Frog Greishaw was working as a bartender when she started making Frog Juice Kombucha as a hangover cure. Then, five years ago, she decided to make the move to South Knoxville and bring her artisanal small batch kombucha with her.

“I grew up in Virginia, so this was not that much different,” said Greishaw, who responds only to her childhood nickname, ‘Frog’.

“I was in the city of Chicago for 17 years and was just really burnt out and looking at other places to move. Knoxville made sense both personally and for my business. The way things fell into place, that just sealed the deal for me.”

There are many benefits to drinking kombucha. “The main advantage is as a probiotic. It is widely known to have good bacteria to balance out the bad things we like to do,” said Greishaw. “It is a liver restorative, the amino acids are a great hangover cure, the B vitamins are great for energy.”

In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, kombucha is said to help regulate blood sugar and possibly help with high blood pressure and high cholesterol (although Greishaw said that these benefits are not promoted by the FDA).

Current Frog Juice Kombucha flavors include the top-selling Peach Lavender, Hibiscus Apple Cherry, Grape Ape, limited-edition Beet Apple Ginger and Greishaw’s personal favorite, Pineapple Jalapeno. Blackberry Basil Cucumber and Mint Raspberry will be re-released this summer.

“In May, we will have the Fruity Booty Kombucha as a Pride special release,” Greishaw said.

“We use 100% locally grown produce and we don’t turn the produce into syrups,” said Greishaw, who has developed great relationships with local growers and suppliers for all the ingredients except for the apple cider in her fire cider.

Frog Juice Kombucha has been well received at local breweries. “Knoxville has an amazing brewery scene, but if you don’t drink and want to be a part of the scene it can be a drag,” said Greishaw, who gave up drinking alcohol years ago. “Musicians who play at breweries tell us it gives them something awesome to drink while they focus on their set.”

In 2020, Greishaw said they rolled into canning Frog Juice Kombucha. “Knoxville stopped recycling glass. I miss seeing the colors of the kombucha in the glass, but the cans are super fun,” she said.

During the pandemic, Greishaw noticed that there were two camps, people who drank more and others choosing to forgo alcohol for healthier options.

“There is no judgment either way,” she said. “This is something they can reach for. They can use kombucha as a spacer between beers. I am grateful to provide that option for people.”

Local coffee shops carry Frog Juice Kombucha too, and it makes an energizing alternative to caffeinated beverages later in the day.

Frog Juice Kombucha’s Fire Cider is everything spicy steeped in apple cider, according to Greishaw.

“It is antiviral and anti-inflammatory,” she said. “It will squash anything that will creep up on you, if you have a tickle in your throat or swelling caused by arthritis.”

Greishaw said it is her Frankenstein version of the popular 1970s remedy’s recipe and contains: Apple Cider Vinegar tonic infused with immune boosting super foods such as garlic, ginger, and turmeric. Fire Cider comes in one, four and 16-ounce glass bottles.

Monthly growler fill-ups were available over the winter months, but expect to find Frog Juice Kombucha at Nourish Farmers Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays and at the Farragut Farmers Market on Saturdays all summer long.

“Our website is the best place to find Frog Juice Kombucha. We are always updating our new retail partners,” said Greishaw. “There are five of us, three full time and two part time, so we are self-distributing.”

Frog Juice Kombucha’s list of vendors is growing rapidly as they expand their coverage area in Chattanooga and Cleveland, Tennessee.

Frog Juice Kombucha is canned in a facility in North Knoxville, and during the recent expansion Greishaw said they hit pause on their "Jun."

“It is a raw honey-based form of kombucha, it is the champagne of kombucha,” she said. “Honey is expensive, so as we expanded we decided to focus on our core products.”

Greishaw has also repurposed a pedicab from Chicago into a mobile growler fill service, dubbed the Boochmobile. It was rebranded with a vinyl wrap, the upholstery was replaced, the CO2 and a cooler for kegs were installed, as well as extra storage for cups and other supplies were added.

It’s the right time for the Beaver Creek Flotilla to take a step forward on its own.

Last August, the free event was part of the Powell Station Celebration, one of about a dozen activities that made the community mega-celebration a hit.

As the Flotilla enters its fifth year, it’s ready to stand on its own on Saturday, May 14, as it did early in its operation.

