M & M (MARVELOUSLY MATURE) GROUP: We sing some of the great old songs we remember from our youth, learn something new from a speaker, or just let someone entertain us, play table games and eat a great potluck lunch together. (And we have some terrific cooks.) On the Monday evening following the monthly meeting we meet to enjoy a movie (again the oldies, but goodies), with refreshments provided. Sometimes we pile in the church van for trips to concerts, plays, or to see Christmas lights or go interesting places such as museums or shopping. There are no dues, no fees, no membership requirements. We're, mostly, Blanco County residents, aged 55 or better, who come together to celebrate good times with old friends and new. Membership is open to all mature adults in the area. Meets 1st Wednesday at 10 am at the Johnson City 1st Methodist Church, in the Wesley Activity Center. For more information contact the First United Methodist Church office at 830-868-7414.

MAY, 2007, AARP's DRIVER SAFETY COURSE: Carol Schlacter of Johnson City gets a question answered by Jake Wiggins of Burnet, the instructor for the AARP's Driver Safety course taught at the First United Methodist Church of Johnson City.

The course was sponsored by the Marvelously Matures seniors group at the church. Wiggins told the students common driver mistakes change as a driver ages.

For example, speeding and reckless driving tend to be problems of immature drivers, while the most frequent error made by older drivers is not recognizing who has the right-of-way in a situation, followed by improper left turns.

Marvelously Matures chair Mary Frances Madison said the church office will gather names of interested drivers, and the group will bring the AARP course back when there are enough to fill a class.


MOMS: Brady Odiorne knows where he wants the car to go, and he's pretty sure how to make it go there, but he hadn't counted on Hanna Hudler having other ideas about speed and destination. Happily, moms were in easy reach to make sure no major conflict broke out. They're all part of the MOMS program at the First United Methodist Church, where the pre- schoolers have an unstructured play-day in the church playground every Wednesday morning.

Whether church members or not, all kids are welcome to join the fun, while learning essential skills like playing with others and how to make the see-saw go.

Meanwhile, their mothers swap essential data like what's new in the child-snack line and where you found those great sunglasses.

The church is planning to accommodate the growing number of children by doubling the size of the playground and adding new toys and play-structures.

Brady will be happy if they just add another car, so he can drive without traffic hazards.




FREE FAMILY MOVIES: Free Family Movie Night, the popular monthly film series at Johnson City's First United Methodist Church, has launched its 2010 series of Monday night films.

Our Free Family Movie Nights, sponsored by our Marvelously Matures -- the M&Ms -- resume this year.

They're all free and come with free refreshments. There's always a cartoon and sometimes "selected short subjects" -- like the Dancing Nazis, who pop up when you least expect it.