18
Wednesday, September 1, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Roundabout
SISTERS
Bill Bartlett
Columnist
Life in the
bubble
When we moved here
three years ago from
Southern Oregon, I was told
by a good friend who lives
in Ashland that I was mov-
ing to a bubble. Ashland is
affectionately known as <six
square miles surrounded by
reality.= I knew what he was
describing about Sisters 4
a Lake Woebegone fantasy-
like place where one is
fairly isolated from a larger,
less friendly, more danger-
ous world.
Well, he9s right. We
do live in a bubble 3 of
sorts 3 and happily, I9d
say. Speaking for myself
anyway.
Just take a look at last
week9s front page of The
Nugget. There was an
above-the-fold picture
of a dog frolicking in the
Metolius. And a story about
volunteerism. True, there
was also a rare story of a
traffic stop yielding a meth
bust right downtown. But
these were people pass-
ing through the bubble, not
from the bubble.
The rest of the issue was
dominated by stories of
good works, school sports,
the art scene, and saving
trees. It felt a long way from
Kabul, New Orleans 4 and
even Portland.
The bubble is full of life,
mostly joyful this week.
The rabbit brush is turn-
ing yellow and the Aspens
quaking through favorable
weather, showing signs of
approaching autumn. The
deer and elk are in velvet.
We9re counting the days
until the snow returns, the
dust settles, the smoke goes
wherever smoke goes.
The trails are full of
happy bikers and hikers.
The campgrounds are all
booked. Outdoor eateries
are brimming with diners.
The coffee shops are full,
reminiscent of a Parisian
café society. Tourists are
still aplenty with many ask-
ing themselves and realtors
if they too could live in this
bubble.
There9s some fussing
about masks and what our
kids are being taught. Some
pointed letters to the editor.
There9s cautious worry
about the surge of COVID-
19, yet life in the bubble
goes on pretty much as
always. And always means
a sincere connection to
nature and neighbors.
When there is a problem,
like the homeless or afford-
able housing or food secu-
rity, it9s a shared concern
with a community-wide
goal of making the problem
go away. Or at least amelio-
rating it with some thought-
ful, collective action. If we
had a catastrophic fire, for
example, there9s no place
I9d rather be than in the
bubble knowing that my
neighbors would be hand-
in-hand fighting the blazes.
In Ashland, it was more a
neighbor coming to your
door and telling you your
house was on fire and ask-
ing if you would like to bor-
row their hose.
In the bubble it9s hands-
on. Not surprising since
so many here in Sisters
Country work with their
hands. Keeping animals.
Repairing things. And, for
the most part, maintaining
an optimistic outlook.
The number of nonprof-
its per capita in Sisters is
stunning. I9ve heard it said
that the number of Habitat
for Humanity homes per
capita in Sisters is at the top
or near the top of all Habitat
chapters. Just try to move
here and not get a full-court
press to volunteer your time
and talents. There is no
escaping, I proffer.
Here in Sisters Country
old cars are a primary sym-
bol of life in the bubble.
This past weekend some
of us made the journey
to Madras to catch the
Airshow of the Cascades,
which features an impres-
sive car show. Next month
(September 25), downtown
will be the scene of the
Glory Daze Car Show.
The whole bubble
thing feels so 950s, but I
don9t think it9s nostalgia
that9s driving it. Sisters
folk are just plain decent
people, mostly civil of
tongue and pretty darned
tolerant. It may not be
exactly as Garrison Keillor
eloquated,<where all the
women are strong, the men
good-looking, and the chil-
dren are above average= 4
but it comes close.
Being in a bubble
doesn9t mean we are in the
dark. Bubbles are transpar-
ent after all. We care for
the greater world and the
greater good yet we know
our limits and where we can
make a difference.
It doesn9t feel to me that
here in the bubble we are
going to let COVID con-
quer us or its bitter medi-
cine drive us apart. That
would burst the bubble and
let out all the good air. And
nobody wants that.
The Nugget Newspaper Crossword
By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service
— Last Week’s Puzzle Solved —
This Week’s Crossword Sponsors
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