Page 19 - Boca Club News - July '24

Boca Club News, Page 19
Essays on Life: Widowhood

By Sonia E. Ravech. Sonia is a find different ways to occupy their time and fill the void. I have If there is one advantage to being a member of the
native of Massachusetts and a chosen the latter. Widow’s Club, it has to be the lack of accountability. For
resident of Broken Sound for more Widowhood is, however, an adjustment, especially after years I was accountable to someone. As a child, I was
than 30 years. She is the mother having been married for sixty-two years. The daily routine accountable to my parents. As a wife, I was accountable to
of four, grandmother of seven and I was used to is no longer the daily routine. I miss all the my husband. As a mother, I was accountable to my children.
great-grandmother of four. She has little insignificant things the most. Things like not having As a widow, I am only accountable to myself.
been the facilitator of the Broken my husband around to open a new jar of pickles, or to take If I choose to stay in bed until 10:00 a.m., I am not
Sound Memoir Writers’ Workshop the barrels down to the bottom of the hill on trash day, or to concerned that someone is waiting for me to prepare breakfast.
for the past seven years. run to the convenient mart to buy a newspaper. I miss not If I skip doing the laundry, no one will be disappointed if his
On June 28th, 2017, I became a member of the having him around to blow the leaves off the driveway, to or her favorite jeans are not clean and ready to wear. If I’m too
world-famous Widow’s Club. Although the Club doesn’t talk to about my day, to make me laugh at his silly jokes, or lazy to shop, I can enjoy a bowl of cereal for dinner without
discriminate, welcoming women young and old, black, brown even to bicker and argue with over unimportant trivia. worrying that I didn’t prepare a meal. If I want to sit and read
and white, rich and poor, religious and atheist, intelligent and I miss not being able to share with him all the special all afternoon, I can do so without guilt.
illiterate, most who join do not do so willingly. Some resist and exciting life cycle events that have taken place over the This lack of accountability provides a freedom I haven’t
and enter kicking and screaming; others, like myself, accept past six years–the marriages of three more grandchildren, experienced before. I am grateful for my good health and
the inevitable and vow to forge ahead. the births of two more great-grandchildren, the purchase of financial security. I am also fortunate to have great kids who
After joining the Club, members have two choices. They new homes by four of our grandchildren, the high school live in Massachusetts, but who visit, keep in touch and care
can isolate, feel sorry for themselves, become depressed and and college graduations, the special birthdays–all the family about my wellbeing; however, I am determined to live my
lonely; or they can learn to live within their new normal and milestones we used to celebrate together. remaining years as independently as possible.
I sometimes feel guilty that I have chosen to live so far
away in Florida for eight months of the year, and the other
four on Cape Cod. I know the kids worry that I am alone, but
Our 38
th
I appreciate the warm climate that Florida provides, and the
Ann
Annual peace and serenity I experience when I am on the Cape. My
ual
greatest fear is that I will become a burden for my children.
I pray I will be able to stay in my own homes and maintain
my independence until it is my time.
Summer Sale
Summer Sale reminiscing about the past more, remembering all the intimate
Since I joined the Widow’s Club, I do find myself
moments. Thank goodness my brain is still alert enough to
recall all those unique memories. I still enjoy planting and
weeding, although I don’t have the energy I once had. I
still can drive, although I don’t like driving long distances
or at night. I like to read and to write, and after Covid-19
I appreciate being able to continue to participate in those
activities that bring me pleasure.
Although I have been a member of the Widow’s Club for
six years, it is not a Club in which I choose to be an active
participant. I prefer to enjoy my membership in the Grateful
to be Alive Club, a club in which I hope to maintain my
membership for many more productive years.

Film Review from page 18

I usually have
to watch dozens
of films to find
one worth writing
about. So when I
read the two- or
three-sentence
description of this
movie’s story line
I looked forward
to a change of

it had received
pace, even though
only mixed critical
reviews when
Lenses on 1 Pair
st

originally released.
laughs from this comedy to make the time on Netflix
And sure enough, both my wife, Linda, and I got enough

definitely worthwhile.
Lenses on 2 Pair
nd

The “Nonna” in the title refers to the elderly Grandma

in an Italian family that has gathered together at a
*Except Cartier & Maui Jim restaurant at her request because she has an important
announcement to make. The others are: her daughter,
Rx or Non-Rx Lenses on 3 or More Anna; Anna’s husband, Carlo…and their two teen-agers
rd
(Grandma’s grandchildren), Alessandra and Emilio.
Expires 08/21/24 Expires 08/21/24 Before Grandma arrives we already learn that she
is very wealthy, and that the four awaiting her suspect
KNOWN FOR OUR SELECTION • REMEMBERED FOR OUR SERVICE she wants to discuss her plans for how she is going to
distribute her inheritance, believed to be in the millions!
So when the elderly woman—still dressed fashionably,
with hair and cosmetics in stylish mode—announces
instead that she has met a younger man who is apparently
Never in love with her, that they have had passionate sex, she
Boring is wildly happy, and that he has asked to marry her—the
family is aghast! Especially when the lover she names
is a former school boyfriend of her daughter, Anna—a
man under suspicion in three countries for the possible
murder of his three earlier rich wives!
With two motives now—to save Grandma’s life and
to protect their own interest in the eventual inheritance
that might go to her husband in the event of his plan’s
success—the family must now find a solution to their
dilemma…even if it means learning how to commit a
murder of their own.
THE SHOPS AT BOCA CENTER ON MILITARY TRAIL | 561-394-5551 | GROVEOPTICIANS.COM That’s where the fun begins. And where my spoilers
end. The rest is up to you.