“We thought that we’ve outgrown the Powell Station Celebration — and that’s a good thing,” said Josh Goldman, Beaver Creek Kayak Club business director. “We benefited tremendously with our association with the celebration. This isn’t a negative at all. We thought this would create more visibility.”

Goldman is anticipating 300 or more paddlers to put their boats in the water behind the Powell High School baseball field and take a meandering journey down Beaver Creek.

“There is no better event for the first-time and inexperienced paddler,” Goldman said.

“Boaters are assisted at the put-in, all along the route, and both take-outs. The creek is a friendly first float. If something happens and the boat tips, you can stand up.”

A couple of added features should enhance the social aspect of the Flotilla.

At the put-in behind the baseball field, Float HQ will be set up. It will offer a gathering point for all the participants — before and after their journey — with music, free food and vendors.

Also, there will be two take-outs available — one at the Weigel’s on Clinton Highway (1½ to 2 hours on the river) or one at Roy Arthur Stormwater Park in Karns (4 hours).

“We want this event to be more than the float,” Goldman said. “We’d like people to come by Float HQ and meet some of the members (of the Beaver Creek Kayak Club). We want to bring the communities of Beaver Creek together.”

That’s from Halls to Hardin Valley, and everywhere in between.

Goldman, a member of the Beaver Creek Kayak Club since 2018, said its membership is around 2,900, with Charlie Austin as its president.

“When I came to the area, I saw the Beaver Creek Kayak Club as a great opportunity to get involved and volunteer,” Goldman said. “I had paddled before, but this was more about being active.”

The Beaver Creek Kayak Club members have been instrumental in the cleaning of the waterway. There are always jams — natural and otherwise — that happen in the shallow creek.

Goldman said more than 86 square miles of waterways drain into Beaver Creek. The creek is 44 miles long.

Knox County has recognized the creek as a worthy project. Knox County Parks & Recreation Dept. has a four-man crew, along with private contractors, dedicated to clear the creek. Knox County has allocated $450,000 for the cleaning, with another $750,000 available.

A recent cleanup netted 650 tons of debris.

“We’re making an effort to keep the creek clear and clean,” Goldman said. “What we’re hoping is that communities or organizations will adopt a section of the creek to keep clean.”

Goldman said not owning a boat shouldn’t get in the way of participants. Boats can be rented from River Sports Outfitters for $25. Use a link on the Beaver Creek Kayak Club’s Facebook page.

River Sports Outfitters deliver the boats at the put-in. After the float, Beaver Creek Kayak Club members will make sure the boats get back to the company. Shuttles get participants back to Float HQ.

Club members will gather at 7 a.m. Participants are encouraged to arrive early as Float HQ opens at 8. Floatmaster Carol Evans, the head of Legacy Parks Foundation, will be the first in the water at 9. The last boats will likely hit the water at 10:30.

There’s a new thrifter’s paradise in Knoxville. Concord United Methodist Church opened The Thrift Store Knox on April 22 with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and State Rep. Jason Zachary Friday, April 22, 2022.

The store opened with a bang with a steady crowd of shoppers who seemed to enjoy the bargains and the free ice cream.

The 5,000-square-foot store sells clothing, household goods, furniture, collectibles, books, art, and many other useful things, including electronics. It does not sell construction items such as paint and cabinets, according to Missions Director Jane Currin.  

Currin said the church used to have rummage sales twice a year to help pay for its many mission projects, but the rummage sales outgrew the space at the church. When they happened to get a windfall, the church decided a thrift store would be a great way to serve the community.

“We had a sweet lady, who we helped out through one of our local missions, leave us some money. It was enough to get the thrift store started. It turned into a labor of love for our whole church. We had an offering and got enough money to run the store for a year,” Currin said.

Pastor Wil Cantrell said the thrift store serves several purposes.

“The first thing it does is bless people in our community; the second thing is it blesses volunteers. When you see the friendships develop and the joy on people’s faces who you are serving it is a blessing to me to see. 

“You know they say the key to happiness is to serve someone else. The Thrift Store Knox is a great opportunity to do that.

“We did a demographic study and found that even though there are other thrift stores in Knoxville, there is plenty of room for one more to be successful.

“Also this is a thrifter’s paradise. For many people, bargain hunting is a great thing to do on a Saturday. Thrifting is their thing, it’s their hobby. So this store is a way to enjoy yourself and help others," said Cantrell.

