”
If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole
thing was started by a mouse.
”
– Walt Disney.
“If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole thing was started by a mouse.” – Walt Disney. This summer when I visited Disneyland, I was reminded that it’s literally true that for Walt Disney it was a mouse who saved his dream. He had lost the rights to the characters he had created previous to Mickey Mouse, and it seemed his career as a cartoonist was over. But it was on a long train ride that Mickey magically danced onto Walt’s page, and nothing was ever the same again.
Here in Gilroy, we are fortunate to have many community mice serving behind the scenes, scurrying here and there, each doing his or her small part, which when added to all the other small parts, adds up to a very big piece of cheese.
There’s a joke that asks, “Why do mice need oiling?” And the answer is, “Because they squeak!” The upcoming Renaissance Faire is another chance for mice to show that they can do more than squeak. Theatre Angel Bill Flodberg is one of those busy ones behind the scenes arranging volunteers to man the box office, help with guest parking and keep the ale mugs well-filled, of course. The money made by volunteers supports many local nonprofit organizations. Secret matching donor mice have offered to match the funds raised for some of the groups, and it is hoped that a few more donor mice will follow suit.
A number of senior women belong to a Wednesday women’s study group called Serendipity which, while loosely organized as a Bible study, is really much more. These women are a great support to each other and all do so much behind the scenes to help other people. They do everything from comforting sick and frightened children at St. Louise Hospital to building layette kits for mothers struggling in emergency disaster areas. They continue to forge ahead into new territory, in spite of the changes they experience in life: loss of loved ones, illness, and the loss of skills we all take for granted in our youth.
The group plans to begin its next study soon, “This Far By Faith: An African American Spiritual Journey.” It is retired Gilroy teacher Leona Kolbly who has risen to fill the role of wise adviser, and she is the one who always keeps everyone looking on the bright side. As Maya Angelou says, “Some of the things I know, I know only because older women have told me their secrets. I have lived and am living long so that I can tell my secrets to younger women. That’s the reason we women go on improving.”
Recently, the Serendipity group celebrated the birthdays of Leona Kolbly and Shirley Smith, and Annabel Kropff’s 93rd birthday.
Former ER nurse and do-gooder mouse Cheryl McElroy hosted the pool party at her beautiful home, and those who were there enjoyed seeing former surfer Pat Walker swimming so gracefully in the pool; as the years floated away, one could easily imagine her as the long boarder she once was in her younger days in Hawaii. Another priceless moment came when lovely ivory-haired Vi Taylor (columnist Dennis Taylor’s mom) emerged from her towel in a bright red bathing suit, announcing in a loud voice, “Look out everybody, here comes Miss America,” as she took a running leap into the pool! Forget worrying about body image, aging, cellulite, or self-consciousness – just be yourself and be glad you’re alive. We younger women could take a few lessons from these ladies. They really know how to live.
