The Pasadena Village. A community of seniors supporting each other as they age in their own homes

Elegant tea in the spacious living room of Fred & Fritzie Culick, with Village women dressed up and enjoying a “Ragpickers’” fashion show of finery from local thrift stores is a hard act to follow. In this year of a pandemic, the creative women who put this together were Barbara Madden, Fritzie Culick, Sue Kujawa, Judith Lovely, Sally Asmundson and Marsha Dawe. They managed to pull off a spectacular version on Zoom.

Excitement began to build with the home deliveries of tea goodies, cookies, scones, chocolates, cheeses, crackers, salted nuts, tea bags, a fancy napkin and a printed program. There was even a party favor – a facial spritzer donated by XXX. Deliveries were made by Nancy Goodell, Linda Stowitts, Betty Ann Jansson and Paula Rao, as well as Hand in Hand volunteers, Lynna, Joanna, Marah, Jessica and Eden.

Everyone attending was encouraged to wear a hat in lieu of the usual fashion show. Some hats were elegant, some sporty and, of course, some were just plain outrageous. Fritzie’s hat was part of her Medieval costume that she wears when performing with Vox Femina. Karen Bagnard wore her witch’s hat with a large bow of French ribbon. Lucinda Haagenson wore a peacock hat of her own design featuring huge peacock feathers and small peacock Christmas ornaments from her Christmas tree. Nancy Goodell changed hats, wearing an assortment of sports hats, one of which was her Nebraska State Cornhuskers baseball cap. Some hats were decorated with flowers, both silk and fresh. Karolyn Berkman surprised all of us by wearing one of her father’s hats… it looked very chic on her!

Breakout rooms with four to five guests, replaced the tea tables. In the first breakout room we shared our favorite tea party story. In the second breakout room we shared our favorite spring memory. When we all came together again the conversation was orderly, lively and very fun. Barbara Madden, Zoom master, commented that it was amazing what you can learn to do at 85!

A good time was had by all. Next year we look forward to being together again, but we will always remember this year as a uniquely special event! Once again, Village ingenuity and creative problem solving made a delightful difference!

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