ONE MOMENT IN TIME

by Margaret Williams

Those of you who know me may have realized over the years that those lyrics
might be considered "my theme song." What does that mean? Well, let me tell
you a story.

"Each day I live I want to be, a day to give the best of me."

My friends know me pretty much as a traditionalist, not one given to trendy fashions, certainly not trendy hair styles, nor trendy pastimes. However, I always consider different ideas as an opportunity for personal growth. Therefore, last summer I felt it was time for me to again try something that I had known about for over fifty years...something that has stood the trials of time, but just had not been part of my lifestyle. So at my daughter and son-in-law's request, I went on a trip with them to Glen Eden Sun Club (of course, on a Karaoke night).

And what a philosophical journey that became. Here were people of all ages and backgrounds playing tennis, water volleyball, sunning themselves or splashing about in the lovely pool, hiking, sitting in groups chatting in the shade or the sun - doing whatever one would do at a resort or, as my daughter likened it to, our church camp back in Minnesota. There were children playing with their parents, people of different races, colors, sizes, shapes. HOWEVER, guess what - they were all AU NATUREL! As I told one of my closest KJ friends, I was just fine when I "got over the initial exposure."

Glen Eden has been in existence for some 39 years, and I was intrigued by the story told to me by one of the charter members. Much of the property had been developed by the hands and engineering minds of many pioneering volunteers now in their 60s. My first knowledge of this naturalist lifestyle goes back some 50 years in Minnesota. Those of you who knew my husband, Cliff, had never known that he, too, had been a nudist before we were married. He knew I was not "awakened" to this lifestyle and so did not pressure me in the least, but I wish now that he had. (We could have had even more fun!)

When Cliff and I were discussing music, I happened to mention my 7th grade chorus teacher who I admired as a sensitive and caring person, and my love of his favorite choral piece "Trees." When I mentioned the teacher's name, my husband said, "He's a member of the nudist resort I visited." Small world!!

Many people live at Glen Eden year round, while others come for a weekend or a day's outing. The lovely grounds boast a variety of homes, mobile homes, trailers, and campsites nestled among flower and cactus gardens. And oh, those weekends! Of course I decided I'd just come out for those once a month Karaoke nights, but then found these people knew how to have fun with band dances on the lawn, or beside the pool, or in Piper Hall. They celebrated Halloween like no other free spirits I had even seen - clothed or not, depending on the temperature and their choice!

There is a great spirit of camaraderie in the teams that plan these weekend activities and it doesn't take long before one becomes acquainted with more people in a day than one might in a month in the "regular" world. As I sat poolside on several weekends, I would work on my article and, of course, pass out the San Diego Scene magazine if a person seemed interested.

Although I have always been somewhat fashion conscious, my creativity flourishes with the "flourishes" I may wear as a pseudo "costume" on the Karaoke stage.

But to get back to my theme song, "You're a winner for a lifetime, if you seize that one moment in time - Make it shine." On my first Karaoke night at Glen Eden I sang One Moment in Time and brought the house down with the last line: "I will, I will be free!" And I have been most grateful for the comfort-zone that the KJ and musician, Rod Marshall, has extended to me and all of the singers, whether they be first nighters or seasoned performers. I understand that Rod has plans on the drawing board for making Karaoke an even bigger activity in the New Year.

Even though this experience is rather new to me, I truly feel that my credibility has been strengthened by my acceptance of this unadulterated love of naturalism, as a Blithe Spirit.

And now you know the rest of the story!!

I always appreciate receiving your thoughts and ideas. "You can reach me by
e-mail": fritzysox@aol.com