Things are quiet at the Crystal Palace Saloon in
Tombstone, Arizona on this Friday evening of August 16, 1881. Saloonkeeper
Quarrelsome Karen is badgering a poker player to order another drink, when Cutthroat
Chris and his gang, Los Banditos Del Lago, burst in, demanding money.
Quarrelsome K refuses to cooperate, so Cutthroat and his
gang drag the saloon’s best poker cheat, Oscar “Hot Tamale” Arango, out to be
hanged.
Hearing the saloonkeeper’s desperate cries for help, Town
Marshal Will arrives with his deputy, Gun-Slinging Sam, a former ballet dancer.
They promise to guard the money, go after the thieves, and save Oscar.
There’s a shootout at the OK Corral. Ruthless Russell, the Los
Banditos sharpshooter, staggers off, after being shot by Deputy Sam. He falls, lifeless,
into the Corral’s pond.
Saved from the noose, Oscar grabs the money and shouts,
“Whoohoo! It’s my money, now! I’m going to Disneyland!
This occurred last Friday night at the Château Lake San
Marcos Independent Living, Active Adult Community.
The community center’s dining hall was transformed into the Crystal
Palace, festooned with decorative reminders of the 1880’s. A stage
set, depicting the OK Corral, stood on the grounds outside.
Quarrelsome Karen was played by the love of my life. I was Roadhouse
Riehl, a former preacher who became her wimpy husband. We were cast in the
roles by Cutthroat Chris, (not his real name) the HOA executive director of this
55+ community. He wrote the script and directed the show.
The rest of the cast were Chateau employees, including
kitchen staff, (Rattlesnake Richard and Oscar “Hot Tamale” Wrango), the
resident services director, (Gun Slinging Sam), the maintenance director
(Ruthless Russell), the activities coordinator (Hurricane Katrina) and the transportation
coordinator (Wild Will).
Six extras, posing as poker players, were young enough to be
our grandchildren. They serve us our daily meals in the dining hall with consistent
courtesy and professionalism.
Band Diego Oldies provided the dance music, with tunes
from the 50's and 60's. Fifteen of our fellow residents, billed as The Red Hot
Peppers, provided the line dancing.
According to an article in Berkeley Wellness, published
by the University of California, Nov. 20, 2014, “The Many Health
Benefits of Dancing”: Many studies have found dancing can improve balance,
even in frail elderly people. Some have shown improvements in gait, walking
speed, and reaction time, as well as cognitive and fine motor performance. It
has been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress and boost self-esteem,
body image, coping ability, and overall sense of well-being, with the benefits
lasting over time.
The dancers that night ranged from a 102-year-old gentleman,
to a young lady in her teens. What they all had in common were their smiles.
Dinner/dance celebrations occur almost monthly here. On each
occasion the attendees are multi-generational, with guests, including children
and grandchildren of residents, welcomed with open arms. This place doesn’t
feel like an old folks’ home.
Karen and I are looking forward to the Halloween party, our
next opportunity to dress up in costume. Last year Karen went as Charlie
Chaplin. I had hip replacement surgery the day before, so I wore my hospital ID
wristband and posed as an operating room escapee. At 7 pm, giving in to post-operative
pain, I pushed my walker back across the street to our condo, where I downed an
Oxycodone and slept like a baby.
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