Looking for Sonny and Cher: Ron and Sherry Zeise, Karen and Jerry Wesselman, Gail Turman, Pat File, Beauchamps (backs turned) Rich Heidebrecht; Photo by Alan Ross
Sherry Zeise
We proved it! “A sunshiny shower won’t last an hour.” But no rain was allowed to dampen the fun, food and fellowship we enjoyed on June 11, especially when Harry and JoDean Anderson and daughters Cherie and Canda hosted our annual New Life Church Lunch Bunch Cook-out! Harry had the yard brilliantly landscaped with lovely lilies that peeked at us through the lattice on the spacious patio where JoDean and daughters, Cherie and Canda, busily prepared the tables, serving arrangement and entertainment area before all 39 of us arrived. A perky sign on the patio wall called out, “Come sit and share my porch with me.” We all readily obliged!
Carl Klein prepared and proudly presented the delicious chopped barbecue from Outlaw Burger in Justin, while Ruthie helped JoDean and daughters with setting the table, arranging the food and helping serve. Other members brought sandwich “fixins,” potato salad, slaw, chips and dip and baked beans to complement the “cue.”
We all picked our best place on the spacious patio, enjoyed pleasantries and news updates with tablemates insuring that we had the best view of the entertainment to come.
The rain came, rearranging serving configurations, but could not dampen the fun, so it left leaving a cool breeze in its wake. The Andersons had, in the past, smartly installed fans on the patio wall, which added to the pleasant atmosphere outside.
Key lime pie, red velvet cake, brownies and made-from-scratch unique Norwegian cookies tantalizingly awaited us inside on the dinette table. As we contentedly consumed our choices, we were pleasantly surprised by the arrival of “Sonny and Cher,” who regaled us with “I’ve Got You, Babe,” then led us all in a sing-along. Everyone happily sang “Froggie Went-a-Courtin’, 500 Miles, How Great Thou Art and other “camp songs” we all love, and then Sonny and Cher shared a touching love song written by Pastors Judy and Jeff Fairchild. After several favorites we closed with Amazing Grace.