Hi everyone,

 It is now Saturday evening and the 2006 barn dance is history. Tonight was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Half the fun was in the shopping for the outfits.  But you know me, I hate to dress up and am really so shy. We took the core members from our house to Value Village and brought their outfits.  The excitement was so awesome.

 Tonight we had supper (left over Chinese food from last night's supper) and half way through, Mary Anne was so excited, telling me...go put on your outfit.  She was near having a stroke from the excitement.  Our group was so amazing in flowered skirts, shorts, flowered leis, staw hats, flowered wrist bands, sun glasses.  John Bloss stole Mary Anne's sunglasses and started doing air guitar and making noises like he was singing.  I darn near choked on my food I was laughing so hard.  So then i went and put on my outfit...are you ready? I had yellow stripped pants cut off at the knees, one of my blue flowered shirts, a child's blow up frog flotation device around my neck, a blow up Tucan bird and the ugliest flowered hat you have ever seen, barefeet and sandals.  I was ready for the barn dance, but they weren't too sure if they were ready for me to get in the van. 

 Well we arrived at the woodery on the Daybreak property and the party began as people arrived.  There were wonderful colourful outfits and people talking and hugging like they had not seen each other for years when it probably had been last night.  Each encounter is a major moment especially at the Barn dance where is a major highlight.  Family members who could come were there.  I had a ball dancing with so many of the core members.  Everyone danced with everyone.  There were circle dances, congo lines, chicken dance, Mexican hat Dance and the infamous Steve Ellis paper plate dance which everybody loves. We danced to YMCA, Abba, backstreet Boys, you name it we danced to it.  They were wonderful to include core members to help take money at the door, give out refreshments etc.  Everyone had a part.

 Mike Ricci who is visually impaired lit up as he danced with some of the ladies.  You could hardly see the barn because his smile was so wide  and it covered a great part of it.   Linda Slinger one of the Core members who is the dancer par excellence, pulled me onto the dance floor and we did the twist and invented a couple of others.  Before I left, she motioned me over with her finger.  It was so loud and I leaned in close to hear what she wanted to say, and she planted a kiss on my ckeek.  Ah folks, the perfect ending to a perfect barn dance.

 Well, a few of our core members from the house were turning into pumpkins, so we headed home filled with memories that will fill a few conversations over the coming week.  I close off and head to bed.  I am sure I will dance in my sleep!  I have echoes ofmny childhood of  Charlie Chamberlain from the Don Messer show singing...."Going to the barn Dance tonight!!!! Good dreams everyone! Until next time!

Jeff