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Wednesday, December 13, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Commentary...
Girls basketball faced top teams
All In!
By Katy Yoder
Columnist
Our seven-month-old
puppy is afraid of the vac-
uum cleaner. Our barely
ambling older dog, Alfie,
walks by it like it isn’t
there.
Recently, young Beau
skirted fearfully by it to
visit me in my office. Right
after he made the perilous
journey past the green mon-
ster, I accidently dropped
my phone. He skidded
back out of the room like
Scooby-Doo! It was hilari-
ous but also a bit of a
reminder of how I’ve been
feeling lately.
My scary vacuum is my
impending last day of work
with Sisters Folk Festival.
I’ve been employed there
for 11 years, and I’ve got-
ten very accustomed to
my daily routine. It’s not
always easy, but after all
these years, it’s a predict-
able existence without
many surprises — that was
until the recent smoke-
filled cancellation. But as a
team, we handled the diffi-
culties and have almost put
the unfortunate event in our
rearview mirrors. It’s still a
sad, almost surreal memory
but we had each other to get
through it.
Now I’m going on
alone. I’ve been avoiding
thinking too much about
the uncharted territory that
will soon be my reality. It’s
scary, and it sure can get the
adrenaline pumping. I have
a plan, but also don’t really
know what’s happening
next for me. Now that I’ve
given myself the freedom
to work full-time on my
book and freelance writing,
I wonder if I will I be able
to create a work that fulfills
my expectations? Not to
mention everyone else’s.
Like Beau reacting to
my phone falling, I can get
spooked pretty easily. But,
really, what is it I’m afraid
of? Can it kill me? Will I
fail? Thoughts along those
lines are floating just below
the surface. I don’t even
realize they’re there until
I try to meditate. Once I
shut my eyes and attempt
to quiet my mind, I real-
ize that the wild animals
have all been let out of the
zoo. My thoughts are out
of control, sliding around
corners and overwhelming
me with their demand for
attention.
When my thoughts go
rogue, I’m surprised at how
many topics are lurking in
my subconscious. Without
trying, my mind’s way
to deal with mental over-
load is to pull the curtains
and pretend the fears are
not there. But that doesn’t
last. Especially soon
without a job to distract
me, I know it’ll soon be
“showtime!”
This is my last week of
work. I’m excited to get
organized, start acting on
my plans and see where
it all takes me. I’m begin-
ning to meditate more regu-
larly, and bit by bit the wild
thoughts are calming down.
This is not an emergency!
This is an opportunity!
When I take it all down
to the ground floor, it’s
simple. I’m alive. My mind
still works. I have a chance
to live a dream I’ve carried
since childhood.
I’m going to truly give
faith a chance. No more
excuses, crutches or pro-
crastinations. I’m taking
that step off the cliff, know-
ing I’ll either have wings
or a very large helpful bird
just might sail by to give
me a lift. However it hap-
pens, I’m all in!
By Rongi Yost
Correspondent
The Lady Outlaws faced
two formidable foes this past
week, and the high level of
play was more than the young
Sisters squad could handle.
Sisters fell 54-14 at home
to North Marion (No. 5) on
Tuesday, December 5, and
three days later were defeated
55-23 by Yamhill-Carlton
(YC).
In Tuesday’s action, the
Outlaws faced a tall Husky
squad that was calm, method-
ical, and executed the offense
well. Sisters had a rough time
throughout the game, and
only shot 14.5 percent from
the field.
Alexa Stewart had seven
points for the Outlaws,
Sydney Head contributed
four, and Gracen Sundstrom
added three, all from the free-
throw line.
Rheanna Salisbury was the
leading rebounder with seven.
Salisbury played strong for
the Outlaws and set good
screens for her teammates.
Three days later, the
Outlaws faced No. 1-ranked
Yamhill-Carlton. Sisters
played a better game than
they did against the Huskies
earlier in the week, but were
unable to play up to the high
caliber of the Tigers.
Sisters did have a great
second quarter. The Outlaws
worked together, shut the
Tigers down, and held them
to just one point. At the half,
Yamhill-Carlton held a 21-10
PHOTO BY OUTLAWS PHOTOGRAPHY
Sidney Head scores two vs. North Marion.
advantage.
The Tigers have a small
gym, and they used it to
their advantage, and pressed
the Outlaws constantly. YC
extended their lead through-
out the second half, and beat
the Outlaws by 32 points.
Stewart led the Outlaws with
six points.
Coach Alan VonStein said,
“They’re (YC) at a differ-
ent level of basketball than
we are. We’re a young team,
FINEFURNITURE
and we’re improving every
day. Our spirits are good, and
we’re having fun.”
“Today was my birthday
and the girls sang Happy
Birthday to me twice. They
probably should stick with
basketball,” added VonStein
with a grin.
The Outlaws will play
in the Seaside Holiday
To u r n a m e n t T h u r s d a y
through Saturday, December
14-16.
For Individuals & Families
Make your emotional
wellness a priority
this holiday season
Counseling, medication
management, and testing
Adam Bronstein
Cra sman
By Commission
Audry
Van Houweling
PMHNP-BC
Quick and
Affordable Help
541-595-8337 • www.shesoarspsych.com
541-410-1309
SpringCreekWoodworking.com
102 E. Main Ave., Downtown Sisters
Don’t throw it away, we can fix it
We do repair work & fabrication in
steel, aluminum, copper
& other metals.
“Your Local Welding Shop”
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PHOTO BY ALEX JORDAN
541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com