I have said it before and I am saying it again, there is so much to do right here in our local communities. Between seeing the play at the West Side Theatre and enjoying a delicious breakfast at the Gustine Volunteer Fire Department’s fund-raiser this weekend, I can only say anyone complaining there’s nothing to do around here isn’t paying attention.

“Is There a Doctor in the House?” opened a three-weekend run at the local theatre in Newman last Friday. Ken and I saw it on Saturday evening and thoroughly enjoyed the show. I am by no means a professional critic, and I admit I am biased when it comes to hometown talent but, it really was a fun evening filled with music and dancing and good old fun. The silliness of the melodrama had us laughing and the melodies of the music had us clapping along.

It wasn’t a melodrama where there is a villain to boo and a heroine to cheer on but rather a drama that plays on words in a slapstick style with a cast of truly wacky and quirky players who break out in song and dance and surprise routines that I don’t want to spoil for you – you’ll have to experience it for yourself. I highly recommend it.

The Gustine firemen’s breakfast on Sunday was held in the fire station across the street from the Linguica Run in Henry Miller park. What a delicious breakfast....and all for just $6. Hats off to the cooks and servers, especially the kids who kept our orange juice and coffee cups filled. That was one great breakfast!

I spent the rest of the weekend putting the finishing touches on a family reunion cookbook that I have been working on for months. What a wonderful experience it turned out to be!

In the midst of collecting treasured family recipes I have gotten to “know” some family members I have yet to meet in person. Along with the recipes came stories about the special, or simple, occasions the dishes were prepared for and tidbits of information about from whom or where the recipe originated. In addition, memories of times gone by were composed by a cousin, another translated letters dated back to the Depression and WWII and old photos were submitted, adding a historical connection to the book.

Probably the biggest lesson I learned from taking on this project was how important it is for families to write down recipes, memories, and stories and share them with one another while the people who possess those tales are around to tell them. Many times a question was posed that someone had to refer to another relative for the answer. Amazing how connected we are even though we are miles a part. The recipe book project went way beyond recipes and turned out to be a connection with branches of my family I didn’t know and am now anxious to meet at our upcoming reunion.

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