Saturday was a very memorable day as family and friends of Mary Glenn gathered to celebrate her birthday and the wonderful gift of her being a part of our lives. </p><p>Held at the banquet room at Olinda's, who did a lovely job, about 60 of us came to show Mary how much we love and admire this amazing, spunky woman. Each guest was asked to bring an individual flower that was turned into two large centerpieces, a written tribute or memory that was placed into a special birthday binder, as well as verbally share a special shared moment. </p><p>It was a tear-filled, laughter-full afternoon. Gathered to celebrate were Mary's daughter Shannon Gundry with grandchildren Shelby, Darby and McKenna from Utah, son Scott Glenn with wife Denise and children Holly and Hunter from Palm Springs, her sisters Melinda, Karen and Victoria with their families who came from Placerville, Berkeley and Los Gatos. Good friends Jerry and Cindy drove in from Arizona to pay tribute to the dazzling red head. Gloria Escallier came in from Twain Harte and Amanda MacMillan from Lemoore. </p><p>Among those from Los Ba&#241;os who joined in the celebration were Linda Allegretti, Marlene Salha, Pegg Eyerman, Lara Olson and Jessica, Carmen Miranda, Judy Diedrich, Sue Smith, Victoria Ferreira, Carolyn Nazabal, Cookie Rendon, and Loretta Garcia. Mary knows and practices well the secret of living each day fully.</p><p><b>Birthday balloons </b> To me Pegg Eyerman is family. She has always been so wonderful to all of us and she is loved by all of us. Pegg is very easy to love, and to like and to admire. Pegg is very hard to keep up with. She has an endless source of energy that amazes all of us who try to no avail to keep up with her. Pegg is a doer; she just jumps in and does whatever she sees needs to be done. Pegg doesn't wait to be asked. Pegg has a heart bigger than the universe and it is pure gold. Happy birthday Pegg.</p><p>Pauline Scoles is the perfect lady; charming, lovely, graceful, generous and pleasing. Pauline is also an awful lot of fun and a great friend. I adore you. Happy birthday Pauline!!</p><p>Happy birthday wishes to Irene Mello, Fernanda Lawrence, Rita Riberiro, Lucy Lawrence, Florence Puccinelli, Mary Ferreira, Olivia Marquez, Lena Duarte, Rose Marie Martin, Don Bonillas, Dianne DeRosa, Herbert low, Betty Rausch, Tom Lewis, Isaac McElvaney, and Bill Howard.</p><p><b>Alpacas have arrived</b></p><p>What a delight to drive down Pacheco Boulevard and see the colorful, fanciful alpacas that are Dennis and Donna Morris' new venture. I just love those wonderful, unique creatures who ate right out of my hand and have fur you want to cuddle up in. </p><p>Now, Donna, my adopted sister, is an amazing woman who has done so many things and conquered many battles, not the least of which was her battle with cancer. She puts all her spirit into everything. I have been at wedding ceremonies she has performed and she is inspirational. So, it will be fun to see the Morris alpaca world grow. </p><p>Congratulations to Dennis who recently retired after being with AT&T for 38 years. I believe he began working for them when he was three. </p><p><b>United Way Day at the park</b></p><p>I know where you should have lunch on Aug. 15. The location is great at Pacheco Park out enjoying the beauty of the day. The food will be a wonderful tri-tip sandwich with absolutely yummy beans and a drink. The price is only $8. The cause for the lunch is the amazing work of the United Way. This annual fundraising luncheon is always a great event and deserves your support. For tickets call Sandy Lemas at 826-5648 or me at 827-0667.</p><p><b>Henry Miller events </b></p><p>This year's Henry Miller Wild West Weekend will take place Oct. 10-12. I am telling you early so you can plan on attending this community celebration with something for everyone. Some of the highlights for this years event include a hot air balloon rally, a bull riding event, a kiddies corral, six different shooting matches, civil war reanactors, Abraham Lincoln, the Red Garter Saloon, food and dry goods vendors and local business info booth. </p><p>There are also raffle tickets available now at the Los Ba&#241;os Chamber of Commerce office for a custom made-to-fit lady's evening dress, a wrought iron fire pit and an 1887 silver dollar. Let's all come out and enjoy a piece of true Americana right in our own backyard. </p><p>For more information contact Big John at 827-7617 or Arlene Cardoza at 826-0240 or the Chamber office at 826-2495. There will be Bath Tub races Sept. 28 at the street fair. For more details go to Henry Miller at www.wildwestweekend.com.</p><p><b>Anniversary bells</b></p><p>Happy 58th wedding anniversary wishes to Joe and Josephine Pereira.</p><p><b>Gala preview</b></p><p>Ron and I enjoyed attending the Memorial Hospital of Los Ba&#241;os Foundations pre-gala cocktail party held in the board room at the hospital on Tuesday. The big gala is set for Oct. 4 and promises to be an elegant night; we are really looking forward to it. </p><p>The funds raised from this event will help upgrade our emergency room. To showcase what changes have been made and those proposed to do in the future to improve the efficiency of this urgent facility, small tours of the emergency room were given. I appreciated being able to tour and ask questions about a spot that is at the pulse of the city. The foundation board did a lovely job of making everyone feel welcome.</p><p><b>Wishes for recovery </b></p><p>Hope Gary Smith will soon be home feeling better. His devoted wife Carmella has been by his side while he has been hospitalized.</p><p><b>YLI</b></p><p>Congratulations to the Mystical Rose Institute No. 169 YLI newly installed officers; President Rosa Garcia, 1st Vice Lillian Mendes and 2nd Vice Elsie Bertao. Linda Silva and her committee did a beautiful job with the installation dinner.</p><p><b>Los Ba&#241;os Tigers trap fundraiser </b></p><p>Come out and enjoy a chicken dinner with beans, salad and dinner roll with drink for just $8 and help support the Los Ba&#241;os Tigers Trap Team with its annual clay target fund raising game day on Oct. 18. Trap and skeet demos will be on hand. The event will be held at the Los Ba&#241;os Sportsmen's Club located at 1389 S. Mercy Springs Road. For information call 704-0313. </p><p><b>Forever</b></p><p>When I was a little girl I would have sworn it was forever from one Christmas time to another, and some days at school seemed to be forever, too, as the click on the clock seemed to click incredibly slow. </p><p>One other thing I learned when I was so smart and young was that good times went by very, very fast. 'Whoosh' went summer vacation; parties were a blur.</p><p>How was it, I wondered even then, that time could be so random at times. So very slow at other times faster than the speed of light. What was the rare magic that created this phenomenon? </p><p>Older, if not wiser, I still am baffled that time works in such mysterious ways, but down deep understand it is a process of perception. When we are having fun time is weightless. It makes our spirits soar with desire for more, while sad times, difficult times seem to hang in the air like a pre-rainy day in Houston, threatening to explode and to never end. Neither are really forever, no matter how much we might want or dread. </p><p>Time is tantalizing and cruel; it is slippery and cunning; it is the most valuable commodity we have and one that no fortune can influence. No one has forever. Treasure now, and until next time, no matter how long it seems to take, may all your news be good news.