"Hoke, you're my best friend...you are!"

When Linda was first planning her visit, I had been thinking we would be enjoying the opera at the Jacksonville Symphony. It was a lesser-known show coming but the opera nonetheless. Then, Judy C. brought to my attention the coming play at the Alhambra Dinner Theater titled "Driving Miss Daisy" and I KNEW we had to choose that instead of the opera. Our church friend, Gretchen, refers to herself as Miss Daisy because of getting rides to church events with her friends. Judy and I, who shared the cost of her ticket, were joined by Darwin and Ethel, and Linda, of course. As Judy said later, we couldn't have asked for a better group, as we had all, except Linda, been our own Miss Daisy's driver. 

Judy C. came here at 10:00 a.m. which we determined was too early to head over, but Judy J. had said we would need that much time for driving. I knew we would not have traffic delays on a Saturday morning. We are nothing if not compliant. (Judy J. is going with a different group of church folks to this show next Saturday). In about a half hour we were parked in the lot at The Alhambra. Various senior citizen groups had buses and large vans pulling in to unload their passengers so we decided to go in and get in line, too. 

As we stood in line, the rest of our group found us, with Ethel stopping to pick up our guest of honor on their way over. In no time at all we were seated and served our drinks. The menu was amazing, offering four different entree choices, and so much nicer than buffet dining. I chose the corned beef brisket and Linda had the fish with lemon sauce. My portion was bountiful---so much so that I could not even finish all the meat. A wedge of cabbage came with the beef plus a potato pancake. Didn't care for the pancake, but the rest was delicious! I ate one entire slice of the meat, parts of the other slices, and all the pyramid shaped carrots. 

                                                     

The food was marvelous but nothing as  compared to the play. Actress Michael Learned portrayed Miss Daisy and played her nearly the same as Jessica Tandy did in the movie version. The man who played Hoke, her Black driver, nailed his role as well, each one aging right before our eyes. To do the car scenes, two stools were placed on the stage, one in front of the other to indicate front seat driver side, and the other back seat passenger side. When he would 'start' the car and step on the gas, they would lean back a bit to indicate forward motion. Very clever!

We were all amazed at how closely the play matched the movie, or would it be vice versa? More like the actors' voices sounded like Jessica and Morgan's from the movie. The acting was exquisite, in our opinions, with the set quite simple. It featured a single chair, end table, lamp, and off to the side was Boolie's desk for the office scenes. Plus the two stools. 

At the close of the show, when the two men visit Miss Daisy in the old folks' home, there were two chairs and the end table between them. It was there where Hoke sat to feed Miss Daisy her 'Thanksgivin' pie', as tears rolled down my cheeks. It was such a touching scene, in the movie as well as the play. Miss Daisy's feelings for Hoke gradually grew from resentment to genuine affection over the decades of companionship and through the societal changes going on around them. A Jewish lady and her Black driver became best friends, "how 'bout dat, Miss Daisy...how 'bout dat?" 

As we neared home from our ride from the Beaches, I got a phone call from the Alhambra, asking if I knew a Judy Chappell who was seated at our table. I said I had her in my car! It seems when we were digging for our tip money during intermission, her check book had fallen from her purse. The clean-up crew found it on the floor and they had it at their desk for her. She got Michael to ride back over there with her and then went to visit her daughter and family as long as they were out. The only downside to our fun day had an upside as well!

Linda and I decided to have Chinese for dinner Saturday night so we ordered in from Ming Moon. She had cashew shrimp with rice and an egg roll. I had my usual of cheese wontons. We have been spending most of our time in my room where the space heater is when not entertaining. It's chilly outside! The furnace thermostat (heat feature on the A/C) is set at 73 in the house but Linda prefers to sleep in cooler rooms so I wish to oblige! 

                                             

Justin said he considered putting his little heater thing, my old one, under his bed to warm the bed from the bottom. That's my boy!!!