April 18 - 20, 2008

Daytona Beach, Florida

We arrived home last night at about 11:00 p.m.  What a trip!  We are exhausted, to say the least, but happy to have been able to go and at the same time, happy to be home.

We arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida on Wednesday and spent the day walking around the town and hanging out at the beach.  It was a windy day, not too hot, and the sea was a little choppy.  The sky was an incredible blue with not a cloud in the sky!

We had a great lunch at Bubba Gumps’ (hi, Annie!) and walked around some more, then returned to our hotel for a much-needed rest.

Chris brought some homework along and we found different scenes and objects for him to sketch.  All-in-all it was a relaxing day.

Thursday I met my first Boomer Diva!  Beverly Mahone was in the lobby working with one of the hotel staff to assure that the retreat came off without a hitch.  We gave each other a huge hug and Beverly turned to hug Christopher as well.  I was surprised to see how tiny Beverly is.  She is such a dynamic person that I guess I expected her to be much bigger than she actually is.

Right behind Beverly came Rhea.  I liked her immediately.  She and I and then she and Chris hugged and that pretty much set the tone for the rest of the retreat.  I don’t think I’ve been hugged so much in my entire life!  Rhea ended up spending the night in our room, and I soon realized why I had liked her upon sight.  What a wise woman!  We talked for hours and I haven't had such a satisfying conversation in years.

Friday was the official first day of the retreat.  We kicked off the retreat with a trip to WCEU TV on International Speedway Blvd.  A PBS member station, it is also a four-year granting college.  Bruce Dunn, Associate Vice President/General Manager, heads off the program which is part of Daytona Beach College.  It was here that we were to be the audience for a women’s talk show which Beverly had put together.

Beverly had assembled an exciting panel of women who were experts in their diverse fields.  Among them were free-lance writer and blogger Rhea Becker, International talk Show Host and Syndicated Columnist Shirley W. Mitchell, Financial Planner Linda Lampman, Obstetrician/Gynecologist Dr. Ann Ashley-Gilbert, Dr. Surgeon and Breast Cancer Specialist Shenin Sachedina, and Elder Care Specialist and Documentarian, Dr. Marion.

www.drmarion.com   http://www.thegeminiweb.com/babyboomer/   http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/drs/florida/obstetrics_and_gynecology/Ashley_gilbert_Ann.html   http://www.metuandlee.com/presskit/Sachedina_AboveBeyond.pdf

http://www.fabulousafter50.com/

http://www.wceu.org/site/PageServer

The information was incredible and I was glad that my son was permitted to come along.  Along with the panel, actress Jo Kelly was able to talk about breaking into show business without being scammed and “the older actress.”  Widow of the late actor, Jack Kelly (Bart in the series Maverick), she is an excellent example of the boomer woman who must find a new niche for herself later in life.

http://www.jkelly4extras.com/asp/about.asp

After the TV show, a reception was given at the hotel, and we were all able to mingle and get to know each other.  Chris received many hugs as did we all!

Saturday was proclaimed Boomer Diva Nation Day by Mayor Glenn Richey.  The day started off with a breakfast meeting with some fantastic vocals by Jennifer Evans, then it was off to the various work shops which lasted throughout the day.  I took a Zumba class with Instructor Pam Archer, and co-participants Rhea Becker and Kathryn Little.  Pam is the Energizer Bunny!  You can't unwind her.  Funny, vivacious and energetic, she made the exercise seem like a girlfriend get-together.  Sweaty and happy, we found ourselves being interviewed by Founder/CEO Marc Middleton of Growing Bolder.com.  I remember...we were doing some Zumba, and here comes a TV camera.  I exclaimed, "No they won't!"  which was followed by laughter.  Of course, when the camera focused on my feet, I messed up the steps.

http://www.zumbafitness.com/   http://www.growingbolder.com/

http://www.pamelaseventdesign.com/  

Lunch followed with TV Anchor Gail Paschall-Brown as MC and special guest Actress Bern Nadette Stanic of the TV hit show “Good Times.” An excellent speaker, she is also a lovely woman – somewhat shy, sweetly humble, and definitely dynamic.  Drawings for prizes were included and then it was off to the balance of the work shops.

Dinner saw Gail Paschall-Brown once again as our MC.  What a lovely woman!  She brightened our festivities immeasurably.  An award ceremony, fashion show, a spine-tingling performance by Diva Silky Waters, and stand-up comedian Brian Greene were the highlights of the evening.

http://www.silkywaters.com/

The pajama party was a riot!  Chris and I didn’t stay as long as we would have liked, but the time we spent there was so much fun!  Many of the divas brought Chris out to dance and he had a blast.  I appreciate it, my sisters!  Chris has been too shy to get out on a dance floor and you’ve helped him to realize just how much fun it is.

Sunday – what can I say about Sunday?  Many of us addressed our sisters about what the retreat meant to us.  Jo Kelly gave a moving account of her marriage and life with Jack Kelly, and shared with us her despair as the result of his death in 1992, her battle with alcohol and her final triumph over it.  Karen O’Bannon endeared herself even more to us all with her tearful testimony of how meeting us had affected her life.  Lady Cerelli graciously offered us some of her thoughts and beliefs and others stood up to share what was in their hearts.

Jennifer sang for us once again and brought me to tears.  What an amazing voice!  Surely this woman will go far as a singer.  Her voice filled the room and set the tone for what was to come.

http://www.jenniferevans7.com

Reverend Ora.  What can I say about Reverend Ora?  One of the sweetest women I’ve ever met, she is rather quiet, gentle and loving…until she gets up to preach.  Passionate, stirring, provocative and anointed, I soon realized that I had never witnessed a sermon such as hers! 

Words cannot begin to express the service which she gave.  Just thinking about it fills me again with the Spirit.

Rev. Ora spoke of defining ourselves by who we are and not who people say we are.  She spoke of the words often said to us that hurt – words which we should not listen to or incorporate into our self-definition.  She had us repeat “I Am I Am, says I Am!” and proceeded to offer a personal witness to Diva Kathryn Little.  A recent widow, Kathryn was overcome with emotion and I and several others ran to pray with her as Rev. Ora continued her testimony.  Wrapped in the arms of her sisters, Kathryn offered a prayer of healing to her Lord as we all prayed with her.  It is one of the most moving moments of my life.

Testimonies from Pam Archer, Shirley Mitchell and others followed.  The Holy Spirit was truly working through us all.  I have never experienced anything like it.

Chris was moved as well and was quite subdued as we left to finish our packing and, with reluctance, say good bye to those beautiful women.

http://www.oraintl.org/   http://www.thelmaofgoodtimes.com/   http://www.wesh.com/station/945637/detail.html

Chris and I arrived in Savannah Georgia by 4:00 p.m. and checked in to our hotel before traveling on to Historic Savannah.  We had a delicious dinner at Pirates House and walked the streets of the city.  We went on the Historic and Ghost tour and then decided to check out an authentic British pub before heading back to our hotel room at about 11:00 p.m.  A twelve-hour drive the next day saw us finally home.

I will never forget this trip.  It will live in my heart forever.