It was a great Valentine’s Day dinner and dance on February 13.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
By HANK WRIGHT
I received a Valentine’s party invitation “Do you want to join us Friday night?”
It sounded good, but then they said it was for the elderly. I don’t like thinking of myself as an elder. . .I’m sixty-eight. The river of de Nile isn’t deep enough to keep me thirty. My wife Ann and I went anyway. The American Legion. The Sunset Club. Valentine’s Day celebration. Jimmy Dunne hosting.
Drinks were included with the dinner/dance Valentine Day’s party package.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
The hall was decked out. Balloons and candles everywhere. Deloris, our American Legion goddess, and the rest of the AL crew had done their magic. We had cocktails first. Elders don’t need to show ID at the bar. Then the lights dimmed. My eyes are tired. They needed time to adjust. But it helps keep the dream alive.
The room was full of people talking. Catching up. They talked about the rebuild. There were the grounders. The ones who lost their homes. They were deciding whether to rebuild or move on. There were the smokers. Their homes survived but needed repair. They were living in insurance hell. Two states I never wanted to learn about. Not in 2025. Not ever.
The food was outstanding. There was so much. My eyes were bigger than my mouth. Chicken. Salmon. Pasta. Beef. It was all there. Straight to the hips after a moment on the lips.
Brandon Wattz sang beautifully. He took us back to songs from our youth. Motown. He belted out Barry White. The memories came back. X-rated memories. Maybe triple-X. My ship ran aground on the river de Nile.
Brandon Wattz sang.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
Jimmy Dunne was the MC. He had his usual antics. He got us up to sing. A herd of us. “L is for the Way You Look at Me.”
“Just keep going,” he said. “Don’t worry about the words. Belt it out!”
We were shy even with the microphone. But, we finished with a flourish. We laughed at how seriously we took his instructions.
Then Jimmy read his latest love poem to the Palisades. Par for the course, he teared up. He read his sappy poem to a loving audience. I felt happy to be part of this. An adventure nobody imagined. Our community coming together. Getting each other through hell. Jimmy is our Cupid. His arrow hit my heart. He has the heart of the Palisades.
Party host Jimmy Dunne with partygoer Bentleigh Borgeson.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
I can’t tell you how blessed I felt. To be there. At this time. In this place. Pacific Palisades. The American Legion. The Sunset Club for one lovely evening.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
Thanks, Hank. So glad you and Ann could be there for our first Sunset Club event.
I wish I had been there.
How wonderful. Do you have to be a couple??? What a great night of joy.
Peggy,
Singles and couples and friends were welcome to attend–look for a future “Sunset Club” evening.
Sue
Why does there have to be an age limit? I would love to party with this crowd — you are all the salt of the earth and the heart of the Palisades. Without all of you, the Palisades would never be the same.
It wass a fun night seeing everyone and favorite songs were at last, my cherie amount, and nat king coles LOVE. Thank you american legion
Sounds like a fabulous evening, a well-deserved respite for everyone! May I just make a request that homes that suffered damage but are still standing be called “Standing Homes” and not “Smokers”? Many of the Standing Homes don’t actually smell like smoke, and can or will be remediated so that there is no trace of smoke potentially entering them. Thank you!
It was a fun evening, and I am so glad we went. Everything was more than I expected.. ..more friends that I had not seen in a while, wine from my favorite vineyard, more food than I I expected, Jinny Dunne’s poem touched my hear more than I expected, more wonderful memories with the music and a chance to dance with my wonderful husband.
So sorry to have missed such a fun event! I’ve loved living in the Palisades for decades and am holding positive thoughts for my return. It is my Home. As I told a new neighbor just before the fire started, “Yes, I LOVE living here. I cherish every day I’ve lived here and, even if something were to happen to wipe it all out, I would still be grateful for every moment I got to spend living here. ”
I’m looking forward to any event you sponsor – One more thing to love about my Home!
Cheers !!!
Please sign up for future events at http://www.SunsetClub.club
You don’t have to be a senior but we designed the idea for a individuals and couples to make new friends which is often more challenging once you’ve retired and/or moved to a new town.