Currin echoed the sentiment, saying Knoxville has many people who reduce, reuse, buy used and save the difference.

“It’s a movement really; people are downsizing and buying used. Plus we have families who really need to find quality merchandise at below retail pricing. They need school clothes, work clothes, furniture to help start over or improve their quality of life. That’s what we’re about … helping our neighbors.

“We honor vouchers from social workers for people to come in and shop free of charge. It gives them dignity to shop for their own goods rather than be handed a bag of things they may or may not be able to use.

“That’s part of being a good neighbor.”

The Thrift Store Knox is at 8843 Kingston Pike. Phone number 865-394-9741. Store hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.

Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

Through May 12, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee is hosting a virtual auction, including gift packages and a new and unique element: one-on-one mentoring hours with East Tennessee leaders.

The winning bid gets one hour — either in person or virtual — with mentors such as

The experiences are unique to each mentor.

Cronan is offering the opportunity for a corporate presentation or the option to attend a Lady Vols game with her. Bidders can win a breakfast with Boyd. Bible and Bhatti are offering one-on-one time or a presentation for up to 20 people, and Neely is offering a one-hour Knoxville history experience with him. More details can be found on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee website.

Other prizes include Knoxville Zoo and Avalon Country Club Golf memberships; stays at Hilton Knoxville, Crowne Plaza, Embassy Suites and RT Lodge; basketballs signed by coaches Rick Barnes and Kellie Harper and a football signed by Josh Huepel; a custom painting by Julie Kizer and much more.

Transforming the lives of children since 1970, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee is a member agency of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, consisting of more than 350 agencies nationwide. Its mission is to create and professionally support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of East Tennessee youth.

The Mentor Hour Virtual Auction is part of BBBS-ETN’s new event, The Big Night Out, presented by FirstBank and made possible with support from Pilot Company and WATE. The Big Night Out will be an evening celebrating mentors, the driving force of the organization’s mission. All proceeds from the auction and the event support BBBS-ETN’s signature one-to-one mentoring program.

Information and bidding can be found at https://one.bidpal.net/tbno/browse/all.

The past couple days, I’ve been out front of our campus ministry (Tyson House, at the University of Tennessee), pruning rosemary and Russian sage. I planted these plants from 3-inch pots, 13 years ago.

The citrus-smelling sage has spread to cover several 3- to 4-foot areas and would spread more, but for the pine-scented rosemary muscling its way to the sun and thickening to 10 feet wide. Both flower and feed honeybees all season. Both also kind of get in each other’s and their own ways, left to their own devices. Hence the pruning.

A couple things I’m noticing. First, as I sit in my easy chair, fingers tented, lips and nose resting on my fingertips, thinking about my next sentence, I still smell the rosemary and sage. I’ve washed hands several times since yesterday, but that resin is tenacious, like the plants themselves.

They’ve endured all sorts of indignities, trash tossed in by passing pedestrians, sometimes pedestrians themselves, possibly a tad inebriated, landing in a bush and breaking a branch or five.

Still, these bushes keep healing and growing, softening the concrete and brick sidewalk and front wall of the ministry, putting out those tiny, lavender flowers, smelling wonderful, and helping students feel at home, in a world that can sometimes be anything but welcoming.

To me, that’s like ministry itself. We plant ourselves in a place and do our best to make it better, as a way of sharing God’s love. There has to be a tenaciousness to the tenderness, or it won’t stick. And it does stick. Like that scented resin, it’s hard to get out of your skin once it’s there. It stays with you.

I think of all the love, poured out by so many in the time I’ve served here. Year after year, members of area congregations have fairly swarmed over the place with lawnmowers, brooms, paper towels and Windex, cleaning and caring and helping out.

Community members have donated literally tons of food, freezers, refrigerators, bags, and boxes to supply Smokey’s Pantry, UT’s first on-campus food pantry, which has fed thousands and provided service opportunities for hundreds of students.

Students have found friends, spouses, and direction for their lives. So have those serving the students. I started as a volunteer musician and ended up the chaplain, with a little stint in Div School in between.

The other thing I notice is how important that pruning is for health and growth, and, in a sense, I’m pruning myself back.

This is my last semester as chaplain of Tyson House. My work at our downtown church, St. John’s Lutheran, and my songwriting both need more light and air, and the campus ministry needs light and air too.

