By Shelley Bennett
First off, just a reminder that I would love to cover all your upcoming college graduations, engagement announcements, weddings, and other special occasions. When I started writing this column, I envisioned myself as the next Jane Feller, former columnist at the Lassen Co. Times.
If you remember her, you will remember her weekly “About Town” where she cheerfully observed our small village from her office window and kept the rest of us notified of who was doing what. She also had a beautiful way of describing weddings, engagements, and other events.
Yesterday I became the mother of a 21-year old. I spend the day in a surreal state, reminiscing about the day Jacob was born (it was rainy and early) and recalling an epic first birthday where Leo turned our yard into “Jacob’s Field” and he rounded the bases with Great Grandma Joann.
At one point, he was outside talking to a friend on the phone, and I could hear his two-year-old voice: always deep and carrying to wherever I sat. It made me think of him out with little brother Landon when he would take a cell phone and call our house phone.
When I would answer, he would say “This is Sticks ‘n Stones” and give me a story about how he and his partner were in the neighborhood doing work. It was never clear what type of work they were doing, but I was usually struggling not to laugh, tears running down my face, so I might have missed it.
I also had the honor of attending an open house for local newlyweds Luke and Caitlin Petersen. Luke and Caitlin will make their home in Susanville, with Luke working at the Federal Prison (and a fixture of Dancing for a Brand New Me), while Caitlin studying business and entrepreneurship through BYUI Pathways program.
I’m at the point in my career where almost everyone I run into was in my class, is a parent of a former student, or will be in my class, and that was the case yesterday.
After congratulating the handsome couple, I was happy to see many faces of former students who have become friends. I spent some time at the kids table, named for the nine adorable offspring of the beautiful Lee sisters.
Christina Andersen and Becky Hubbard have both returned home to raise their families and contribute to our community. They kept me laughing with their tales of motherhood and trying to remember birthdays, birth weights, and other details of their littles. I assured them that it does get easier when everyone can themselves dressed and in the car with no car seats.
It’s so fulfilling when you can witness something coming full circle. Thank you small town Susanville, for giving me this gift.
Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”
