Responding to whispered criticisms that this column writes too much about the Morgan Hill society scene, I ventured away from my usual working hours of cocktail time to an early Wednesday morning gathering of the “church ladies” at Sue’s Coffee Roasting Company in Gilroy.
Due to the total renovation of Gilroy’s downtown sidewalks and roads, I had to negotiate my way around the back streets. Inside Sue’s I found the church ladies, already halfway through their first cup.
Karen Fortino gave them two minutes to elect a spokesperson while she prepared my latte, and Margie Heredia won the nomination – until they found out I was from the paper. Then they called for a re-election and pointed to Jo Deaver to speak for the group.
Explaining I was there to respond to their complaint, the sweet church ladies smiled and shook their heads, saying they didn’t know who had complained.
“I did!” piped Sarah Aceves, breaking through the denial. “You do write too much about Morgan Hill. What about Gilroy?”
It seems Mrs. Aceves also has other entities to complain about, including city council and school board meetings. I liked her moxie immediately. The tables were turned, and I was begging Mrs. Aceves for “off-the-record” status.
After the banter, I moved to their table to find out what this group of happily married ladies talk about at their morning klatch. Colonoscopies? That was the subject I walked in on, but it was soon dropped when Gilroy’s finest, Sgt. John Sheedy, showed up with Joanne Biafore and her daughter Vickie Conner from Oakdale. Tagging along was officer Stan Devlin in uniform – not his usual off-duty kilt. The ladies informed me officer Devlin is also known as “Buzz Lightyear” due to his propensity to randomly yell out “to infinity and beyond!”
Devlin ordered his usual Barnum’s Animal Crackers because “they come in a cute little box and in case I get called away I can take them with me,” to which Sheedy replied, “This is going to end up in print, and you’re the best we have?!”
Then in walked the best of the best, officer Veronica Georges. Always the concerned mothers, the ladies asked Sheedy if they are too hard on him, and he replied, “After running briefing in the morning, you ladies are a piece of cake.” Letting them eat cake once in a while is good, but the church ladies had none to offer at this gathering. However, they usually have it when it’s someone’s birthday, close to someone’s birthday or one of them decides to bake.
Former Gilroy School District teacher Benita Reimal was there to make sure my spelling was correct, carefully providing the names of the absent members. The list included Mary Patani, Ruth Habing, Portia Bruton, Joanne Biafore and Michaela Greco who showed up late (and assigned the penance of one rosary by Franca Filice).
Oakdale was the next subject, and Vicki filled us in on the aroma. “I live in Oakdale, with the smell of Hershey’s chocolate and manure. I’ll take manure and garlic anytime.”
Vickie and her cousin Debbie Norton, visiting from Arizona, seemed well-pleased with the gathering and the chance for their mothers, Cathy Silacci and Joanne Biafore, to laugh with their friends. As Michaela pointed out to me later, “We have a mutual respect for each other. None of us have ever been divorced. If fact, we are more in love with our husbands today.” That should earn them a dinner out, eh?
The group was fluid throughout the morning, coming and going, as dentist appointments and baby-sitting grandkids demanded attention. A quick visit from Pat “the speeder” graced the table as she carefully eyed officer Devlin. Devlin spied Pat silently mouthing something like “oh, Stan” when she entered the coffee shop.
On to the topic of Father John leaving his congregation in Gilroy to help in East Palo Alto. Sheedy and Deaver praised the priest for his humility and giving nature. Father John is known for his many talents of playing harmonica, golfing, drawing and praying for Jeff Garcia when he played for the 49ers. Of course, not all prayers are answered the way we want.
Sue’s is like Vegas: What is said at Sue’s stays on the pen of the visiting society columnist. As Mrs. Greco put it, “It’s better than Mayberry.”
Ciao for now.
