THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, Thursday, December 1, 2011 Formerly & Everywhere! RFD# to the gulf stream waters 3 to the New York Island by Lorrie Baird WINNERS AND LOSERS by Lorrie Baird Jim slipped the T-shirt


over his head and I asked, “How does it feel to be a champion?” It’s hard to feel like a


champion when you’re wearing a hot pink T-shirt that says Name That Tune - First Place. Okay, so it wasn’t that


big a deal of a win but we were darn proud of wear- ing that shirt to The Club for a return engagement. It meant more to us than the fact that we won. It also meant that we were begin- ning to belong to our com- munity. We were part of a team. The winning team! Actually, it happened by


accident. We have talented friends who are singers and DJs and they head up a bi-annual contest at our community clubhouse called “Name That Tune.” Since we were new to the community last year we weren’t part of an estab- lished team. We felt like the new kids on the block peering through the play- ground fence and wonder- ing if we would get picked by anyone to play with them. Except that this was no playground. It was “The Club” and although we are residents of the commu- nity, we were not yet social members there. Now The Club can be


an imposing place. It’s one of those places that sits majestically on a hill with a large circular drive- way leading up to it with an expansive portico and two life size statues of li- ons guarding the double etched glass doorways. In short, it’s the kind of place that we thought we’d never even step into, never mind “belong.” This clubhouse is so big that a full sized palm tree grew out of the floor of the main staircase with lots of room to spare.


The Ladies Room lounge is so formal that I felt I should take off my shoes before stepping in. In short, The Club is not


the kind of place that gives you the warm fuzzies right away.


cause none of us got there early enough to snatch a better one. And it was right next to the noisiest team in Name That Tune history. All through the game they made such a racket we couldn’t hear


But something happened that night last year when we played our first Name That Tune game.


But something happened


that night last year when we played our first Name That Tune game. We were warmly welcomed into a team. We smiled while we were at the buffet table and the champion team T-shirt wearers kept joking with everybody, “You’re all go- ing down!” And best of all, by some miracle wrought by the grace of the angel assigned to newcomers in a community, Jim and I knew so many of the an- swers that we were told not to DARE think about join- ing another team. Right then and there we realized that it is not the venue that counts - be it upscale or humble - but it is qual- ity people who make up a true community. When it came time to tal-


ly the answer sheets and everyone got up to boogie it was the very first time that our dancing lessons actually came together and not only did Jim have fun, he didn’t stomp on my feet even once. It was a perfect night even before it was announced that our team won 145 points out of 150! And that’s when we were awarded the champion- ship T-shirts we were don- ning along with our team that night for hopefully, an encore performance. Right away, things were


different. Our team was relegated to a table in the back of the ballroom be-


ourselves think. A song would come


up and when the music stopped we were supposed to write down the lyrics. Except that at precisely that point the other team would shout out “I know it! I got it! I know it too!”... screaming their prowess across the table and pro- jecting it into the entire ballroom. Then something hap-


pened when we realized that greatly due to their cacophony, not only was our team not going to win this contest, we were prob- ably going to sink faster and harder than the Ti- tanic kissing an iceberg. And we did. We came in second from the last. As for the bullhorn team next to us…they came in sec- ond overall. Now all of us on our team


are more than grownup. We have told our kids hundreds of times that it is not if you win or lose; it’s how you play the game. But all of us know that it feels a lot better to win than to lose. I don’t know about you,


but after hearing the news that once again our gov- ernment leaders let us down after forming a Su- per Team to address our fiscal challenges I don’t feel as if we’re on a win- ning team anymore. Losing Name That Tune


was only a game. Losing a country’s trust? The stakes are far higher. It’s about time that both sides of the aisle realize that they are playing on the same team. Nobody has ever won any- thing by perfecting the game of inertia.


jim-lorrie@earthlink.net


29


EXPERIENCE IT LIVE! JUST ADDED!


Lewis Black: In God we Rust


April 28, 8:00pm ON SALE DEC 2! Riverdance: The Farewell Tour


April 12, 7:30pm ON SALE DEC 5! COMING SOON TO THE CCA


Dark Star Orchestra: Continuing the Grateful Dead Experience Dec. 5, 7:30pm


The Twelve Days of Christmas Dec. 17, 1:00 & 4:00pm


Skelley’s Market


Whether you are a vacationer or a full time resident of the Lakes Region,


Skelley's Market is the place to go for your shopping needs. Located on route 109 in beautiful Moultonboro, New Hampshire, we are very easy to find.


Skelley's Market services include:


• Gas 24 hours a day • Fresh pizza


• Bailey's Bubble Ice Cream • Pizza Special • Maps


• NH Lottery tickets • Movie rentals • Beer and Wine • Sandwiches • Daily papers


• Famous Lobster Rolls • Fish and Game, OHRV licenses


2 for $18 • 2 Toppings


Every Sat. Night • 5-9 p.m. • Clam & Scallop Special Every Fri. Night • 5-7 p.m. Summer Only!


Stop by Skelley's Market today and enjoy some great food, Bailey's Bubble Ice Cream, a lobster roll or anything else you may need. You will be glad you did.


374 Governor Wentworth HWY • Moultonboro, N.H. 03254 Call 603-476-8887 • F: 603-476-5176 • www.skelleysmarket.com


Come visit our other location: Skelley’s Market of Wolfeboro


35 Center St. • Wolfeboro, N.H. 03894 Call 603-515-1212 • F: 603-515-1183


44 South Main Street • Concord 603-225-1111 • www.ccanh.com


It’s a Wonderful Life: Live from the WVL Radio Theatre Dec. 20, 7:00pm


the national broadway tour of MAMMA MIA! Jan 10 & 11, 7:30pm


A ‘Moment in Time’ Tribute to Paul Whiteman- “King of Jazz” Jan. 15, 4:00pm


The Intergalactic Nemesis Jan. 20, 7:30pm


Everett Dance Theatre’s Brain Storm Jan. 28, 8:00pm


H e r From California... , T here...


e


From the redwood forest...


NEW!


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