Title: The Golden Grove Chronicles
Nestled just outside Asheville, North Carolina, Golden Grove Senior Living Community wasn’t your typical retirement home. With a pickleball court that never rested, yoga classes at dawn, and themed potlucks ( cocktail hour in THD) every Friday night, Golden Grove was more like a cruise ship on land—minus the sea sickness. ( THD has been described by a few THD Residents as a cruise ship minus seasickness also)
Chapter 1: The Newcomer
Eighty-two-year-old Margaret "Maggie" Delaney arrived at Golden Grove with a rolling suitcase and a wary heart. A retired librarian from Boston, she had spent the last two years living alone after losing her husband, Henry. Her daughter finally convinced her to move closer—and into “a place with more life than Bingo.” ( A place with more life than Bridge- here at THD).
She was greeted by Gloria Martinez, a seventy-five-year-old firecracker and unofficial mayor of Golden Grove. Gloria had flaming red hair, a sassy attitude, and a habit of sneaking her pug, Napoleon, into community yoga.
“We don’t do lonely here,” Gloria said, wrapping Maggie in a citrus-scented hug. “We do book clubs, brisk walks, and occasionally, wine tastings ( also beer tasting here at THD) disguised as Bible studies.”
Chapter 2: The League of Gents
Across the courtyard, a group of four men—collectively known as The League of Gents—were plotting their next campaign: to convince management to allow a bocce court to replace the underused putting green.
Leading the pack was Charles “Chuck” Bradley, a retired lawyer with a fondness for suspenders and conspiracy theories (“They are watering down the prune juice, I swear!”). His best friend, Jerome Ng, once a NASA engineer, now used his math skills to beat everyone at poker and to time his naps with scientific precision.
Despite their jokes and occasional complaints, the League of Gents were the backbone of Golden Grove’s social calendar. They organized movie nights, taught tech classes, and offered unsolicited advice to anyone who’d listen.
Chapter 3: Tuesdays with Helen
Helen Cohen, ninety and nearly blind, led the community’s poetry circle ( THD used to have a weekly poetry group). Every Tuesday, residents gathered in the sunroom while Helen recited verses from memory. Her words stitched together decades of love, loss, resilience, and grace.
Maggie found herself drawn to these sessions, often staying behind to help Helen transcribe new work. Through these quiet afternoons, Maggie began to unpack her own grief—and rediscovered her passion for writing.
“You’re not starting over,” Helen told her one day, “You’re starting forward.”
Chapter 4: The Great Halloween Caper
Every year, Golden Grove held a legendary Halloween bash. This year, Gloria was determined to win Best Costume. She recruited the League of Gents, Maggie, and even Helen to perform as the cast of The Golden Girls. Chuck, despite protests, ended up as Blanche. Jerome refused to wear a wig, so he was cast as “that off-screen neighbor who talks too much.”
The show was a hit. Photos went viral. A local TV crew even came to cover the community's antics. Golden Grove became known not just for its amenities, but for its soul.
Epilogue: A Place to Belong
Months passed. Maggie no longer felt like a guest. Her days were filled with laughter, companionship, and a sense of purpose. She was even writing a memoir, tentatively titled Chapters at Golden Grove.
In a place where most people came expecting to slow down, they were instead reminded that there was still so much left to live.
Because at Golden Grove, age wasn’t the end of the story—it was the beginning of a new, golden chapter.
My Comments: I could flagerized the above story by changing the name of the community, the residents, the activities and add my own story based on my observations of several residents stories here at THD, but I would not...
I hope you enjoy the above fictional story generated by AI technology in less than 2 minutes. 💚The above photo of me and Mary Ann ( a good friend) was taken at the 2024 Luau Party here at TD.
Meanwhile, Did you know that......
Avocados are unique among fruits because they do not ripen while still attached to the tree. Instead, they begin to soften and mature only after being picked. This allows farmers to use the tree itself as natural storage, leaving the fruit hanging until needed. By doing so, avocados can be kept fresh on the tree for up to seven months, helping reduce waste and allowing for better control over harvest and market timing.
Lastly, My Photo of the Day:
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