September 28, 2004

Karen invited me to come and spend the weekend with her, so I jumped on the chance to get out of town for a while. She had been instrumental in getting most of the donations for a Longaberger basket bingo charity event which was to benefit her son’s preschool center. I haven’t played bingo in about twenty years, but it sounded like fun.

We arrived early and I enjoyed meeting some of Karen’s new friends and acquaintances in West Virginia. Her family moved right after mine last summer. At any rate, the people were friendly for the most part… at least until the games began. Wow, people get vicious during bingo. Heh! Those Longaberger addicts are very serious about their baskets.

I was not even coming close to a bingo for the first few games. Out of nowhere I suddenly heard myself shouting BINGO. It was a three way tie, but I actually won the showdown! Yes, indeedy. I won a Longaberger basket!

I was thrilled to win, but at the same time I felt kind of guilty, because I could really care less about Longaberger baskets. Here I was in the middle of people who probably had twenty baskets in their homes and were carrying little Longaberger tote bags and even Longaberger purses. Most of them have probably invested hundreds and even thousands of dollars for these baskets and accessories.

I mean, I like baskets, but these baskets are outrageously expensive. I won a 10 inch by 4 inch basket and it’s value is $75! It’s a lovely basket and I’m planning to use it as a fruit bowl, but hopefully this won’t be a new thing I start trying to collect. I have enough outlandish desires already.

Anyway, they raised about $4000 for the preschool. They asked Karen to stand up and everyone applauded her for all the hard work she had done. She definitely did put in a lot of hours on this one.

The next day we went to a local Arts and Crafts festival. Everything here was very expensive, too, as is usual for these types of events. We had fun looking at all the stuff and eating some of the goodies. I bought a wedding present for Lizzie (who is getting married in November). We both bought some bread, which was delicious!

That night Karen drug out her craft stash and we had fun making things. I made a beautiful fall wreath for my door and Karen made two lighted baskets of fall colors for her front porch. She used grape vines, flowers, leaves, and ribbons. It never ceases to amaze me how quick and easy it is to make such attractive items. It was just like old times for us. We used to get together and make crafts and try to sell them when we both lived at the beach. Have glue gun, will travel. *smile*

All too soon it was time to head out and Karen loaded up my car with goodies before I left. I made it halfway home before the rain started. Fortunately it never started storming hard and I didn’t have any trouble. The next day in Roanoke we had lots of rain and flooding all over the place, compliments of Jeanne.