The party started off in the first hours with cocktails and some light appetizers. The company was very good, and a total of 18 members and guests were present by about 6:30 p.m. Among the local members who joined Fell and Lois were Bud Hartwell and Christine Johanssen, Sheri Lowe, Bruce Babcock, Gene and Hanna Bellegarde. Cyndi Andrews, former newsletter editor , came from Palm Springs to join us, Cal and Robert Terry drove in from Reseda, and Dan And Vicki Palmquist with daughters Alyssa and Lauren came down from Anaheim, as did Dave Palmquist. New member Pam Howard came with her quest., Beth Lawler, from Newport Beach. Quite a turnout!

     After a few ice-breaking cocktails, the group migrated toward one of the living areas for viewing of recent event tapes. Rob Amato had made the handoff of the Swap Meet and Mountain Drive tapes a few hours earlier, and we enjoyed the high quality produced by Rob's experienced hand with video recording. Highlight of the Swap Meet tape is an interview with Bob Skoog describing the experience of buying his P1800 new. This segued nicely into the experience of 1800s negotiating the sharp twisties of the winding Mountain Drive and the line of "Swedish Iron" in the Palomar Observatory parking lot.

     Next on the program was Dan Palmquist's tape capturing the camaraderie of the return voyage from the Rohnert Park meet. None of us had yet seen this tape, and there were some great shots of 1800s on the move, among them my former 122S sedan. Why doesn't money grow on trees so we can keep all our old Volvos?

     The dinner that followed was a royal spread centered around a honey- baked ham that just melted in your mouth. There was no shortage of good food at this event as everyone brought a side dish. I went for seconds! Pies and ice cream topped off the meal in fine American fashion, and everyone settled in for the much anticipated White Elephant Gift Exchange, another Hosmer tradition.

     We drew numbers to determine the order of the exchange, with the first to go the least advantaged and the last, most advantaged. Gifts included a breaker point set for injected models,  children's coloring books, Meguire's Detailing Polish, option booklets for 1969 and 1971 1800 models, a calibrated and shielded 1/4 ohm resistor by Sun Electronics, a wood block calendar set, bird's-eye diapers (for polishing, reportedly), a backscratcher, a solo motor mount, and a bottle of fine wine. At their turn, each person could pick a wrapped (unknown) gift or take someone's unwrapped (known) gift. The loser of an unwrapped gift then went next, before the person next by number . As might be imagined, this can be along and gruesome affair with some serious competition for choice items. The last person gets the pick of any gift. I came home with coloring books for my daughter, at my wife's suggestion (there wasn't much fighting over them).

   To top off the evening, we held the door prize drawing. I had donated a set of chrome plated trim rings (ideal for non-show cars or during the winter months) for the door prize. Each member was given a number as they arrived at the party and signed in. We were all happy when it turned out that Fell Hosmer, our gracious host, was the winner!

   I assume everybody made it home in one piece; I know everyone was smiling when they left. Again, I want to thank Lois and Fell Hosmer for their exceptional hospitality, and I encourage all of you to do the same.