Heard over the back fence: Cougar runners’ reunion Saturday

TIED UP:
 My pal John Chapman provided the following T-shirt statement: “I’m so busy I don’t know if I found a rope or lost my horse.”

COACH JIM MYERS REUNION:
A reunion for former runners at El Dorado High School who ran for Coach Jim Myers during the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s is planned. The reunion will be held at the Forester Pub and Grill in Camino on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 4 p.m. Spouses, significant others and family members are also invited. For more information, call Dan Helm at 510-333-3351 or Ken Smedbery at 530-644-2062.

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS:
 The Cameron Park Library’s “Featured Volunteers” are Joseph Meyer, age 17, Sam Whitaker, age 16, and Celeb Kean, age 16. These three volunteers help set up for the used book sales and return later in the day to put all the books and tables away. The “Between Friends” newsletter noted, “We couldn’t do without them.”

STORYTIME AND MORE:
 The “Mother Goose on the Loose” program is a lap-sit storytime for little ones, ages 1 week to 2 years old. This is an award-winning program that combines music, movement and visual literacy to help children get ready to read. Classes are offered on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Dr., Cameron Park. For more information, call 530-621-5500.

MERRY MARGARET GIFT:
 Each year I am an escort for the attractive models at the Newcomers’ fashion show where I wear my tuxedo. Charming Margaret Renfro noticed that I need accessories for my tuxedo shirt. When I arrived at the office on 12-12, the accessories were on my desk! Thank you, Maggi! Merry Christmas!

HOLIDAY KINDNESS:
A little bird told me that Roseann and Jeff Garthwait recently donated a beautiful china cabinet, dining room table and chairs to the Mother Teresa Maternity Home in Placerville. Another little bird told me that Latter-day Saints members picked up the donated furniture and delivered to the Mother Teresa Home and removed some of the old furniture to make room for the newly donated furniture. Thank you to everyone who contributed their kindness for a great program. 

A DEFINITION OF GUILT:
 Clara Neilsen gave me the book, “Live and Learn and Pass It On,” in which people ages 5 to 95 offer life lessons, such as the following: “I’ve learned that the greater a person’s sense of guilt, the greater his need to cast blame on others.” — Age 46.

RESCUE THE KIDS!
 Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar contains the following “advertisement:” “‘Super Value Meal Deal’ — 10 pieces of children, 5 hot wings, large taters, large salad, 1 liter ice cream, only $19.99.”

CHEROKEE LIFE LESSONS PRESENTATION:
 Visiting Angels In-Home Care continues to sponsor “Coffee, Tea and Friends Series” on the second Tuesday of each month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Community Center social room, 2502 Country Club Dr., Cameron Park. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 8. I will be at this meeting and will do a presentation titled “Cherokee Life Lessons.” Hope to see you there!

BINGO IN THE PINES:
 Every Tuesday, at 5 p.m., you can play bingo at 6:15 p.m. at the Pollock Pines/Camino Community Center, 2675 Sanders Dr., Pollock Pines. You pay $10 for the first 14 games. Dinner is available for purchase. For more information, call 530-647-8005.

THE NATURAL:
 Clara Neilsen provided the following “Honor the ‘True’ You” statement: “People concern themselves with being normal, rather than natural.” — Robert Anthony.

PIONEER FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION:
 Pioneer Volunteer Firefighters Association is presenting their 15th annual crab banquet. The banquet dates are Jan. 12 and 19 at Skinner Winery, and Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 at Perry Creek Winery. Seating will be at 5:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 6 p.m. There will be live music, auctions, raffles and dancing available. Tickets are $60 per person for a seven-course dinner. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit pioneerfire.org/crabbanquet or call Loretta at 530-620-3371. Proceeds support fire protection and medical aid in the Pioneer Fie Protection District, with a portion supporting the local schools.

MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENT:
 Look at the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar, and you will find the following viewpoint: “Peaceful acceptance is not about giving up or failing to make necessary changes. Life is full of adjustments, and all of us need to take action to improve our lives and strive toward our goals. But taking appropriate, heartfelt, and constructive action is an entirely different issue than becoming immobilized by the simple fact that life isn’t accommodating us in exactly the way we would like.”

Send your jokes and event items for Heard Over the Back Fence column to Bob Billingsley at the Mountain Democrat, PO Box 1088, Placerville 95667, or drop them off at 1360 Broadway. First and last name of contact person are required. Phone 530-344-5036. Follow @BBillingsleyMtDemo on Twitter.

Bob Billingsley

Bob Billingsley writes Heard Over the Back Fence three times a week, keeping his pen on the pulse of the community. He also writes a biweekly column called Billingsley's Bullets, in which he uses “sideways” thinking to make your day a little easier to handle.

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