Among the celebrations being held in honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, observed globally March 8, was a party recently held by one Chesapeake senior community.
Although there was no red carpet at Lighthouse Pointe, a retirement living center in Great Bridge, there was a air of festivity as guests walked through an archway inside the center festooned with pink, black and white balloons.
Revelry at the center's National Women's Day celebration on March 7 featured food, speakers, raffles and relaxing piano music. Tables adorned with pink and white flowers and pink programs were minded by attentive servers wielding trays loaded with cupcakes.
"It's wonderful to do this and long overdue," said Lighthouse Pointe resident Dick Reynolds. "I was married for about 40 years before I realized just how hard women worked."
Reynolds manned the punch bowl while chef James Seeley and staff ensured attendees had lobster salad rolls, shrimp cocktail and other goodies to nosh while mixing and mingling.
"Our corporation has what they call cadence events and we picked this from their list to celebrate this month," said Laurie Williamson, Lighthouse Pointe sales leader. "We wanted to celebrate all women - those who are with us, those who have passed and those we have yet to meet."
Keynote speaker for the event, Barbara Ciara, WTKR-TV news anchor, reflected on that theme. She told stories and shared some life lessons she learned from her Grandma Roberta.
"She (Grandma Roberta) said 'children are like lumps of clay; everyone that touches you leaves an impression,' " Ciara said. "I never understood that 'till later on when I ran with the wrong crowd."
"You are the women who make your families stronger," Ciara said to the crowd. "You make the next generation pull up the next generation and so on."
The celebration included recognition of one of Lighthouse Pointe's own residents, JoAnne Grahame.
Grahame was recognized for her volunteer service and received a certificate and a large round of applause from the nearly 100 women in attendance.
"I didn't expect this and they told me about it yesterday," she said.
Grahame, who loves to travel, shared an adventure she experienced after her husband died.
In 2003, she was living in Roanoke and taking care of her mother when she decided to go on a mission trip to Mongolia. The trip went well until she landed in South Korea at the same time as World Cup Soccer was going on in venues all over the city.
"It was hard finding a room, and when I finally did, I opened up my suitcase and it was full of men's shorts," Grahame said. "The water went off and when I got to bed at 3 a.m. all the lights came on and wouldn't turn off."
She eventually recovered her suitcase and traveled on to Mongolia, where she stayed for eight weeks helping provide medical services and teaching English to children.
Grahame epitomizes the type of women Lighthouse Pointe thinks deserve celebration, and many who attended the event hope it will be repeated next year.
"Girls just want to have fun," said Anne Comer, who enjoyed the party with several friends.
"We're too busy to know we had a (Women's History) month," she added.
The event was open to the community and along with Lighthouse Pointe, was sponsored by The Lifestyle Center, Medi Home Health & Hospice, Legacy Healthcare Services, BrightStar Care and Lasting Impressions Florist & Gifts.
For more information about Lighthouse Pointe check www.holidaytouch.com-ourcommunities/lighthouse-pointe or call 382-4911.
Barbara J. Woerner, bjwzcool@yahoo.com