we once again host a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch on Nov.

26. The holiday luncheon is sponsored by the ever-faithful Angels

Auto Spa.

Reservations are a must. Please call the senior center at (949)

645-2356 for more information.

As part of your holiday celebration, you might consider booking

travel arrangements through the senior center’s travel department.

Our treks to different places are wildly popular, and we always

travel first class. Space is still available on a few of our upcoming

trips. For instance, on Thursday, Nov. 20, we are off to experience A

Welk Musical Christmas. The excursion is $68 per person and includes

lunch and transportation.

On Thursday, Dec. 4, and Friday, Dec. 5, we are taking an

overnight trip to Palm Springs Follies, which includes a stop at Agua

Caliente Casino. We will be enjoying an evening Street Fair, staying

overnight at the Holiday Inn and seeing the Follies. The cost is $139

for a double room and $183 for a single.

Finally, on Friday, Dec. 19, you can join us to see the Glory of

Christmas at Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove and then have dinner

at Hometown Buffet. The price, including transportation, is $63 per

person.

Phyllis Daughtery, a member of our board of directors, heads up

our travel department. Our dedicated volunteers serve as

administrators. Aside from planning trips to casinos and theaters,

they’re planning sojourns to China and Russia and an upcoming trek to

Fiji. If you would like more information on traveling with the senior

center, please call (949) 645-1032.

Thinking further ahead, to Christmas and Hanukkah, we will once

again have a Senior Gift Chest. This program -- begun last year --

brings gifts to many seniors who normally do not receive presents

during the holidays. There are many worth gift collection programs

for kids, such as Toys for Tots. But few, if any, for seniors.

Our gift drive last year was a resounding success thanks to the

generous donations of the community and the tremendous effort of our

volunteers. The smiles and tears that it brought to our seniors made

it even more meaningful.

One senior in particular stands out in my mind. This senior

approached me after receiving a gift and confided in me that she had

not received a gift in 15 years. I’m sure that this year she will be

equally touched, and there will be plenty of smiles and tears. We

hope to reach many more seniors this year with the gift of giving.

If you are interested in donating to this worthwhile program, we

are always in need of blankets, gloves, umbrellas, stationery and

stamps, disposable cameras, candles, videos and any other items

seniors might appreciate. All items must be packaged and new.

This year, we are fortunate to have the participation of the

student body of Orange Coast College. They, too, will be collecting

gifts for our seniors. In addition to serving the seniors who visit

the center, we serve more than 80 homebound seniors who also need

gifts.

In closing, I would like to remind everyone that our fund-raiser

event, a special production of “Late Nite Catechism” -- the

uproarious interactive hit comedy -- will be presented Friday, Nov.

14, and Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Robert B. Moore Theater at Orange

Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road. Join us for a laugh-filled

evening.

Good seats are still available. Please contact Darryl Kim at (949)

645-2356, ext. 15.

Even though this is a busy time of year, remember: “Wherever there

is a human being there is an opportunity for kindness.”

* AVIVA GOELMAN is the executive director of the Costa Mesa Senior

Center and will write occasional columns about the center, its

members and senior issues.