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I met Walt Flaschar when I attended Eloise Johnson’s cooking class at the Extension office in Columbus. Walt was not there to learn, but to teach. Howard Greene was there to learn, as I was, so we learned together. The class was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, of which Howard was a long-term, faithful member.

First we had to learn to measure stuff that would go into whatever we cooked. That was fun for this erstwhile engineer. We also learned to set the table; my Mother had taught me to do that. But I did learn a lot!

We cooked something every week and all enjoyed consuming the products of our efforts. I made several new friends in that class. Our graduation was held at the Pine Crest Inn, where we were served a fine luncheon in the tradition of the Inn. Eloise and I also became fast friends . . .

When Fran and I moved into White Oak, we found Walt already here. We had been nodding acquaintances; I began to cultivate a more intimate relationship with Walt and Nancy, for she is a beautiful lady! I soon found Nancy in Medical when I paid my usual Sunday afternoon visit. Then Walt began to visit Nancy at the same time, so I sat with them briefly on the porch or in the living area of the entry. Walt would often chide me about being late for my usual 2 o’clock visit . . . 

Lost one of our more active residents recently. Pat Stavely was nearly blind and did not hear well either, but as President of the Residents’ Council, she chaired the meetings very well. She ran the meetings quite ably, keeping them on track, recognizing folks who wished to speak, etc.

She was one of my favorite people, so I always took her some of my homemade candy at Christmas and on her birthday. Fran and I admired the life-size white swan replica on a shelf above her TV. The swan was made by her husband, so it was a cherished possession.

Pat always welcomed us and made us “feel at home” with her. We sure will miss her always smiling countenance around here!

Fran and I went with a group of residents on the White Oak bus to the Grove Park Inn for lunch and shopping recently. The Inn has been refurbished with new carpet in the lobby and public areas. Our son Thomas joined us for lunch.

I was glad that Christy was driving the bus; gave me the opportunity to look around. With Jersey barriers on both sides and road construction going on all the way from Hendersonville to Asheville, the drive is stressful for me. Christy just stayed in the right lane, often behind a semi. We all applauded her good driving when we got back!

We often went to the Grove Park to eat in its fine restaurants and to see the annual gingerbread house contest entries. I always enjoyed the Christmas feasts; I tried bits of a lot of different dishes because I believed that if I did not like a dish prepared by their chefs, then I would not like it anywhere!

We always ate in the huge dining room across the back of that wing of the Inn, enjoying what an Asheville journalist described as “The only thing the Grove Park overlooks is Asheville!” 

I am happy to report that our sunroom has been refitted with new double-pane windows. The room was really cold when the sun was not shining in, and really hot when it was. We are looking forward to enjoying the room henceforward.