A wonderful colleague and friend, Fr. RJ Powell, will be taking over, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m also delighted that the scent of this ministry goes with me as I go.

What in your life might need pruning, for future growth?

John Tirro is pastor of music and campus ministry at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Info: sjlcknox.org.

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Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News

Pat Rosenberg and her daughter Judith really “dig” spending time together. Both avid gardeners, they’ll be helping at the annual North Hills Garden Club Plant Sale this Saturday, May 7.

The two oversee the Garden Shed, featuring gently used items at bargain prices. Last year, said Judith, “We were so busy that we didn’t even get a chance to shop! And by the time we got to shop most of the plants were gone!”

Judith, who lives in North Hills, runs marketing/branding firm The Thought Bureau. Her father, Gene, was originally in the garment industry but moved to Knoxville in the late ’60s, where he managed Markman’s Jewelers for many years. He died in 2018. Judith says their talent for making sales comes from him.

The Rosenbergs are far from the only mother-daughter pairing.

“Last year [co-chair] Shannon Witt commented on how interesting it was to see all the mothers and daughters,” said Judith. “My mom was there with me, and several other neighbors had their moms with them.”

Indeed, past NHGC president Sally Wilcox said, “we have three North Hills generations represented by Linda Parsons, her daughters Elayne Pope and Rachel Travis, and Rachel’s daughters Eleanor and Vivian. The two kids will have a bake sale booth.”

Rachel’s husband, Rob, is the creator of the neighborhood’s COVID project, Rawkous Radio, since disbanded. He’ll be the DJ for the event. “This neighborhood sale is a family affair for many of us,” said Wilcox.

Wilcox’s sister, Maggie Bell, agrees. “Sally and I both live in the neighborhood and are on the plant sale committee together. Our mother was always outside in her garden. Whenever she got the urge to clean house, she got over it by tending to her garden while we cleaned the house! Now we get to garden, but there’s no one to clean our houses!”

The NHGC Plant Sale is a popular event for local gardeners who value native plants that thrive in our area. Residents of historic North Hills donate varieties of hardy perennial plants and shrubs harvested from their own gardens. In partnership with a local nursery, the NHGC also offers herbs, veggies and blooming annuals.

There will also be delicious food from VietGrill Vietnamese vegan food truck; and arts and crafts booths with one-of-a-kind gifts for mom including pottery by Jeannie Obenschain and jewelry by NHGC president Judi Talley, who runs Eightmoons Creations.

And, of course, the Garden Shed. Be sure to drop by and see the Rosenbergs. “We’ll be wheeling and dealing,” said Judith. “It’s like we’re channeling Dad.”

The annual North Hills Garden Club Plant Sale happens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, May 7 at 2511 North Park Boulevard, at the intersection of North Park and Kenilworth. The event will take place rain or shine. Proceeds from the plant sale support beautification of the neighborhood’s boulevards and park.

For more information on the NHGC visit Facebook.com/NorthHillsGardenClub and northhillsgardenclub.wixsite.com/nhgc.

Choral directors Karen Casteel and Lyndsey Ullom have teamed up with reading specialist Wendy O’Neal for another Halls Middle School musical, "Into the Woods JR."

“We are doing ‘Into the Woods JR.’ on May 6 and 7,” said Casteel, who has taught at Halls for 20 years, 15 of those with Ullom. “It is a musical based on a lot of the well-known fairytale characters and they all live in these magical woods.”

While a few students had seen the original Disney musical, most had to familiarize themselves with the show, Casteel said.

During a rehearsal on April 27, the students practiced a few of the songs and dances in the show with their microphones for the first time, and although there were some nerves they handled it like the budding professionals that they are.

“There were just a lot of popular characters, a lot of creativity,” said Casteel. “We had a lot of good singers, so it was a good show to rebuild (the choral program).”

"Into the Woods JR." features Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and the Witch from the retelling of the Brothers Grimm fables.

“There’s lots of music,” said Casteel. “We were fortunate to have a lot of really good talent, especially the seventh and eighth grade, so we were able to pull heavily from those classes; and there were some sixth graders as well.”

The musical centers on a baker and his wife and their wish to have a child; Cinderella and her wish to attend the king’s festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow could give milk. When the baker and his wife discover that they cannot have a child because of the witch’s curse, they set out to break it and find themselves changed forever.

