MARCH GATHERING

On March 13, at 7:00 pm, we'll be snacking out at Howayda's home while watching CHILDREN OF HEAVEN, a delightful story about a pair of shoes. In 1998 it was nominated for an academy award for best foreign language film. If a copy of this movie can't be located, we'll watch a different one from our list. Howayda will be treating us to some of her traditional desserts, in addition to chips and nuts. Incidentally, March 13 is Howayda's twenty-first wedding anniversary. We owe her patient husband a word of thanks for delaying their celebration by one day.

What can you bring? Your sweet self, a friend if you like, and any snack food that you'd like to share and business clothing that you no longer need (see below). RSVP to Howayda by email, phone, or through comments here.

Sandy C. made me aware of another women's organization that I encourage you to support. DRESS FOR SUCCESS promotes economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. We can help by donating our clean, nearly new-looking business apparel (sizes xs, s, and xl are most needed at this time): suits, blouses, skirts, blazers, shoes, and accessories. So rummage through your closet and bring whatever you care to donate to one of our gatherings and we'll get it to the organization or donate directly to the Triangle chapter, www.dressforsuccess.org/.

LOOKING AHEAD -
April 10: Tickets for our April event are $5 (museum members and those age 65 and over pay only $3.50). They can be purchased by stopping by or calling the NC Museum of Art, 839-6262 (ask for the box office). If ordering my phone there is an additional $3.00 convenience fee. The art museum is closed on Mondays. Tickets do sell out, so don't procrastinate. We'll see A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, a 1945 film based on Betty Smith's fictionalized memoir. The author of her biography will discuss the film adaptation. The movie begins at 8:00 pm, preceded by live music and the lobby wine bar beginning at 5:30 pm. A free guided museum tour begins at 6:30 pm.
May 8: We'll gather for a movie at the Raleighwood dinner theatre or at the Blue Ridge 14 where cheap seats rule.
-Peggy Wolf

photo by Hamed Saber

RERUN 1/23/09

Seven of us kicked off our first Gal Pal Gathering at my home on Friday, January 23. The salad bar held almost every salad ingredient known to women. We stuffed ourselves before the movie while getting to know each other and nibbled on Cheryl’s homemade cookies while watching AWAY FROM HER. We can thank Barbara for supplying the DVD and her home-canned pickled beets. Howayda treated us to her delicious homemade humus and Louise introduced rice crackers to some who had never tasted them. We almost had to send out a search party for Karla, but after an extensive tour of Rolesville and beyond, she got here just in time for the flick. Sandy C. and Louise, both NY transplants, found they knew places in common from "back home." Another small-world proof is that Sandy's parents live just down the road from me.

Since the subject of the award winning film, AWAY FROM HER, is Alzheimer's disease, as you can expect, it was not a barrel of laughs. This heavy topic was seen through the relationship of a couple married almost fifty-years and how they coped. At age 65, Julie Christie's beauty and acting abilities haven't faded.

Louise, who works with Alzheimer's patients, informed us of changes in the approach to patient care since this movie was made in 2006. Due to Cheryl's keen observation we "got" some things we might have otherwise missed in the film. After preparing a salad "doggy bag," everyone headed out into the night to find their way home.
-Peggy Wolf