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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2019)
Wednesday, December 25, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Of a certain AGE Sue Stafford Columnist Joy to the World As I write, the calendar will turn to December 21, the winter solstice, and a time that brings me joy every year as we begin the climb out of shorter days and longer dark- ness toward the light and warmth of spring and summer. The cold and dark of winter has always been my time of remembering and reflecting. As I listened to Christmas carols the other day, I was struck by the word <joy= in <Joy to the World,= one of my favorite carols that always ended the midnight Christmas Eve service at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland, before we streamed out into the cold of early Christmas morning. My reflections turned to what brings me joy. After a week of rolling the question around in my mind, gradu- ally adding to my list, I was able to put joyful things into categories and came to real- ize that most of the things that give rise to joy come as a result of making myself <available= 3 to myself and the world around me. By pausing, slowing down, and quieting my mind, I am able to not only listen but to hear, to not only look but to see. The creations of Mother Nature are the most com- mon sources of joy for me. My view of the Three Sisters when they don their winter coats of snow each fall never gets old. The appearance each spring of the gangly spot- ted fawns, frolicking around their watchful mothers down on the creek bed, gives me pause to watch in wonder. I never tire of the breathtaking azure sky punctuated by the tops of stately green ponder- osa as I look up in my back yard. The purring of my old kitty, Maeve, as she touches my nose with hers in a morn- ing greeting reins in my busy mind. Then there are those sen- sory joys, so easy to miss if I am not paying attention. The fragrance of fresh lavender as I brush against it in my yard captures me every time. The rich taste of that first spoonful of coffee ice cream (straight from the carton) delights my taste buds. The sense of release is great as tears fall while listening to harmonic strains of beautiful music that fill my soul. Snuggling into my bed warmed by the elec- tric blanket on a cold winter night is heavenly. Perhaps my most reward- ing joys come from interac- tions with other people. There is nothing that brings me greater joy than time spent talking and laughing with a life-long friend who knows me better than I know myself. I have always enjoyed hearing people9s stories, so my former counseling prac- tice, and now my interviews for newspaper articles, give me great satisfaction when someone has shared a part of their story with me. In my days as a therapist, I had the pleasure of working with peo- ple that some might find dif- ficult. But there is something in me that is deeply touched by working with wounded individuals. As a substance abuse counselor, I worked with low-income elderly cli- ents who lived in public hous- ing around Pike Place Market in Seattle. Eddie, the native Alaskan, a man of intellect and talent whose battle with alcohol derailed him early in life, shared with me his gifts and challenges, enriching my life while I offered him accep- tance and encouragement. As a horticultural thera- pist, I helped adults recently released from the Washington State Hospital, and living in transitional housing, discover the joy and healing power of planting, tending, and har- vesting their own garden plots. Minds controlled by mental illness and the drugs used to treat it, found freedom and healing in the garden. For three years I was part of a three-woman team that went into the Monroe Correctional Complex for We’ve Got Tons of Great Gifts and Tools for Christmas! men to facilitate a personal growth group for prisoners, utilizing expressive arts, as they examined their lives. These men, some of whom were there with life sentences, moved me in ways that very few have. The laughter and tears and acceptance that we experienced together provided a deep joy that is with me still. The human condition, with all its messiness and pain, is also the source of great joy and satisfaction for me often found in the most unlikely places. Some of my great- est lessons in living came from my Transitions clients at Hospice of Redmond as they approached the end of their lives. I learned so much about living, and preparing to die, from them. We shared moments of pain and regret, but also times of joy and laughter. They gave so much to me and I hopefully was of assistance to them. In all of those different parts of my life, I learned that I am here to walk alongside my fellow man and woman as we journey together through this life. It is the sharing of the journey that gives me my greatest joy. As I share with you, my readers, it brings me sweet joy when something I have written touches you. Thank you for sharing with me how you have been moved by my words. It means a lot to me. Merry Christmas, and joy to you! Personal approach to every property year-round! 23 years in business • LCB#9583 541-549-2882 Snow Blowing Shoveling • De-Icing Wood Stacking Clean-Ups • Hauling Hours: M-F H M F 8 to 5 5, S Sat. 8 to 4 4, Cl Closed dS Sundays d 440 N. Pine St. • 541-549-8141 • www.hoyts.net Sparks will fly! “Your Local Welding Shop” CCB# 87640 We do repair work and fabrication in steel, aluminum, copper & other metals. PHOTO HOTO BY ALEX EX JORDAN J ORDAN 8 541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com Offer expires Dec. 31, 2019 Melvin’s by Newport Ave. Market will match every dollar for Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank that is donated at their store (corner GIVE IN of Fir St. & Hood Ave.) through PERSO N Dec. 31, 2019 (up to $5,000). Donations to Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank are dramatically down this holiday season. Tax-deductible cash donations are greatly appreciated. Red Tag Savings! Annual savings up to $2,400 on select units Double your cash donation in December! Exclusive limited-time offer on select apartments! Unit #106 Unit #128 Single Occupancy Studio Single Occupancy 2 BR Now $1,999 Now $3,374 THREE CONVENIENT FOOD E DROP-OFF LOCATIONS: DONAT FOOD Coldwell Banker Reed Bros. Realty Washington Federal Bank Cloverdale Fire Department *Subject to availability. Offer valid on select units only; fl oor plans may vary. See management for complete details. Donations accepted during regular business hours. DONAT E ONLIN E SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT TODAY! CALL 541-318-0450. DONATE ONLINE 1460 NE 27th St., Bend • StoneLodgeRetirement.com ©2018 HARVEST MANAGEMENT SUB LLC & HOLIDAY AL HOLDINGS LP 19034 SEND A CHECK SistersKiwanis.org/food-bank Mail checks to PO Box 1296, Sisters, OR 97759