By Terra Avilla
Being my first week writing since being on maternity leave, I am very sentimental. As the clocks turned back, and the leaves from our beautiful trees continue to drop – I think it’s a good time to reflect, maybe not on one particular person, event or business that makes our community so great, but the collectiveness of our community that makes it one-of-a-kind.
Now I know by now, many of you have heard of the passing of my dear friend (and friend to pretty much everyone) Gary Felt (A.K.A. Mr. Susanville.) This comes after recently hearing about the passing of Mr. Franco who I also adored. He too was a public servant to our community and is also greatly missed.
These losses really saddened me. I had never known Susanville without them.
I am never really good at change. I like stability and consistency.
I remember being downright annoyed when I learned that Jim Wolcott would be retiring from the Fair Grounds. “This can’t be right,” I remember thinking. The Lassen County Fair just won’t be the fair without Jim whizzing around in the golf cart.
I had that same feeling of anxiety and almost annoyance, when I found out last month that the wonderful Patty Hagata would no longer be working of the Chamber of Commerce.
“This cannot be!” I remember thinking. What is an uptown Christmas event without Patty? “It just won’t be the same.”
Just as devastating to me – the Bernards, Lisa and Jason, moved away.
“How could they do this to me” I thought. I need Lisa in my life. She has been such a capstone for me here.
Change also panicked me during one of my most stunning realizations when I realized that “little Katrina Davenport” who I remember being 9-years old is graduating high school this year.
“This cannot be right.” No-no-no. She simply cannot be old enough or mature enough to graduate high school.
I don’t want her to move away. Or graduate. Or change. I don’t like it. Not one bit.
Then I remembered. Things change. That is life – continual change. Even in our small community. And with things changing, we have the opportunity to grow.
Despite Jim not being the fair manager, our wonderful new manager Kaitlyn Downing is thriving at the fairgrounds. Bringing a new perspective to a whole new era to the Fairgrounds.
Kelly Ackley has taken the job at the Chamber and I know she will be a wonderful new addition.
And lastly, as I am saddened that the little blonde girl I remember is now a young woman, I get to see her blossom. And adventure out on her own.
Our kids, grow into teenagers who grow into adults. That is the beauty of life. And new life at that. This past month alone I witnessed several of my friends bring beautiful babies into our community, surely starting a whole new generation of traditions, joy and imprints on our community for years to come.
During this changing season, I think it’s important to realize – Lassen County will change. People will come and some will go. That doesn’t mean we forget them. It just means we have room to start new traditions, new memories and new people to love, all while remembering the great memories of the past.
I will always love and remember hearing Gary’s booming voice over the microphone at uptown events. Or seeing Lisa singing on stage on Sunday mornings at Community.
We can remember the beautiful, wonderful things and people that are iconic to us in our community and look forward to the new ones to come. So… cheers to a beautiful new season in Lassen County. A place where there are a million reasons (new and old) that I love where we live.
