Lunch with Helen

We had lunch with Helen today and those of you who know us or those who have read previous entries on this blog will know who she is ... the owners of the hotel in Palm Springs where she stays (The Chase) for 5 months every year insist she's 102. We don't believe it ourselves. 92, yes but 102? it could be true. She talks of a younger sister who lived in Palm Springs from 1935-1939 when there was NOTHING here except a few horses, a Post Office and miles of desert. Of course, the odd film stars home. They had to travel to Banning for the nearest hospital. Where the Desert Regional Medical Center is now used to be the El Mirador Hotel, famous for it's film star clientele.
Helen is always a joy. We took her to Manhattan in the Desert for lunch and those of you who have been there will know of the enormous portions. We thought Manhattan in the Desert might be an appropriate place to take her as she worked most of her life in Manhattan and she is very familiar with deli's. One complaint .. the back dining room is too noisy. We will see her once more before she goes home, March 17th, St Paddy's day. I wonder if she'll be back or if this is the last time.