"Into the Woods JR." should have broad appeal to all ages. “I think this one is good for children as they get to see Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf,” Casteel said.

The choral director teased some surprises, too.

“There is one funny song, called ‘Agony’, where the characters do a really good job with it, and we will just leave it at that,” she said.

“It has been nice to be able to go back after having that loss,” said Casteel about the pandemic. “After not being able to have any performances to go back and perform again and treasure those performances has been special.”

The choral program boasts 250-300 students, and 45 of those students are involved in the musical itself.

The dedicated cast has stayed after school Monday through Thursday most days since their auditions and rehearsals began in January. “It has been a year of rebuilding,” Casteel said.

The Halls Middle School Art Club has pitched in to help with the sets, and the choral students have shown leadership skills as well as helping to make the props. “Some of the dancers have choreographed the musical, and we have a student choreographer for this show, Katlynn Hults,” Casteel said.

Those wishing to see the show do not need to buy tickets in advance. They will be available at the door.

“We have two performances in case people cannot make it at night and want to come during the day,” said Casteel. “We are trying to think about the community.”

What: Into the Woods JR.

Where: Halls Middle School Auditorium

When: 7 p.m. FridayMay 6; 2 p.m. SaturdayMay 7

Cost: Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults at the door.

History came alive when John Martin was able to hold it in his hand.

Now, he’s trying to give others the same opportunity.

Martin, a 1997 Powell High school graduate, was never a big fan of the history taught in textbooks. Dates, treaties, declarations and the like never grabbed his attention.

It took a six-year active-duty stint in the U.S. Air Force — mostly spent in Italy and Guam — when Martin got a firsthand look at what real history was all about.

“When I saw the ancient history in Italy, or World War II history in Guam, it made more sense to me,” said Martin, now an officer with the Knoxville Police Department.

Three years ago, Martin needed to find property markers in his yard. His wife bought him a metal detector. Little did they know that purchase would a add a chapter to his family’s story.

And, give birth to the Southeast Relic Hunters Educational Adventures.

Martin said he was watching a YouTube video that showed a guy finding Civil War relics with his metal detector.

“I could do that,” Martin said.

He researched the battles in the Knoxville area, got the proper permission for searching on private property, and went to work.

“The first time I hunted there wasn’t a bit of trash,” he said. “It was easy to find some relics. I didn’t realize that, most times, you have to dig through 150 years of garbage to find something good.

It took about a year, but Martin’s sons Preston, 11, and Brandon, 13, found their way into the hobby.

“Preston took to it first,” said Martin, part of the security detail at Austin-East High School. “He’s always been a curious kid.

“They’ve been able to appreciate that the button or the bullet that they just found hadn’t been touched by anyone since that soldier dropped it over 150 years ago.

“There’s something about the link that forms when a kid can look down in his hand and actually see a piece of history.”

That link has been the driving force behind Martin creating Southeast Relic Hunters Educational Adventures.

He is the host of weekend excursions in the wild — with metal detector and digging equipment in hand — to hunt until Civil War relics are found.

For $125, Martin will send two videos (a total of about 20 minutes) about the battles in Knoxville and one of him talking about the upcoming experience. He will supply the metal detector and digging equipment.

He has previously scouted out sites and gotten approval to hunt on the land. They’ll be out for a minimum of three hours.

Martin had tinkered with the idea for about a year, but it just recently came to fruition.

“I’m confident that, with patience, we’ll come up with some relics,” Martin said. “The main thing is, you’ve gotta stick with it. When you can pick something up and hold a piece of history in your hand, it makes everything worth it.”

“ 'High School Musical' is nostalgic for a lot of these kids who watched it growing up,” said Bethany Lay, Central High School choral director. “We wanted something joyful and fun with upbeat music.”

It is rare that theater programs can make any changes to licensed work, but in this case Lay said they were fortunate. “We were able to switch out the East High Wildcats for Central High Bobcats; they were totally OK with that.

“It is personal for us, our school colors were the same, it was such a good fit.”

"High School Musical" was the perfect show, according to Lay. “We wanted something that could showcase a lot of strong, talented singers. There were a lot of leads.”

The musical is not too much of a departure from the original film version. “It is very similar, but there are a couple of new pieces in the stage version that are not in the movie,” said Lay. “A couple of the (stage) characters really move the story along.”

