Garden parties and thoughts
of the old neighborhood

As the Washington's Birthday celebration season gears up, Lorraine Laurel and Kiko Zuniga reign as Martha and George, and pretty Ashley Cass prepares to represent Princess Pocahontas. What a good time we will have!
Thanksgiving weekend was full of activities, as usual. Families everywhere gathered to give thanks on Thursday, then on Friday, the Society of Martha Washington's Colonial Ladies' annual brunch for the debs and their mothers was held on the Laredo National Bank 10th floor. The lovely young ladies and their moms were introduced and photos were taken, after which a practice was held at the Country Club, followed by a hamburger bash.
Saturday night, our granddaughter as well as the other Society of Martha Washington debs made us all proud at the glittering Presentation and Ball held at the Laredo Country Club.
Our baby sister Valerie Leyendecker turned 50 and the occasion was marked with a party in the patio and gardens of sister Linda Gutierrez and her husband Beto. Catered by Javier García, the food was divine, the company even more so, as family and friends from all the years gathered to help celebrate. Val's dad Tom, brother Tommy, sisters Jennie and husband Barry Reed, Linda and Beto, Mary Tom and Jack Claflin, niece Nite Volpe and husband John, cousin Patsy Galo and Dr. Mickey, and friend Terry Deutsch hosted.
Among the guests were Chito Padilla, Laurie Sanditen Joseph, Laura Casso, Eugenia and Ramon Salido, Adriana McKendrick, Joe Martin and Rita Peters, Hector Hall and his sister Laura Ankilowitz, and many others.
Not too long after, Linda again opened her gardens to host a party to help Norita Montemayor launch Con Cariño, a recipe book featuring favorite recipes of her beloved late mom, Nora. Well put together, the book is filled with treasured recipes that Nora treated her family and friends to for so many years. Helpful hints and colorful words to live by fill the volume. The books sold out and orders were taken for another printing. Copies may be reserved by calling Norita. Invited guests came to taste delectable samples and buy the cookbook.
Once the home of her grandparents Wilt and Kate Lang, Linda has completely restored the home, where she and Beto now live. The side and back yards are bricked and this is the area in which they entertain and have so many outdoor meals. They have now purchased the lot behind the home and that is used for parking their vehicles and more patio area. Guests flow throughout the area, which also houses a second story studio over what was once the garage. Linda has now also purchased the Pappas home to use for her costume business. She creates many of the gorgeous colonial costumes for the participants to wear during the Washington's Birthday celebration.
Many memories were recalled as this was the "old neighborhood" for several of the guests. Senator Judy Zaffirini and her sister Celita Borchers, Adriana McKendrick, and Linda and her sister, your reporter, were born or were raised on Matamoros Street. Linda inherited her home from uncle Art Lang. Judy and Celita's grandparents, Santiago and Sara Pappas, and Adriana's grandparents, Emilio and Virginia Garza Lozano, owned homes in the 1800 block. Pretty Ofelia de Lachica still lives in their family home next to Linda's.
On a sadder note, we learned that Tom Earls, of the booming voice and tremendous intellect and wit, passed away in Euless. He was married to the former Lucile Johnson. Lucile's sister Joyce married his nephew Frank Earls. The Laredo sisters met their future husbands while they were in the Air Force. Tom became an attorney after leaving the military. He was 69, and despite his illness had argued a case in court just six days before his death. The couple had been married for 41 years. He will be greatly missed.
Good news for the Deliganis family. Youngest son Philip will marry Pamela Smith on April 24 in Houston. Philip was born in Laredo, as were his parents, Wanda Yates Deliganis and the late Louis Deliganis.
Just heard from our globetrotting pals Jim and Sylvia Whitworth. They began the year scuba diving off of Palau, Micronesia. Then they flew to Australia, where they spent a month rock climbing and scuba diving while living on a live-aboard scuba diving boat. By June they were at a family wedding in East Hampton, then on to the Big Apple for plays and baseball games. By November they were in Thailand riding elephants and walking on the bridge over the river Kwai. They will be in Italy over the Christmas holidays with their daughter Camille. They will have to curtail their travels some this year as Jim will become Commodore of the Bay Yacht Club in Corpus. Gasp! Can we keep up with this energetic pair?
Till next month, have a merry Christmas and a happy and safe new year!