Rumor Has It - December 2023

Wedding surprise. The future lovebirds were introduced at Stratford High School through their mutual friend, Ivy Do. Fast forward 10 years, Rohail Khan took Hayley Friedman on a surprise trip to Estes Park, Colo., where she said yes! Amongst fall colors they wed Sept. 9, 2023, at the McGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park, where they spent a lot of their high school dates. Everything went as planned with great signature drinks and a photo booth, until Hayley’s mom had a dental emergency just an hour before the wedding when her front tooth fell out! The dental adhesive they procured lasted enough time for photos and then it fell out again on the dance floor. The couple honeymooned in Venice, Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin as their parents Vicki and Gary Friedman and Blanca Moreno gave a green thumbs-up.

HOLIDAYS IN MEMORIAL VILLAGES Memorial Villages Police Seargent Robert McElvary and Officer Patrick Torres look forward to the annual Memorial Villages Twinkle Light Parade, Dec. 14, 6 p.m.

Save the date. The Annual Memorial Villages Twinkle Light Parade will be held on December 14, starting at 6 p.m. at Frostwood Elementary School. The route will serpentine though Bunker Hill and Piney Point Villages and end at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, where there will be entertainment, hot chocolate, and Santa. Vehicles will sparkle with twinkling lights. You or your club can create a float and join the fun. To register, contact Ms. Malloy Pack at [email protected]. At the end of the parade enjoy photo opps with Santa Claus. Last year, 20 tons of snow dropped for everyone to enjoy some wintertime activities. Snow is not guaranteed but fun is! 

EXPLORING NEW ZEALAND Jim and Beth Slaughter took a 12-day trip to New Zealand. Here, they are pictured at Queenstown Beach, right outside of their hotel on Lake Wakatipu.

Don’t stand on the toilet seat. That was the sign Jim and Beth Slaughter saw throughout their trip in New Zealand, hung over men and women’s commodes and also written in Chinese. Their 12-day trip started on the northern island to tour Waimangu and Waiotapu geysers and volcanic activity and a visit to the magical Hobbiton movie set. They immersed in an interactive ceremony in a Mitai Māori Cultural Experience with dances and songs. On the southern island, they jetted through a beautiful canyon, and took a scenic gondola ride up to Bob’s Peak for dinner, although most impressive was Milford Sound with beautiful fjords and plentiful waterfalls. Biggest surprise fact: 25 million sheep keep the terrain landscaped! No baaa.

SUPERNATURAL TIME Roland Garcia and wife Vampiress Karen Garcia entertain with a bite. (Photo: Vicky Pink)

Vampires allowed. A skull popped out of a cauldron, a giant spider creepy-crawled about, and smoke fog rolled in at the front door as guests entered Roland and Karen Garcia’s Halloween festival. Several laser light shows with big screens added to the drama held in the backyard as a skeleton floated on a raft in the pool and towering scary figures hovered around for photo opps. If you needed an attorney, you could certainly find one. A long line formed for astrologer Herb Hochman and silhouette artist Cindi Rose. A bloodcurdling menu offered mystery meat sliders and more. 

HALLOWEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Impersonators posing under the ghost.

Longshadow moms. In the cul-de-sac in front of Marnie and Nick Medina, Katherine and Cliff Hortenstein, and Austin and Ali Hoffman’s homes, monsters stirred with red lights and eerie sounds as a backdrop to the Longshadow Moms’ party. The young set found their way into the bouncy house, craft tables, and pizza as a DJ played tunes. Inflatable costumes were the rage as a chicken and dinosaur strutted around. Morgan Zarghouni, Heather Nelson, Lauren Rutherford, Melissa Higgens, Dianna Vo Nguyen, and Cadance Hoelscher were others that were possessed with the creation of fun.

Beware and be hungry. Chili and hot dogs were the perfect cool weather dinner for Halloween at Joni Zavitsanos’ annual Trick or Treat party. Before entering the party, youngsters found the bouncy castle more fun than treats. New neighbors Lauren and Clark Edlund and Chris and Kathy Hollister met Suzanne Reyes and Rob Scheinerman, Felicia and Bert Baker, Dana and John Doughtie, Ann and Bert Adkins, and Tiffany and David Bolis, among many others.

