We had a fairly quiet September with a couple of outings, including bocce ball and our ever-popular birthday breakfast, but we are starting to make plans as we head into the cooler weather. We’ll be wine tasting at Rancho Roble Winery here in Lincoln later this month. Next month will bring a repeat of our visit to Thundering Herd Mandarin Ranch and a new event: a special Friendsgiving potluck.

In addition to the fun stuff, we will be staffing a voting center Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 for the midterm elections. This will be our third time staffing a voting center for Placer County Elections and some of us are feeling like old hands at this — and heartened by the fact that more Lavender Friends sign up to volunteer each time.

Every October, the U.S. observes LGBTQ History Month, which includes National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11. The day, celebrated since 1988, honors the significance of coming out or inviting others in and raises awareness about LGBTQ rights. Let’s take a moment to appreciate living in this community where Lavender Friends, a club for LGBTQ residents and their allies, are welcome and accepted.