By Bob Spiwak
Sunshine. Two days of the stuff and it was grand. The colder nights did refresh the ice rink conditions from here to Mazama and elsewhere, but it was worth it. Monday (Dec. 15) is relatively mild with the NOAA forecast for snow in the coming week. Minimal amounts it says, but we know how that can change.
The sun apparently had its way with the Harts Pass snow pack which dropped from 57 to 52 inches over the week past, with the water equivalent rising to 120 percent.
There will be two church services up here on Dec. 24. At the Mazama Community Church, Pastor Randy Picklesimer announced that the candlelight service will begin at 5 p.m. Everybody is welcome.
At 4 p.m. in the Mazama Community Club, Cabby Tennis will again hold services. He notes that “it is inclusive and open to all. The style will be simple and the communion friendly to the Anglican, Roman, Lutheran and many other traditions.”
On Sunday (Dec. 14), the Mazama Store hosted its annual Christmas at the Very End of the Road celebration. There was a lot of free stuff to taste, from solid food to wines, coffee and cider. There were about a dozen people offering their wares to view and to buy, says manager Serena Lockwood, who said there was a large crowd for the three-hour fest, brightened by live music that included Brad Pinkerton, and sorry to say, we did not get the names of the other three members (see photo caption below). Pinkerton, once the premier sign painter here, now lives outside the valley.
We had planned to join in the fun and take some pictures, but the flu bug put the kibosh on that endeavor. As usual, it was a fun evening, says Serena.
Ms. Gloria and I have long been addicts of a TV program called “The Farm Report.” This means having the coffee on, along with clothing, to turn the tube on at 6 a.m. It has a variety of regular features including what we consider the best weather forecasts for the nation. While we may not associate with hog futures, or the vacillations of corn prices, it also offers the weekly “Country Church Salute,” honoring churches throughout the land, and my favorite, “Tractor Tales,” about machines from the past carefully restored in most cases, and still in use.
Yesterday’s program included vignette by host John Phipps, a program regular, who just bought a new truck. He sidetracked to a discussion about “recognition.” He noted that now, when he drives his brand-new wheels, people to whom he waves give him a funny look, like “who is that guy?” He went on to describe a feeling of isolation when his waves are not returned, especially by drivers of cars or trucks whose vehicles he recognizes but who ignore him.
In the valley, we are used to a friendly wave, ranging from two fingers off the steering wheel, the typical cowhand salute, to a flapping wrist alongside a large smile, usually by members of the female persuasion. We have that range of recognition right here in the Methow; we had it in Montana 60 years ago. John Bonica wrote a hilarious article about it in the short-lived Methow River Times, back in the 1980s.
Especially for this holiday, we offer that same salutation. We’re in the cars, the latest of which is of 1993 vintage. The 1978 pickup is asleep for the winter.
