By VERNA BROCK
Ever notice how it feels like we never catch up? With life, I mean. This past year has been full of fun and exciting times, but whew! I sometimes think I’m so busy looking ahead and planning for the next thing that I can’t enjoy the moment I’m in!
I loved seeing my old friends at my 52nd class reunion in South Jersey. I REALLY loved seeing my only surviving Aunt and Uncle at my family reunion in Fernandina Beach. Nobody relishes the holidays, and all that entails, more than I. Those who know me best, know I am a total “people person.” I pretty much can’t say no to being involved, whether it’s my Church, Optimist Club, 4-H, my beloved Woodville VFD and Founders Day Festival, writing class, or painting class…well, you get the drift. There is always another project, another event, looming on the horizon.
I will never refuse a chance to be with friends and family. But I also am craving some down time. Just a skosh, a day or two, every now and then. I recently found myself advising a friend to take a breather, to prevent burnout. Admittedly, her plate was way more full than mine, with very different pressures. But I realized the advice was good, even while empathizing with her. The only problem is how to actually take it to heart myself.
So my goal is to make time, after March, to reorganize and prioritize my calendar (again). I have some thoughts on how to create space for slowing down while continuing all the things I love to do. We’ll see how that works out in reality!
Speaking of March! This weekend is the annual reenactment of the historic Battle of Natural Bridge. This will be the 49th year the State Park has hosted it, and the 161st anniversary of the actual conflagration. If you have never attended, I highly recommend going. A word of warning for parents of small children: it is very loud when the battle begins. Those are real cannons being fired.
The Woodville United Methodist Church is hosting its Second Sunday Sing this week, at 6 p.m., followed by a fellowship supper at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public, and everyone is welcome. The music is always lively and the meal is delicious, so y’all come!
Wakulla Wonderful, celebrating the founding of Wakulla County, will be held on Saturday, March 14th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Wakulla County Extension Office. This annual event is sponsored by 4-H and will feature vendors, food trucks and booths. Be sure to drop by and check it out!
The Woodville Founders Day Festival is quickly approaching. It is a major fundraiser for the VFD and a way to raise the profile of fabulous Woodville. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 21st, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the J. Lewis Hall Recreation Park and Fields. The Mountain Dew Cloggers will perform at noon, and we have a wide variety of musicians and performers scheduled for the day. There will also be historical demonstrations and a large vendor fair with food trucks. Free and open to the public, it promises to be a fun-filled day for the entire family.