GROVES — Spirits were soaring faster than hair was flying Thursday when residents of Magnolia Manor Nursing Home took an afternoon convertible cruise across the Rainbow Bridge.

About 20 of the senior citizens waited their turn to take a ride in either a ragtop silver Volkswagen convertible or a hardtop white Lexus. Both vehicles were on loan to the nursing home from Volkswagen of Beaumont.

Kenny Blanda, nursing home director said about once a year they get a couple or more convertibles and provide rides for the residents’ enjoyment.

“The always look forward to going,” he said.

For some of the residents it was a chance to cross something off their bucket list, while others just enjoyed a carefree day under sunny.

“I’ve been waiting for this since 11 o’clock,” Feddie Moore, 86, of Port Arthur said while admitting the convertible ride would be her first. “I’m going to have to hold my hat on.”

Her seatmate, Renella Gutherie, 75, of Port Arthur said Thursday’s ride with the top down would not be her first.

“I had a granddaughter who had a convertible for a short time, and Mr. Kenny some years ago got a convertible for us to ride in, so I rode back then, but this is my first time to ride over the bridge,” Guthrie said.

Barbara Stelly, 74, of Beaumont, rode shotgun in the front seat of the Lexus, waving to other motorists much of the way — and not afraid of the bridge.

“I grew up in Dallas, so I’ve been around,” Stelly said. “But, this was a great experience — a fun day.”

The ride across the bridge reminded Magnolia Manor resident Larry McFatter, 81 of Port Neches about another time he made the drive across the bridge.

“I went down the Rainbow Bridge backwards, in a truck. The engine lost power and I rolled all the way down,” he said, adding that this time around, his hear did not get messed up.

“That’s because you don’t have any,” West said.

For Doris West, 91, of Beaumont, the afternoon drive offered a chance to do something different.

“I had a wonderful time, and liked everything. It has been many, many years since I rode on that bridge,” she said.

The residents first drove across the Veterans Memorial Bridge, then drove into Bridge City and turned around before coming back across the Rainbow Bridge, down Pure Atlantic Road, and finally back to Groves.

Blanda said about 20 people decided to take the convertible ride.

“They’ve been watching others and now it’s catching on. Everybody feels like riding now, “ Blanda said.

E-mail: sherry.koonce@panews.com

Twitter: skooncePANews