Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Some articles I look for. Others come to me and stay in my head until I write them down and push send on my email. This story is one of those. It all starts in my last article where I was running around town with my poster fairy wings on, I was full of appreciation for people who volunteer to make so many events and opportunities happen in this community. So many people work so hard all year long. My last stop for the day was to drop some posters off at the home of Betty and David Mills. It was only 4:00 in the afternoon but it was one of the gray, dark, foggy November afternoons. I arrived at David and Betty’s to find them sitting in their living room surrounded by candle light, drinking a glass of wine and enjoying looking at their magnificent Christmas tree that they had just put the lights on. This tree was perfect and it looked so magical all lit up. I felt like my heart grew 10 times because here were these 2 lovely people who volunteer and work so hard for our community in so many ways taking the time to be so good to themselves. I know some of their volunteer commitments are with The Lions Club, The Highlands Summer Festival, The Nutcracker and I know they both read at Stuart Baker Elementary School. They work so hard for our community and it warmed my heart to see them taking such good care of each other. Edward Abbey, a famous American author once wrote ““One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am - a reluctant enthusiast....a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here.” A few days later I attended the Highland Festival Singers Christmas concert at the United Church. It is such a beautiful evening of music. At the end of the evening the choir surrounds the audience and singsHallelujah. The choir moved into place and low and behold Betty Mills is standing right beside me. She was so beautiful. And I watched David who sat a few pews behind me in the audience get up and walk over to stand beside her and sing. And my friends and I could hear their lovely voices as they sang. Little tinygestures of love and support make such a big difference all year long and especially at this time of year. As you move through your Christmas and New Years traditions and celebrations I hope thatyou take the time to do the little things that make people feel loved and special and appreciated. A kind word, a hug, a smile ortime to listen and betogether. These are the greatest gifts. Merry Christmas everyone.