Residents have been experiencing lots of changes since Sun RV Communities took over from Carefree last season. Roads have been paved, trees trimmed, and fences have been taken down at all three parks. Settlers’ Rest, Sweetwater and Southern Charm have basically become one park now. We also have a new park manager, Kim Turner, from Orange City – she has worked for Sun for 17 years.
Our king and queen, from last season, also ran into some misfortune when their motorbike crashed – they are still home in Vermont, continuing to heal. Since the king was also the president of the Running Water Club, the vice president stepped up. The queen’s position as club secretary was also filled temporarily, by a volunteer. The park voted, at a morning coffee/doughnut meeting, and it was decided to discontinue the ritual of choosing a king and queen to represent the park every winter season. All positions are filled now, and no election was required. Instead of the usual Coronation Dance, a Volunteer Appreciation Dance was held and enjoyed by many.
This free dance was to recognize all the many hours volunteers put in, to make our park a place of fun and friendship. Even our Sunday Fellowship service has needed new leadership to step up this year, due to illness back home. Recently, we have said goodbye to Doris Steele and Judy Dishon, both avid volunteers for many years in Sweetwater. Judy has moved to Glen Haven full-time, and Doris will be staying home now, in Sanford, Michigan. At a recent block party, both Doris and Judy enjoyed the fellowship of their neighbors. Doris also had an opportunity to say goodbye to folks at the potluck and ice cream socials held Sunday night.
Doris and Judy did many skits in the Talent Shows put on for several years. They met through volunteering and became great friends, as many people here do! Even though Doris now knows (through Ancestry) that she doesn’t have Irish roots, she headed up the St. Patrick’s Day parade event for many years. When it was announced at coffee that new leadership was needed this season, two of Doris’ group skit members, Vi and Sandra, stepped forward immediately.
When Cheryl and Walt Kidd moved to Sweetwater in 2009, Cheryl dreamed of directing talent shows here. She wanted to give people an opportunity to enjoy putting on a production together, and to make people laugh, and forget about their pain, sorrow and loneliness. She told me this was her main goal, above everything else, and she feels that was achieved, even though a Talent Show hasn’t happened here since 2013.
When Cheryl was in grade school, she played parts in plays and musicals, in school and church. As a young mother of two children, she enjoyed their participation in plays as well. Once they grew and moved on, Cheryl was encouraged to audition for a play advertised in the local newspaper. She remembers going to the audition, but was unsure and decided to leave. The director stopped her and interviewed her ‘on-the-spot.’ She was offered one of the lead parts in “Love Rides the Rails.” She was very nervous at her debut, but she was hooked when the audience laughed at her first line. She remembers that feeling well!
Cheryl started a theatre group in Clare, Michigan and gave the Benzie County Players their name. She filled many roles in plays for years, and the group is still going today. She moved to Traverse City and was involved in three plays with the Old Town Playhouse. Her favorite one is “Steele Magnolias,”, where her part was the hairdresser, Truvy. She enjoyed the role because she needed to portray many different emotions, not comedy alone, and she liked that.
In January 2005, Walt and Cheryl decided to winter in Frog Creek RV Park in Palmetto. She offered skits for their existing yearly talent show, and eventually introduced “Houdini and Gracie.” Walt enjoyed magic tricks, and Cheryl’s quick wit complemented him well, as his sidekick/assistant. She tried to redirect the audience to him, but she stole the show with her comedic acts. One year, Gracie entered ‘big with child,’ and she said: “It was “Houdini who done it!” I’ve never forgotten that line. Needless to say, the audience never tired of her antics.
My husband and I moved to Sweetwater, with Cheryl and Walt in 2009, and I clearly remember the day when Cheryl asked a lady in the clubhouse if there was a Talent Show here. She was excited to move in and begin, and she approached the existing president and vice president of the club right away. She was given the go-ahead and directed her first show in 2011. One of the favorite acts was the all-male “Synchronized Swimmers.” No fee was charged, and the hall was filled, with people watching through windows outside. Cheryl was thrilled!
The theme for 2012 was “Hee-Haw,” and the last show in 2013 was “Unknown Island.” I now understand what Cheryl was portraying in that last show, because I went to New Zealand last December, and I witnessed the Maori greeting – eyeballs bulging, tongue hanging out, and threatening sounds and poses made. In 2014 and 2015, the group of volunteers worked hard on a takeoff of “Gunsmoke,” but widespread park illness stopped the production. In 2016, other personal health factors came into effect, and Cheryl sadly decided to stop directing full talent shows here.
Instead, in 2017, she decided to offer skits at the Sunday evening ice cream socials. She asked three couples to demonstrate: “How Well Do You Know Your Husband,” and it went over very well. She is planning a couple more skits and is in the process of choosing her willing victims. I’m sure we will enjoy her humor and wit over and over again!
Cheryl and Walt also take every opportunity they have to have fun and entertain those around them. On her 70th birthday, many people gathered at the airport to watch her skydive for the first time – she loved it! On Jan. 6, Cheryl won Best Female in a costume contest at a Sock Hop – she was so in-role that I hardly knew her! Walt said: “That’s my girl” with pride, just as she said: “That’s my man” at an evening show we all attended recently in the clubhouse. When the female impersonator asked Walt to get up and dance with her, he was just as game as Cheryl was when Buddy Holly got her up. In fact, she wouldn’t let him go on to anyone else.
Finally, a new activity seems to be generating interest in Sweetwater, especially since Lou drove to Kissimmee and purchased new billiard balls for the pool room. The Jam Committee was happy to make that donation! Looks like a fun night was had by all. Congratulations to Cindy and Don, winners of our first male/female tournament. Even though the pool tables have been there for many years, I doubt they were enjoyed by so many people like that before!
By Judy Pearce, Sweetwater RV Resort
