March RV trip to Caney Lake near Chatham, La

Linda's former highschool classmates, known as 'Girls of 65,' planned a retreat at the lake house owned by Nettie Echols Cartwright's son. We planned to gather there Friday night for a meal and again on Saturday and leave on Sunday after lunch. There were beds at the lake house for about a dozen to sleep. Gil decided to take the RV and camp at the Jimmie Davis State Park, just down the road from the lake house. Our friends, Reba and Eddie Beard, also planned to camp at the park. Gil and I arrived at the campground Thursday afternoon and once set up at the campsite joined Reba and Eddie for the evening meal at their campsite. Reba had made chicken and spaghetti, green salad and a cake for super.

We had a lovely visit with them, getting to know them better and hear about their children and precious grandchildren (2 children, 9 grands). On Friday afternoon Reba and I drove to the lake house where we began to prepare the evening meal for the Girls. I made 'gumbolaya' - my version of gumbo which many say is more like jambalaya because I cook the rice in the same pot. The version I made for the Girls was my smoked sausage recipe. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it. Reba had wonderful garlic bread and someone else brought a big green salad. We also had several desserts including crepes made by my dear highschool friend and classmate Charlene Whitaker Bailey. About a dozen of the girls spent the night at the lake house.

On Saturday we gathered once again after breakfast and another 12 of our 'Girls' from highschool drove in for the day. Several live in Bastrop, several more in the Monroe/West Monroe area and a number had driven in from Texas for the weekend retreat. We had so much fun visiting and laughing and just 'hanging out.' The house was right on the water and had a nice dock for fishing. Then in the afternoon we all had the opportunity to go on a boat ride with James (owner of the lake house). It was a fast boat and he really showed us a good time as he took us around the beautiful lake so we could see the lovely homes there. Naturally, he took out only 5or 6 at a time. It really was a lot of fun.

On Sunday morning Gil and I decided to drive into East Texas to see the wildflowers since they were at their peak. Texas had had a lot of rain the previous week and some of the ladies who drove to the retreat told us that the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes were lovely. We ended up having some repairs made on the motorhome in Lufkin and again in Marshall, TX. BUT all in all it was a great trip. The Girls are planning to make this an annual retreat at Lake Caney and I really look forward to it again next year. There were 25 of us Girls there on Saturday. Hope more can come next year. Our name 'Girls of 65' comes from the fact that we graduated from highschool in May 1965, BUT this year is significant in that most of us turn 65 and go on Medicare. I think we are a bunch of beautiful ladies! We sure know how to have fun!