Jack Scott, the school announcer and member of the AV club, was changed to Jackie Scott, and her purpose is to move the story along. “Jackie is a really fun and a great character. It is definitely an improvement in the stage version,” said Lay.

After providing a small preview of the number "We’re All in This Together" during a showcase last week, Lay said she noticed that the audience members were already familiar with the choreography and the songs.

“It makes people want to get up and dance,” she said. “We are hoping to bring the nostalgia and the new stuff in a good way that they won’t expect.”

"High School Musical" required a massive, fixed platform that spans the entire stage. “This set piece acts as the cafeteria, the classroom and the gym,” said Lay. Student Nathan King is technical director of the show and had his grandparents help build the impressive set piece.

“Nathan put a lot of work into it, as did the rest of the advanced theater class and the vocal class. It has really been a team effort; everybody has really put a stamp on the set.”

Costumes were easy. The dance and cheer teams loaned their uniforms, and a few girls in the musical are pretending to be boys in basketball jerseys. “Everything else is early 2000s streetwear, and Central High School T-shirts,” said Lay. “It has been incredibly easy. Mr Lambert has allowed us to use the three cafeteria tables with Bobcats painted on them.”

Lay said that she is keeping her fingers crossed that Coach Larry Williams will make his stage debut as Central’s Bobcat mascot.

"High School Musical" is the first full show that the students have been able to do since they performed "Beauty and the Beast" in early March 2020.

Where: Central High School, 5320 Jacksboro Pike

When: 7 p.m. May 5, 6, 7; 2:30 p.m. May 8, 2022

Cost: $10 per ticket, children 5 and under free ($1 processing fee online)

More: https://www.knoxschools.org/centralhs

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I don’t want to talk about myself, but I do. That’s the way it is with Cheri.

She asks endless questions and won’t accept “fine” for an answer. She wants the nitty gritty. She wants the details of my life even when they’re messy.

I do my best to deflect her questions by asking probing questions of my own.

I ask about her youngest son’s wedding and his move to Birmingham. I check on her other two boys, too, but there’s not much going on with them.

Undaunted, I shift my line of questioning to inquire about her mother and sisters. I get the full picture of her life as we finish our first loop around Lakeshore Park, but my not-so-subtle trick works only so long. Cheri isn’t easily fooled.

“Enough of my blabbering,” she says as she tries to corral her dog on its too-long leash. “Tell me about you.”

I sigh a little and offer a generic “everything is normal,” but she doesn’t buy it.

She wants to know the details I’ve tucked away. She wants to know about my mom’s cancer treatments and my dad’s dementia. She wants to know if I’m spreading myself too thin.

I answer vaguely at first but then I give in. By the time we round the turn near the soccer fields, I’m sharing the raw details and unfiltered emotions of my life and she’s listening intently.   

When I take a break from telling my story, she leans in and says, “It's all so big and so hard, Les, but you’re giving your parents an amazing gift.” I nod and try to feel amazing. But mostly, I feel like that metaphorical Dutch boy trying to keep his finger in the dike before it springs another leak.

Then out of the blue Cheri says, “I found the perfect dress for that fancy wedding you’re going to next month.” She tells me about the dress and it sounds beautiful.

“We should go look at it right now. If you don’t do it now, it will never happen and you’ll miss out on the perfect dress.”

I laugh at her persistence and think about all the things on my to-do list. There are doctors to call and prescriptions to order; there are groceries to buy and letters to mail.

But then I think about everything I just told Cheri about my life, and I know she’s right. For so many reasons, I need to see that dress.

A few minutes later, Cheri and I are like two high school girls playing dress-up at the boutique. We talk too loud and laugh too much.

Cheri thinks everything is “a wow” and hands me tiny, flashy dresses to try. I pass on the micro-dresses but fall in love with the dress we came to see. The one for my fancy wedding. And even though it’s a little more money than I want to spend, Cheri persuades me to treat myself.

The rest of the day is a whirlwind of phone calls and shopping. Cheri tries out hairstyles for her son’s wedding and sends me pictures of her hair. We decide we’re more youthful than matronly and debate the best makeup for mature skin.

The light-hearted conversation is a welcome change from my normal life. It’s a chance to look up at the sky to see that it’s blue. To feel frivolous and light.

For just a little while I forget my day-to-day worries to focus on the kinds of things that don’t matter at all. And it’s just what I need.

Leslie Snow may be reached at snow column@aol.com.