Santa and ENCORE Friends

Yesterday I had a great time!  I had been asked to speak at the holiday luncheon of an Astoria-based group called ENCORE. The invitation had been made (and I had agreed) several months ago but, wouldn’t you know that the event was scheduled for last Thursday – the day of the dire hurricane warnings for the coast. It was hurriedly cancelled and, somewhat miraculously, I thought, rearranged for yesterday.

As always, I was nervous at having made such commitment – as in what was I thinking and whatever can I talk about – but with the rescheduling I felt a little sense of relief. Surely there wouldn’t be many people there on such a short notice of the date change. Imagine my surprise when we arrived a half hour early and entered a room of seventy folks all in holiday finery and moods to match. There was a full (and sumptuous) buffet, a ukulele band, and the most wonderful Santa imaginable. And me.

Sydney-the-Storyteller

But somehow my pre-stage nerves didn’t kick in at all. I was made to feel so welcome by this group of people, all but two or three of whom I’d never previously met. Or so I thought until a woman sitting behind me said, “I’ve met you before, Sydney. You gave our ENCORE group a tour of your home some years ago.” She thought it may have been five years. I have no memory of that at all, sad to say.  (I console myself by realizing that I’ve given many house tours over the years…) In fact, when I was asked to be a part of yesterday’s festivities, I was quite sure I had never, until that moment, heard of ENCORE.

According to their website, www.encorelearn.org. ENCORE is a member run organization for individuals who are 50+ years in age. We work closely with Clatsop Community College to offer short-term courses and activities, which are usually led by members. Membership is inexpensive and most activities are offered at no charge. I believe it is a nationwide program and Rita Lindstrom, who is in charge of curriculum development, told me that this particular group has been going for about ten years.

A Singalong with The Ukelele Band

Their interest and enthusiasm was reminiscent of participants in Elderhostle (which has morphed into Road Scholars) with whom I was involved during the 1980s and ‘90s. During those years I taught week-long classes during the summer on “Historic Oysterville.” Even then, I was ‘of an age’ with my students and found that we had shared so many life experiences (just by dint of living so long) that they seemed like old friends. Ditto yesterday.

Nyel and I were urged to participate in their classes (which we would like to do) and it was even suggested that I might teach a class or two (which is certainly something to consider down the line.) Meanwhile, they seemed to enjoy the stories about “Christmas in Old Oysterville” – they were attentive, laughed in all the right places and gave me a nice round of applause. Lovely! I’m so glad I was invited.