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Today was a dreary, soggy, rain-soaked day and after a morning of laundry, vacuuming and straightening up I still had a lot of pent-up energy, sort of a cabin fever feeling. I called my 85 year-old friend, Trudy (whom I had been promising to take on a tour of the Glenwood Community Center) for a long time, and decided the time was now to make good on my promise.

I dropped Trudy at curbside while I secured as close a parking space as I could find and caught up with her inside. She remarked on the many friendly people who greeted her on their way out. Quite a few had just come from the Civil War Lecture Series; this month the topic was "The Battle of Gettysburg," complete with a Power Point presentation. The presenter, Joe Mieczkowski, will also be the tour guide for the Gettysburg bus trip scheduled for Friday, June 26, 7:30 a.m.

According to handouts at the center, this trip looks to be top-of-the-line. Getting there will be half the fun on a luxury bus. The tour begins at the new Museum and Visitor Center (it opened last September) with the Gettysburg Cyclorama experience, which includes the film, "A New Birth of Freedom." I've been to Gettysburg and I can tell you the Cyclorama is a very moving experience (and this was before it was restored.) The effect of being surrounded by floor to sky high scenes of Pickett's Charge, the climatic battle, creates an eerie and breathe-taking experience. And the emotion that is called up during that experience is further heightened by the actual tour of the battlefields. A ticket is $75; the experience, priceless. A buffet lunch is included in the price at Farnsworth House Inn, a dining experience Bon-Appetitie magazine described as: "History never tasted so good."

Trudy and I stopped by the front desk so I could introduce her to the friendly people who greet guests to the center and while there Bernice asked me to mention that the new Tai Chi class that started still needs participants. Trudy and I signed up. What the heck, I've always wanted to find out just what this ancient exercise based on slow, flowing movements will do for someone who in her younger days was described as "having ants in her pants." The classes are Wednesday, 1 p.m. and the cost is $45 for eight sessions. The instructor is Kelly Phillips.

Bernice also called my attention to a flier with the title: Searching for D-Day Veterans. June 6, 2009, marks the 65th anniversary of D-Day and the state of Maryland is trying to identify as many V-Day veterans as possible. The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs is asking veterans to fill out a form with their name, address, Military Unit on D-Day, branch of service, rank, phone and e-mail and to send it to the following address: James A Adkins, Secretary, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, The Jeffrey Building, 16 Francis St., Annapolis, MD 21401. Or call 410-260-3838 and tell them you are a D-Day vet and they will assist you.

There's only a week left to April but many interesting things are lined up at the center. Want to learn how to conserve energy, whether or not you put on a sweatshirt? Here's your chance. Tuesday, April, 28, 10 a.m. take part in a BGE Energy Conservation session where a BGE representative will share ideas on how you can conserve energy, save money, and will answer all your questions.

A very special program, "The Life of Julia Child," is also planned for Wednesday, April 29, 10:30 a.m. The presenter, Mary Ann Jung will bring the world famous author to life as she showcases the life of this witty woman who made culinary history and brought French cooking to America at a time, no less, when TV dinners were the rage. Cost: $3.

Looking ahead to May, Friday, May 1 is Law Day at the center where volunteers will be available to help those individuals who sign up to prepare an advance medical directive or living will. You must sign up for an appointment for this free service. Register at the front desk or call 410-313-5440. This is an all-day event, 9 a.m. - noon and 1-4 p.m.

On the way out of the center I took Trudy, who swims twice a week, on a tour of the gym, showed her the great indoor walking track, and tried to talk her into a lap but she declined, and headed instead for the water world outside the door. She was on a tour and was ready to do some laps around the Glenwood Library instead. We concluded our afternoon with an auto tour of the playing fields in Western Regional Park. Trudy was very impressed with the whole complex. Her comment: "This is the way a community should be set up - with all these buildings and activities in one location."

She'll be back!

E-mail Judy Boman at judyboman@yahoo.com.

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