In 1973, my husband and I bought 65 acres of land with an old farmhouse, that bordered a river, in Salem, SC. My husband, an engineer and builder, renovated the farmhouse, and for the next ten years, our family spent our summers there. It was a major treat to drive twenty minutes into Walhalla for lunch at The Steak House Cafeteria. The cafeteria serves the best, plump, juicy fried chicken that was, and still is, the main attraction, as you can see by this photo of Abed Yassen.

It felt as if thirty years had not gone by, as I greeted old friends and former neighbors at the restaurant on Saturday afternoon, April 23rd. My sons, their wives, and my daughters joined my husband and me at the for a warm and wonderful reception given by Abed and Gloria Yassen, owners of the restaurant, Gloria's sister, Rolann Lee, a gracious hostess, and Rolann's daughter, Tonja and her husband, Ammar AlNajjar, who help manage the Steak House Cafeteria.

This delightful event was prompted by the publication of The Three Parker Women, my new novel, which is set in Salem and Walhalla, SC (several scenes are set inside the Steak House Cafeteria). The novel is dedicated to Abed and Gloria and to my dear friends from Salem, Edith and Alden Galloway.

I sat in the restaurant thinking how incredible and comforting, that in this world of rapid change, I could still eat the same delicious food, at the same restaurant, in the same town, and talk and visit with the same good people. Now that was a treat beyond treats.

Edith and Alden were there, and we revisited old times, creating an organic garden, canning beans, and chatting about our lives. Alden reminded me of the time I was so upset because a huge area of grass that had been destroyed when they put in the septic tank and drain field in front of the house, in the pasture I loved. If you haven't had a septic tank in your yard, you might be horrified too, watching them dig long trenches, fill them with gravel, then backfill with dirt, and leave your lawn or pasture a perfect mess. Alden kindly and patiently seeded the area and reassured me that soon it would be green and lovely-and it was.

My thanks to Abed, Gloria, Tonja and Ammar and Rolann, who worked so hard to make this event very pleasant and highly successful, and my thanks to Rolann, who handled the publicity, which appeared in the local and neighboring newspapers. My appreciation, also, to the owners to the Booksmith Bookstore in Seneca, for bringing my books, so that those who wished to could purchase them and I could autograph them. To all of you, my friends, thank you for your kindness to me over the years and on Saturday, April 23rd.

Since The Three Mrs. Parkers was published, I have been invited to many places to talk about the novel and to sign my books. On April 11th I attended high tea at the beautiful home of gracious, Pat Ledford, in Johnson City, TN. The event was a meeting of the Johnson City Newcomers Club's Book Club, and the ladies prepared a sumptuous array of cakes and sandwiches, as well as offering a variety of teas, hot and cold. Pat is a charming hostess, and her home is beautiful.

Among those attending was Maxine Phillipi, the Red Hat Society's choice to represent the organization on QVC. Maxine is a wonderful example of a women of a certain age, who has embarked on a new career. We wish her good health and happiness as she glides into this great adventure.

I forgot. I'm 72 and not 45 years old, and I have said yes to too many talks and signings, which because most are out of town, hasn't helped in my recovery from back surgery.

My good friend and fellow author, Celia Miles, and I go to most events together and bless her, she drives. Even so, riding is hard on me, and I come home aching and exhausted. My body is giving me a message, wouldn't you say?

I regret very much that I have had to cancel several events that I would have enjoyed attending, and those of you reading this, who are among those whom I will not be seeing this summer, I hope to be able to join you later in the year. I thank you for your kindness and understanding of me on this matter.