Yes, here it was once again the trek to retrieve the city Christmas tree and for the sixth year in a row the day was changed but this time to Tuesday instead of Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and with little or no warning I might add.
It seems that Zach, our new fearless leader, thought there was too much work to be done on Wednesday with the leaf pickup program.
I thought I might have a shot as I told him I was his new boss, not his old boss, but he stayed with the lyrics and said he wouldn’t get fooled again.
This year it did feel a little different. as Ms. Gail was not going on the ride. Just because she has been a little under the weather this fall and recently had eye surgery I guess she felt she couldn’t handle the ride.
That was alright with me too because for the second year in a row I was able to convince the twins, my grandsons, to come along, or so I thought. I tried to use the old excuse that we would probably need their strength. That always worked with them before. Not this time. They opted out and told me to have a good time..
I saw very few vehicles in the lot and as I pulled up I had a feeling that we were going to be few in numbers
I asked Zach if they were just waiting on me, which has never happened before, and he said yea unless I knew of anyone else.
I told him I was it so we took off to go get a
Christmas tree, all five of us..
This is my 199h year of this trek and after last year I thought we might get a rise in numbers, Lord knows we couldn’t get much worst after the six from last year, or so I thought. Well it seems that we need four city bodies now so our numbers dropped this year.
Here we are just five of us and only myself not employed by the city but I am not going to try and negotiate any pay like I did last year because even though I am not employed I guess I am considered city as well being a councilor.
I thought this year might be a new adventure as we were exploring new places and new opportunities but, as I said last year, this whole operation was beginning to look and feel more like a task that had to be completed rather than one of fun and fellowship.
But as we traveled to where the crew had marked a tree last year it began to look all to familiar. It was our old stomping grounds from last year.
We had to pick out a tree for city hall as well, just like we do every year
I have to say though that the one tree that Zach finally picked out was a good choice, even though it took a lot longer than it should have but Zach kept asking what everyone else thought instead of taking the proverbial bull by the horns and choosing one, which he finally did…
There was one newbie, Braven Kelley, but there was no way on God’s green earth that Zach was putting a chain saw in anyone’s hands but his own to do the honors of dropping the tree. Once we were ready to load the tree on the trailer it was obvious that with this few of people I was actually going to have to lend a hand, but wait I brought the twins.
But between the four of them they were able to wrestle the tree onto the trailer and it was agreed that it was about the perfect height.
After loading the tree we drove for just a little ways and I’ll be damned if we didn’t come back out on South Myrtle.
The drive back to town was uneventful and once the tree was brought to its new home on Second Avenue.
This didn’t take very long as Zach, Aaron, Michael, and Braven, along with the help of the backhoe, soon had the tree upright and leveled and all in time for the crew to take a late lunch.
Just a little history lesson here before we close this chapter. This tradition was started in 2005 by then City Councilor Ken Broulliard and then City Administrator Aaron Cubic and they, along with Ken’s wife Marilyn, made the first trek up the hill. I joined the process the following year and have been a part of it ever since, minus one year. The numbers have been as low as that first year of three to as high as 22 in 2009 and have always been at least six until two years ago and again this year with just five.
I would also like to recognize the crew that made the trek this year. In addition to myself there were Zach Potter, Aaron Lincecum and Michael Redinger and Braven Kelley.
Thank all of you for making this a part of your holiday and I hope to see you on the trek for many years to come.
I know this type of community pride and involvement is not unique to Myrtle Creek. It happens in hundreds of small cities and towns throughout this great land and what a joy to be able to be a part of this.
I make poke a lot of fun at those who take part in this annual sojourn but it is only because I know I can do so without consequence.
These people are my friends and what is life without levity. It is only fitting that I give kudos to the caravan. It is through these little snippets of time and conversation that I have come to know these different people and welcome them into my inner circle. Yes, I deal with all of them on a professional level, but to get to know someone on a personal level and consider them a friend is just so satisfying.
Every year this outing revitalizes my spirit and renews my faith in family and community. I feel sorry for those who are confined to the boundaries of urban life and must retrieve their holiday trees from a box at the local department store or a lot downtown.
There is something to be said for the community pride and involvement that you find in rural America and the ability to enjoy a life less complicated but who knows next year I may get another itch, but I seriously doubt it. I am probably in it for another 10 year stretch without a break. But what I would love to see in the future is the numbers swell once again to where we would need more than two trucks and we could even have a bonfire and sing Christmas carols. As we celebrate the anniversary of this blessed event.
Thanks to all of you who made the trip: Zach, Aaron, Michael and Braven once again you have renewed my spirit and at least for a couple of hours made life less complicated.
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