WITCHY Tracy Faulkner hosted the 7th annual brunch in support of Houston PetSet. Pictured (from left) are hostess Tracy, Milka Waterland Guzman, Cindi Rose, and Kat Kearns. (Photo: Quy Tran Photography)

A pet-loving affair. The 7th annual witchy brunch raised money for Houston PetSet. It was all treats as Tracy Faulkner held court as head witch brewing at her home for 40-50 gals adorned in all sizes and styles of witch hats. The best hat prize was given to Kat Kearns, best witch to Milka Waterland-Guzman, and second place in both categories to Cindi Rose. Who won the raffle for a faux fur cape? Pets Rex, Bo, and Scotty, all rescues from BARC, were boo-tiful too.

MEANT TO BE Rebecca Linn and Scott Hughes at their fall wedding, pictured with the bridal party. (Photo: Chris Bailey Photography)

A pandemic match. The couple met online in January 2021. They decided to take the risk and meet in person for the first time at El Tiempo. Scott Hughes proposed to Rebecca Linn on her parents’ wedding anniversary, Oct. 15, 2022. Rebecca and Scott married on Sept. 30, 2023, at The Revaire, with rings of her maternal and paternal grandmothers tied into her bouquet as something old. The Honorable Tracy Christopher, Chief Justice of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals of the State of Texas, officiated the ceremony. Late-night snacks of French fries and milkshakes were a surprise to the guests. The bride and groom honeymooned in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico as parents of the couple Phyllis Cohen and Lewis Linn of Houston and Joan and Greg Hughes of Georgetown, TX waved them off with love and buena suerte.

TRAVELING IN STYLE Karen Warren missed a flight but gained a private plane ride instead.

Go west – Key West. A long holiday to the Keys was almost shortened with a missed flight due to a flight delay. Joel Rogers chartered a small plane for the short hop to the island. Karen Prichard Warren said you could see the bottom of the water from the plane. Sunshine Rogers and Joel and her son Jake joined the fun for fishing and boating on their boat. Sunday, “sandbar day,” is celebrated with a satellite TV on a party barge telecasting a sports event while a feast of Key West pink shrimp is served.

FALLING IN LOVE Jo Reid fells in love with the Iguazu Falls on a trip to Argentina.

Tango dancing in the streets. Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Iguazu Falls were highlights of a trip to Argentina for Jo Reid and Jaci Day. The cultural experience included weekend markets, art galleries, local sausages and cheeses, wine tasting at the snowcapped Andes Mountains, and live music in open air parks. The Iguazu Falls, with acres of remarkable waterfalls, tropical plants, and clear blue skies was magical. Fourteen days of bliss. A final destination not to be missed was the Recoleta Cemetery, often called a city of the dead, where all the notables are buried, including Eva Perón. Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.

AMALFI COAST Birthday gals, Dona Mercadal and KT White, celebrated with a trip to Amalfi Coast. Here, they're pictured at the Second Temple of Hera in Paestum, Italy.

Flying Longhorns. Texas exes KT White and Dona Mercadal vacationed to the charming Amalfi Coast for eight days in October with other members of the Flying Longhorn Travel Group. The trip took them to the well-preserved Greek temples of Paestum, Herculaneum, and Pompeii. In case you are wondering why Pompeii is more famous, it’s because more (well-preserved) bodies were found there. On the last day, these well-preserved gals celebrated their Oct. 11 birthdays with Limoncello at Marina Grande in Sorrento, Italy.

ART FEST From left: Steve and Marilyn Saks and Nancy McCormick and Tom Shamis admire the whimsical art with great weather at the Bayou City Art Fest.

Stimulating art. At the Bayou City Art Fest, Marilyn and Steve Saks could not resist the digital art by Dallasite Jimmy Ellis of a dog with a wine glass. It resembled their dog, Elmo, a spaniel mix. When they got home, Elmo approved of the art and posed for a pic with it, and his own wine glass of course. Steve and Marilyn with friends Nancy McCormick and Tom Shamis meandered the art show in a leisurely two-hour walk. The smell of food was enticing and the music in the background made it all that much better. Save the date for the next Bayou City Art Fest, March 23-24, downtown.

Have some good news to share? Email us at [email protected].