For a number of weeks, actually, I think about three months, this voice in my head keeps telling me, “go to the gym.” Somehow, I managed to ignore it but as the weeks passed the tiny voice grew louder with each passing day and wouldn’t go away. It made me feel guilty.
I realized I had neglected exercise or walking on a routine basis ever since I had major back surgery last spring; however, my surgeon said my bones were healed and instructed me to return to a good exercise routine last fall, saying it will strengthen my back muscles.
But I didn’t darken the door of the gym. I always found an excuse not to go in. The weeks melted into months and still I didn’t go. I could always find a plausible excuse.
Finally, my guilt got the better of me. I donned my favorite gym clothes and shoes and headed straight to Southwest Georgia Fitness Center.
I opened the gym door and it felt like I had come home. So happy I have taken the first step toward getting back into a good exercise routine. The major hurdle is out of the way. Now, the next hurdle to leap is returning to yoga. “I’ll get there,” I tell the voice in my head. “Don’t nag,” I say.
Lake Blackshear Regional Library observed a milestone last weekend with the presentation of the 28th annual theater event, “Into the Woods,” presented by the Friends organization and directed by Anne Isbell. My, how time flies. It doesn’t seem that long ago that the library’s first theater event, “Tower of Ecstasy,” a mystery written by Nancy Peabody and directed by Mary Ann Thomas, was staged and in which I made my stage debut.
The Saturday night performance we attended drew a large crowd. The library’s main reading room, transformed into a dinner theater atmosphere with ample seating and a bountiful buffet prepared by volunteers, was offered along with a wide array of sweets, wine and coffee followed by the performance that I thought was especially entertaining, earning a three-thumbs-up rating
Congratulations to the playwriters: Anne Isbell, Jane Hendrix and Hope Henderson and to the cast of players: Rob Bailey, Terence Clemons, Linda Erkhart, Henderson, Isbell, Bill Krenson, Kevin Kwashnak and Seleta Rogers. Braylee Campbell, Chet Toms and Will Toms announced the scenes. Megan Dolan and Donovan Smalley operated lights and sound.
Among those I had an opportunity to say “hello” to were: Jean Deriso, Mary Ferguson, Blue Argo, Bill and Gay Sheppard, Dr. Schley and Karen Gatewood, Fred and Cynthia Richmond, Dorinda Garth, Terrell and Janie Turner, Cheryl Fletcher, Tom and Sharon MacFarland, Dave and Kathleen Tucker, Meda Krenson, Aggie Crump, Sara Lee Turner, John and Mary Isbell, Nancy Harvey, Gail and Thurston Clary and Cate Bailey.
Among those in town this past week were Betty Hewitt, Bill Capitan and daughter, Rita Spalding of St. Simons Island and her son, Charlie Spalding, an attorney living in Columbus. In Atlanta over the weekend were Mark and Anne Barrett, going especially for a U.S. Foods event.
Let me be the first to tell you Sumter Historic Trust is planning some interesting, educational and entertaining events for later this year. Stay tuned.
Smile on and say hello to participants who arrived Tuesday with the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (Region IV) hosted by Georgia Southwestern State University with some of their competition at the Rylander Theatre. About 1,000 visitors are in our city.
Congratulations to Dr. Jim Dudley, Nancy Jones and Anne Peagler. They were honored by the Friends of the Rylander at its Annual Meeting in recognition of  giving their time, talent and dedication to the work of the theater.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.