It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays
By DANA DITTMAR
CEO, SCC Chamber
It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays at the Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce. The front porch and the banquet room are festive with giant wreaths decorated with bows and blue and silver ornaments. There are trees in various places, lights twinkling and branches overloaded with birds, ornaments, seashells and anything else we found to go on them.
Here and there, on bookcases and table tops, we have garlands and candle displays. Even the fishbowls are dressed up with ribbon. Local businesses keep dropping off cookies and candies (which we don’t need, but love anyway) and they get “scarfed up” by either the volunteers or visitors coming in for maps and directions.
Tis the season to put out the “good stuff,” including those special plates and crystal glasses. No plastic for the next four weeks!
The Dittmar condo looks neglected by contrast. I haven’t had time to buy lights for the yard, let alone put them up. If nothing else, I want to get a wreath for the front door so the neighbors don’t consider me a total Bah-Humbug.
Most of our energy this week is being expended getting ready for Saturday Dec. 10, Golf Cart Holiday Parade. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of N. Pebble Beach Boulevard and La Jolla Avenue in the security parking lot.
Dave Ducharme, otherwise known as “Andre,” will be driving the carriage carrying Father and Mrs. Christmas again this year. I’m sure the outfits are upstairs in the attic somewhere. Believe me, we’re not the traditional Santa and wife. I wonder who will be our “footmen” on the carriage this year?
The Golf Cart Parade is my official kick off of the holiday season. The entire community is either in the parade, or lining the streets watching all the carts go by. There are plenty of Santas and elves, and it’s hard to tell which Mrs. Claus goes with which Mr. Claus. Did I mention the reindeer antler headbands?
This year’s theme is “Our Florida Winter Wonderland.” I am expecting to see lots of floats with seashells, dolphins and manatees. Maybe even a palm tree or two with tinsel and strands of popcorn. It’s the perfect theme for our area. After all, it looks a little odd having snowmen and snowflakes when it’s 80 degrees, and we’re still wearing shorts and flip-flops.
They’ve expanded the route in recent years and Minto, our local developer, has donated prize money for the best-decorated carts. That’s plenty of motivation for our residents, clubs, businesses and organizations to put out their best.
After the parade, I’m going to celebrate a personal achievement — surviving breast cancer for 24 years. This milestone anniversary is Friday, and I think I deserve a little whoop-de-do to commemorate the occasion. If you feel like it, hoist a glass of something in honor of someone you know who was diagnosed with the big C and give them a shout-out. They’ve earned it.
Meantime, I’m going to rig up some lights at the condo. I’m getting in the holiday spirit. Wish me luck!