A Lot Going On, Part 2

Each year the Friday before Thanksgiving is the occasion for Alma's "Holiday Preview". The Christmas lights are up and lit. Christmas carols echo up and down the streets from strategically located loudspeakers and there is simply no place to park because all the shops are open and most of the town has turned out to take a look at this year's decorations.

When I walked past the Subway franchise and looked in the window, I could see my granddaughter busily putting sandwiches together for a host of customers. There were similar scenes in all the stores as the people of Alma made a point of walking each side of Main Street and stepping into each store for at least a few moments. Since almost everybody in Alma knows everybody else (at least slightly), it's a time of community conviviality.

Two small horses pulled a wagon filled with people on a tour of the four block area that is essentially downtown Alma, Nebraska. The wagon has regular automobile tires on its wheels, so it looked to be a comfortable ride. Even though it was after dark, I saw many hardy souls wearing only T-shirts, no jackets. The temperature was probably in the low sixties or high fifties, and a softy like me wears a light jacket in that weather, but then I've only been here a little over five months. Maybe my blood will thicken as time marches on.

The entity that operates my apartment complex, The Alma Housing Authority, led by my apartment manager, Denise (boy, is she high energy Irish), had set up camp at Joe Camera, my favorite store in town. Denise offered free coffee, cookies and blueberry muffins to all who stopped in. She was also offering a drawing for a new DVD player, so people came by, said "Hi" and generally hung around to talk. I had volunteered to help host a half-hour slot, so from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM, I welcomed people and made sure they were aware of all to be had there at Joe Camera.

Two ladies from my apartment complex relieved me at the appointed time. One of them was my immediate neighbor, Ruby. Ruby is 98 years old going on 45 and has suffered no real ill effects of aging, other than (like most of us) she's probably not as tall as she used to be. If I make it to 98, I hope I am as physically and mentally able as is Ruby. She is a delight.

The free coffee was limited to regular and decaf, because the shop offers everything you can imagine in the way of coffee. In an earlier post, I commented on the wide selection of coffees available. So for those who wanted a Latte or a "Mocha Java" (whatever that is), I referred them to the store owner, Dusti, who happily obliged them at regular store prices for the fancy stuff.

The jars of coffee beans and tea leaves on the shelves are more numerous than anyone would ever expect to find in a town of 1232 souls. The tea included Earl Grey and Oolong Formosa, while the various coffees included a bean called, "A.M. Mayhem". I think I would be afraid to try that one first thing in the morning. I'll take ordinary coffee, thank you. In fact, I love the smell and taste of unsullied coffee, especially in the morning. When my daughter, Eva, and I have coffee at Bugbee's after our walks, I watch her pollute her cup of java with sugar and creamer, and I wonder if it's too late to save her from that poor condition.

Next Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, I will sit down and celebrate that holiday with both my daughters for the first time in 27 years. This is the kind of thing that my move from Duarte, CA, was all about. Time has taught me that few, if any, things are more important than family.

I hope everyone who reads this has a happy Thanksgiving.