Panic set in

at 7:50 p.m. while we were still making our way through the three tiers.

The main course had not even been served. My eye frantically caught the

eye of our hostess, Gwen Bankovich. I explained my dilemma.

In a matter

of seconds her husband and our co-host, Joe, was off to the big house

to record the season finale of "JAG" for me. I do love a hero

and Joe was mine for the night!

I was at another

monthly themed evening "tea" at the Petite Wisteria behind the

Grand Wisteria Plantation house on Roosevelt Highway in Greenville. This

month's theme, "The Mad Hatter," also drew Renee Walden and

Terri Hobbs from Sharpsburg, who had just debuted their Vintage Lollibelle

hat line earlier this month.

Having attended

their first trunk showing in Newnan, I was quite eager to know more about

the pair of unlikely southern belle entrepreneurs, so I was delighted

to be able to share a table with them. Little did I suspect that I was

in the presence of two renowned "Pond Queens" (another story

for another day!).

So there I

sat, supposedly relaxed, absolutely engrossed in conversation with my

fascinating table mates, when "JAG" panic suddenly set in. The

event had begun at 6 p.m. and I had somehow forgotten that Evening Tea

at the Grand Wisteria is a bit more than going out for dinner. It's truly

an event!

In fact, when

I slipped out, "JAG" video in hand, shortly before 10 p.m.,

the party was still going strong. After eating, Gwen had presented each

guest with their own straw hat along with the ultimate Barney bag filled

with potential decorations. A heated competition was still well under

way when back pain demanded that I head home.

Of course,

Renee and Terri had brought their hats, which are an attraction unto themselves.

When I had to leave, the other guests had yet to make their way back over

to the main house to peruse the Vintage Lollibelle collection on display

in the formal plantation dining room. With the world headquarters for

their millinery creations in an exquisite and inviting antebellum home

in Sharpsburg, Rene and Terri were right at home in this complementary

setting.

Their hats,

created on their grandmothers' old Singer sewing machines, range from

$15 to $75 and are so worth seeing. For information about trunk showings

or to make an appointment to see their collection call 770-251-7309.

To learn more

about the Grand Wisteria call 706-672-0072 or go to www.grandwisteria.com.

The host couple at this popular and growing Meriwether County attraction

almost effortlessly make it possible for their B&B guests to slip

back in time.

In fact, a

timeless lap of luxury awaits any who relax at this c.1832, neo-classical,

plantation manor house which is listed on the National Register of Historic

Places and sits on 13 acres just south of the city of Greenville.

There's not

a day goes by that I don't whisper a prayer of thanksgiving that I now

live in such a quiet, historical and truly scenic area. A few of the women

I have met around here seem to find our rural life a bit slow and somewhat

boring. While that attitude sometimes blows me away, it does serve to

remind me how different we all are, and that's a good thing!

And now, back

to the back pain that stopped me in my tracks earlier this week and caused

me to slip out early on my evening of fun, entertainment and absolutely

delicious eats. In times past, I would not even have attempted to put

in an appearance at any event while that uncomfortable.

Life, however

has taught me that it is still so worth living, and living well,

in spite of pain and chronic illness! In fact, I was thinking, while driving

over to my event last night, that perhaps I should do a seminar on "Living

Well with Chronic Pain and Illness."

My nursing

background, interaction with so many chronically and terminally ill individuals,

and personal experience make me uniquely qualified! So I'm wondering today

if any readers might be interested in such a program.

Years ago,

I decided I would no longer let pain and illness take from me, without

giving something in return. I don't know when they began to give more

than they take, but that's the way it is now. I suppose I have begun to

realize lately that since I have received so much, perhaps it is time

to start sharing more. Give me a call at 770-460-5000 and let me know

what you think.

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