Share Club shares the love with dance
Love was in the air at the North Fort Myers Community Center on Thursday and red was the color as the SHARE Club held its monthly dance for members with Valentine’s Day as the theme.
The meeting room was packed with older residents, many of whom have been in love with their significant other for decades and are proud to show it.
The SHARE Club holds these dinner dances quite often. However, Valentine’s Day comes only once a year and what better place to bring your loved one?
“It gives club members a chance to socialize with different people,” said Paula Sharp of SHARE Club. “We have many social occasions, but this is more of a gathering.”
The event featured music from The Two Live Wires, and Brookdale Senior Living sponsored the lasagna dinner that was served by volunteers. There was also a 50/50 drawing and door prizes.
“We do an outreach program in the community to educate people about independent and assisted living options,” said Joan Jenkins, sales manager for Ameritus at The Lakes. “Tonight, though, it’s just a lot of fun.
The couples (and a few singles) came decked out in their reds and whites, sitting at tables with red and white holiday decor.
Barbara and Bernie Jahn, longtime snowbirds from Minnesota, came to celebrate 50 years of marriage and added they don’t miss many chances to dance.
“We’ve been coming to these dances a long time. We don’t miss many of them. It’s good fellowship, good music and a very good evening,” Barbara said, adding “The secret to a good marriage is to bite your tongue a lot.
“I’ve been dancing since I discovered girls. Twelve sounds reasonable,” Bernie said, adding, “Being married 50 years has to be good or you wouldn’t last that long.”
Judy and Dennis Dwiggins, first-time snowbirds at their first SHARE Club dance, have been married 44 years, and say they are more romantic than they have ever been, going to hockey games and such.
“He’s probably the kindest man I’ve ever met. We always look forward to doing things like this,” Judy said.
“I used to take her to Target and tell her to pick out a card, read it and put it back,” Dennis joked. “Now, I buy her one.”
There were some who came “stag.” Marilyn Nystrom, of North Fort Myers, is a first-time snowbird (and neighbors to the Jahns up north) who celebrated her 39th wedding anniversary in memory of her husband, who passed away 10 years ago.
“I still carry him in my heart. If he were here today, we’d be coming here. I’m honoring him by getting back in the stream of life after I was so clouded by his death,” Nystrom said. “I love meeting people who have been married a long time.”
SHARE Club’s next dance, the final of the season, will be for St. Patrick’s Day on March 12. The cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members. Registration is required.