Christmas Town and the Garbage Truck

Christmas Preparations in Happy Camp….

by Judy Bushy, (Reprinted from Siskiyou Daily News December14, 2010)
What talented neighbors we have along the lovely wild Klamath River community. I got some cute little soft Gingerbread people toys and other fun gifts at the Grange Holiday Bazaar Lisa had beautiful handmade cards (Greg may have taken some of the photos, too) and they were enhanced with sparkles!! It was good to see Sharon Whitman. Ann had knit caps and baby blankets. Teresa, Ashley Diaz, Brittany had a table with Avon and knives and a beautiful jeweled sword.

The table with beautiful heritage estate jewelry was Terry Winslow’s.
The youngest seller, Abigail Eadie had Abbeys’ Fashionable Flowers, to decorate one’s hair as well as raffle tickets for the 8th grade wood raffle tickets. What a practical thing to raffle since wood heat is so comfortable this time of year. Her dad, Kirk, had an array of marshmallow shooters, in white or camo, or instructions if you wanted to make your own. Linda Thompson was selling bread and muffin products as well as hot pads, and shoulder wraps. We got a potato baking bag for microwave which we need to try out. Ruth’s hot pads, bibs and handmade items were lovely. She also had beautiful fabric to purchase quarters, which was tempting because they were so nice. Seaman’s were serving the soup and fresh bread. You could also have a loaf or cinnamon rolls to take home! There were so many crafts-persons; I wish I could mention them all! The Grange Holiday Bazaar is always fun and they may plan a spring event so all you artists and crafters may want to be prepared.

Happy Camp High School had half day Monday for staff development. The principal arranged a wonderful surprise for the staff when he arranged for a luncheon at Bonnie’s place. The school was transformed with linen tablecloths, cedar, rosemary and ivy greens with sparkling silver and gold stars and tea lights for centerpiece, real china, silverware and napkins. The dinner, roast beef sandwiches with winter squash, and barley soup was delicious! The dessert was fantastic too! Thank you to the Martha Stewart of Happy Camp, Bonnie Alvarez for cooking, her helpers and especially Alan and Carol!

Thanks to Cathleen Searle, Dinah Sulipeck, and Danielle Bailey, Melanie,and Coleen Goodwin, as well as the Volunteer Firemen and Santa and Company who made the Tree Lighting a success. It was such fun to see all the kiddies tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas!

After the Community Tree Lighting I joined my husband at the Grange for a Forest Service potluck. Wow! Can they cook! It was especially fun to see those who have retired and returned for the event. George & Alice Harper, Phil & Maybel Weeks, Annie & Harold Buma, Bob Roncee and Kathy Tolland.

At this glad time of year when there is so much celebration with Hanukkah and Christmas and all they bring, sometimes sadness creeps in, like the Grinch that stole Christmas. Sometimes there are sad memories or missing loved ones who are far away now, but that is usually balanced with the happy and joyous memories of Christmas past.

However, should sad things come along that might ruin the celebration, remember the Rule of the Garbage Truck applies. A recent e-mail explained that “many people are like garbage trucks, they run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger and disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally, Just smile, wave, wish them well and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t. Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it. Have a blessed, garbage-free day!”
The truth in love always wins!