Hello again!

August is on it's way, and with it comes the subtle reminder that fall is just around the corner. Children returning to school, leaves starting to change, and cooler weather remind us that once again, a season is changing in our lives.

We all have ways of celebrating the changing seasons of our lives. In my business, catering and wedding planning, I see many unique and endearing customs to commemorate the special times in people's lives. We as humans share the desire to mark the changing seasons of our lives with special celebrations. Different cultures have their own special ways of commemorating a special time, and there is always room to add another way of rejoicing with our loved ones.

Personally speaking, I find that the fall and winter months bring the most opportunity for our loved ones to gather together for one reason or another. Sometimes the events are momentous, such as a special award ceremony for an outstanding student, athlete or worker. At other times, our celebrations center on the more traditional holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. And then there are times when we get together for no other reason than to celebrate the sheer fun of our relationships with one another. All of these times have their charm, and I find it impossible to choose a favorite.

I know that many of you are already contemplating at least one possibility of celebrating the up-coming fall and winter. Please keep in mind that the most important parts of your celebration will be the gathering of your loved ones into one place and the joy that comes from that gathering. The facilities, food, drink and decorations all take a lesser priority, for anyone can supply them. Whether you have your guests in your home or decide to let someone else help with the lesser important items, your guests will remember that you cared enough to think of them and cared enough to want to spend a little bit of your most important commodity of all, your life, with them.

As you mull over the up-coming seasons, please remember that it is perfectly fine to try something new. You may want to gather your family and friends together and ask them what sounds fun to them and what new traditions that they would like to begin. All traditions start someplace, and what an honor to be in on the ground floor of something that will be handed down from one generation to the next!

We here at the Rock Island Arsenal Club, as do many others, stand ready to help you with ideas, planning and encouragement. Maybe this is the season to focus more on the special times that you and your family can have together. If not now, when?

Until next month-
Greta Chaney