Dateline Dayton – Continuing our travels: It now is Friday, and we are on our way to see Aunt Alma, who lives in Sun City. Uncle Dick died just after our visit with them last year. I felt it was important to continue the stop on our way to Venice. Besides, I do their tax returns, so it would be an opportunity to get their information at the same time. We had a nice visit and caught up on all her family information. Yes, I did get the tax information.

We wanted to take Aunt Alma to lunch, but she had a lot on her mind. She had just purchased a condo in the development, and we were at the one-year anniversary of Dick’s passing. She wasn’t interested in going out. We stopped at the same place where we ate last year, a fish restaurant, down the street from her development.

We arrived at the home of our friends, Darlene and Ray, at 4 o’clock. After unloading the car and catching up on their news, we were off to supper for fish, at restaurant near their house. That evening we went to Venice Beach for their musical sunset ceremony.

After breakfast on Saturday, Ray and I went to the Dome Flea Market. I wanted a couple of can caps, and I had remembered seeing them there last year. We joined Nan and Gale at the rec center of the complex after lunch, and we were treated to great band music. Since it was St Patrick’s Day, they played Irish tunes. It was back to Venice Beach later for a presentation by the Venice Symphony. This was a wonderful program. Lots of Irish music on a beautiful and sunny Saturday afternoon.

In the evening, we returned to the same restaurant where we celebrated St Patrick’s Day last year in Florida, Pineapples. We enjoyed a pleasant meal while there was Irish dancing on stage.

On Sunday we attended church and went out for breakfast. In the afternoon, we met up with Pam and Joe – I worked with Joe in high school and I do his taxes. The six of us headed for Salomon Castle, a real castle. It’s a unique place in Ona, an hour from Venice. The castle is beyond description, and there is a restaurant on the property where we enjoyed a meal. We returned to Joe and Pam’s home for some dessert and fellowship.

On Monday morning we resumed our tradition of going to Beal’s, a clothing store, for Senior Day. All seniors get 15 percent off their purchases on Mondays. After getting the shopping out of the way, which took some time, we headed for the beach.

In the evening we went to a restaurant, off the beaten path, a neat setting that featured members of the group that had played on Saturday afternoon at the rec center. Not only was the place unusual, the service was poor, and the food fell short, too. Maybe we were there on a bad day. They didn’t have enough help, and they were running out of food. Maybe we will try next year?

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net