Connections

The connections we encounter at the lodge are really amazing.  We had a family who came to play reindeer games we were hosting during Winter Wonderland.  "Grandma" grew up in the neighboring rival town I grew up in, her husband had worked for the mine my father had, and she was attending the church I attended.  We even frequented the same restaurant and agreed they had the BEST Mexican food!
Last week one of our guests mentioned he had attended West Point and after I queried what years he had been there, I wondered if by some remote chance he knew a friend of ours who had also been there during those years.  Turns out they were classmates!
Friends and colleagues, places lived or traveled, interests and faith in common make, not just great conversation over breakfast, but a connectivity in this big world.

Reindeer Season is Over!

Jim and I donned deer attire for 4 Saturdays prior to Christmas and hosted reindeer games on our back lawn.  This was not for the faint of heart.  While the elves, Santa and Mrs. Claus were warm and toasty at the community center and other business owners were hosting activities inside, Jim and I braved the elements along with a few brave elves who were in charge of the hayride.  While the community center logged over a thousand visitors, we had about 100 who came to let the kids run around, try ringing the antlers, put the nose on Rudolph, play ladder ball and corn hole, and pet our delighted labrador, Zella.  Parents played with the kids or sat by the fire pit to stay warm.  One Saturday, we had several inches of snow on the ground and the high was 22 degrees.  That day, we kept the fire stoked for parents while kids played in the snow.  We gave out reindeer stickers, temporary tattoos and finger lights.  And a good time was had by all.