Colon women spread cheer as 'I Love Lucy' characters
Two Colon women are spreading cheer in a unique way.
Recently, Ruth Cerny and Carol Ritchie dressed as Lucy and Ethel from “I Love Lucy.” They visited Kelley Creek Gardens in Centreville, where they provided lemonade and chocolates.
Ritchie was so inspired by Cerny’s Phyllis Diller performance at the 2021 "Mendon Kiwanis Showboat" that she invited her to connect for something fun. Cerny came up with the idea of Lucy and Ethel. Costumes were made and the spreading of cheer began.
“We promote Colon,” Ritchie said. “We promote cheer.”
Ritchie returned to the area in recent years and is re-establishing herself in the community. Cerny has been in Colon for 32 years.
“When people pull up, they see us and they have great big smiles on their faces,” Cerny said. “How could you not? You’re not expecting this. We invite them in. That’s kind of the basics of what we wanted to do: make people happy.”
Ritchie said she enjoys making connections with people she meets.
“I really felt like we made a connection with someone today,” she said. “We don’t know what anybody is going through on a daily basis. Surely, we’ve been through it. But it’s so nice to see their delight and their surprise.”
Ritchie said she and Cerny reside in "The Magic Capital of the World" and they’re proud of it.
“In Colon right now, there’s just a huge influx of magic,” she said. “It’s bigger than it ever has been. We have four theaters and four magic shops. We’re like little ambassadors for Colon because we love living there and we love what’s going on. We want people to come visit us there, too.”
It was Grand Magic Theater that brought Cerny and Ritchie to Kelley Creek Gardens. Ritchie sings at the theater on Sunday nights with greenhouse owner Carma Kelley at the gospel shows.
Kelley was happy to have the pair at her business as they pampered a longtime customer.
“I was so tickled,” she said. “She comes every year and I’ve gotten to know her. I was glad that she had that. I want (my customers) to have that and to experience some joy.”
Cerny and Ritchie are open to visiting other places as well.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: news-Kelley Creek Gardens-Colon women spreading joy
