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Slim Randles' Home Country
Editor's note: This column was
originally written for Thanksgiving, but due to technical
difficulties could not be presented at that time. We thought the
message meaningful, and replaced "fall colors" and "Thanksgiving"
with "snow" and "Christmas."
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[December 24, 2007]
"I need to know what you
think, Sarah, because you're a businesswoman." |
 "Well... OK, Delbert," she said. "What's up?""Beautiful
snow," said
Delbert McLain, our chamber of commerce here in the valley. He's our
chamber of commerce because no one else wanted it, and because it's
an unpaid position.
Stopping her stocking of the shelves in the "Love and Other
Fiction" section of her Read Me Now bookstore, Sarah said, "The
truth is, Delbert, I like snow."
"No, no... not what I mean. I mean, can we convince people to
come here and look at snow-shrouded trees this time of year? It would do great
things for the motels and our cafes -- to say nothing of the
bookstore."
"Oh yes," she smiled, "that should start a run on the bookstore."
"We could print brochures.
'Experience Snowy Serenity in the Valley.' Maybe something enticing
people to stay in a local motel and have Christmas dinner at
Chin's Chinese restaurant or the Mule Barn?"
"Christmas is usually a time for families to get together, you
know."
"I know it," he said, smacking his fist into his hand in
frustration. "We need to change the initial concept of
Christmas.
Like, 'This year, celebrate NOT having relatives over. Come see us
for scenic snow views and turkey or ham down at the truck stop.'"
[to top of second
column]
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Sarah thought about it a minute.
"Do we really have to turn every holiday into a moneymaker for
the town?"
He looked shocked. "It's... it's progress, Sarah."
Sarah looked out at the clear sunlight making jacketed people's
faces sparkle on the streets. Each one was a friend. Each one had
problems and triumphs and also had within them blessings for the
whole community.
"Delbert," she said, finally. "Maybe it would be best to let
Christmas alone and concentrate on another holiday where we don't
have so much emotion tied up in it."
"Halloween?"
"How about Grover Cleveland's wedding anniversary?"
[Text from file received from Slim Randles]
Brought to you by "Ol' Slim's Views from the Porch," available
at www.unmpress.com
and wherever cow-pen wisdom is heralded.
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