Thirty-one years ago this December, the Port O’Connor Service Club staged their very first Christmas luncheon for the senior members of this community. Held in the original Community Center, a small portion of the Volunteer Fire Station, Club members devised and prepared an outstanding menu of food delights to share with their guests. That year approximately 20 residents arrived to enjoy this early Christmas celebration of shared food, a decorated Christmas tree, and remembered gifts to each one.

Year after year, the Club has scheduled this event. When the original Community Center became too small, the luncheon was held at the various churches, each in succession. I’ve been told that it became quite a sight in Port O’Connor to see a truck laden with a Christmas tree and various ornaments and other decorations drooping over the sides, schlepping a procession to a Church Hall.

Following would be the cars of the Club members, each carrying not just a member and her husband, but also filled with many breathtaking aromas as the food was making its way to the decorated Hall.

The menu for those early Christmas luncheons would range from chicken spaghetti to chicken and dumplings with many desserts; and you would be correct if you would assume that there would not be a spoonful remaining. With the completion of the new Community Center, the Club was then able to hold an even larger and more extensive luncheon for the enjoyment of their guests, as it will be this year. To add to the honor of the first Christmas Luncheon in the new Community Center eleven years ago, members of the Club had been working for many months to design and prepare the beautiful and unusual shell ornaments that were used for the tree that year. They had decided to use a “shell and nautical” theme to convey to their guests the uniqueness of this community.

Once again Pat Ekstrom has agreed to assume the leadership of setting the menu and assigning cooking tasks to the members. Currently, the entrees will consist of brisket and ham accompanied by sweet potatoes, dishes of corn and green beans, various salads, breads and beverages. This extensive menu will be followed by mouth-watering desserts of all kinds; there is the possibility of several pies and cakes and even a chocolate cheese cake or a pudding. Prior to all sitting and enjoying their food, the children from the Elementary School under the leadership of their talented principal, Ms. Lydia Strakos will arrive to sing a medley of old and new Christmas music. Last year the music was exceptional and the singers were charming, and I’m certain that it will be even better this year.

Last year’s decorations took a complete swing from those of previous years; under the direction and leadership of Joyce Jordan and her industrious committee, the theme created an angelic atmosphere with all sizes and types of angels appearing on every table. Many of these angels, both large and small, were created by Dorothy Fairchild. And continuing the ethereal design were small candle lights placed amid the greenery. The large tree was adorned with many unusual and different ornaments ranging from bead swags to many small angels, and there were also some of the stunning shell ornaments created earlier by the Club members.

This year a different theme will be followed with the advent of snowmen of all sizes and descriptions along with many red birds of unusual designs to help create a “winter wonderland” in the Center. Table decorations will feature these wintry creatures supported by greenery and lit with small candle lights.

Why do the Club members go to this work and expense every year? The answer is a very simple one: this is our way of thanking the residents of Port O’Connor for their support of our projects throughout the year. We do have various projects, some big and extensive such as the semi-annual garage and bake sales, and then some much smaller. Yet we can always count on the residents and business owners of this community for their assistance and their support.

As our event is entitled the Club’s Christmas Luncheon for the Senior Citizens of this community, we have all been asked to define “Senior Citizen”. There is really not an actual definition of a certain age or quality; one would guess that it would be someone over 50. And I would need to take that definition up with our President and other members for a further and more extensive explanation. However, whatever your senior age, we look forward to your presence at this Luncheon; in particular, we welcome the owners or representatives of those local businesses who very kindly let us use your walls and other prominent spots to display the Club’s notice of its latest project.

For more information, please contact either Ms. Janet Johnson, President, 983-4737 or Ms. Pat Ekstrom, 983-2030. And if you need a ride to the Community Center or prefer to have a luncheon plate delivered to your home, call Pat Ekstrom 983-2030 for assistance. We look forward to seeing you on Friday, December 2nd at 10:30 am.

In the meantime do remember:

Christmas is a’comin’; The geese are getting fat;
Please to put a penny in an old man’s hat.
If you ha’nt got a penny; A ha’ penny will do.
If you ha’nt got a ha’ penny, May God bless you!

See you on the 2nd of December!

suekubecka@yahoo.com

361 798-0560