Town Stars

Small towns rarely offer stars, but ours has a big one.

No, I'm not talking about the movie kind, I'm talking about the shape.

Del Norte rests under a small hill known on the map as Mount LookOut.
The people who live here call it "D Mountain."
Which is convenient since there is a huge white "D" painted on the side of it.
The "D" has been there for years prior to my birth and will remain for years after I am gone.

You can see the "D" across the valley floor on clear days.
Two times during the year that little hill turns into something wonderful.
Sitting atop the hill, strung between three poles, is a star.
(On Easter it is a cross.)

The star is normally lit the first weekend of December, and remains lit until a week after New Year.
It shines so beautifully on the hill, and after a fresh snow, it glows even brighter. It can bee seen, lighting up the sky from all around the valley.

A few years back, some people tried to tell the town it was a religious symbol and had to be removed so it wouldn't offend someone. Well, because it has been there for so long, and is a local icon of sorts, it remained.
(Sound of Rasberry being made) Haha to those who deem the world must remain politically correct.

Yes, that is how we here in this small town deal with people who want us to change something that has been around for years and years. We love the star.

It's light leads us home after a night full of shopping in Alamosa.
It welcomes the weary traveler as they journey through on the way to somewhere else.
It is the best part of our towns Christmas decorations, and should never change.

Sometimes, I admit, I am afraid the cost of maintaining it will cause it to be turned off.
We have had our share of vandals who have hiked up the hill and thrown rocks at the wonderful lights.
Yet, it remains lit.

Inspiring to us small town folks who do have legitimate fear of the outside world. It reminds us that no matter what, that star will be there to guide us home, give us light, and for a few minutes every winter, Del Norte has a "Star!"

What not to do..??!!

What not to do....if you are staying in a motel, lodge, or with friends and family. (And yes, I have personal experience finding all the wonderful things people have left, or changed, or...well, you get the point!)


Unlike Emily Post, I am not a pro in the manners department. In fact, I'm a huge klutz! Just ask anyone that has known me for more than five minutes. Regardless, I do know there are some things you should never do when staying away from your own cozy bed. 


Smile, it is pretty good advice.


1. When staying in a motel, remember that someone, at sometime, purchased the ugly carpet and coordinating bedspread to cover the dirt. It is incredibly impolite to remark on the ugliness, after all, someone actually purchased them for your enjoyment!


2. When staying at a lodge, it is never okay to leave leftover food under the bed. Yes, it is convenient for those ever popular midnight snacks, but you will always forget you put the pancakes there, and even though everyone generally likes the smell of maple syrup, it is not a great room deodorizer. 


3. When staying at a friends house, tell them if you have sleep walking issues. Your host and hostess may be shocked if you crawl in their bed in the middle of the night without warning.


4. If you find yourself staying in a motel and something doesn't work, you should tell someone right away. The repair guys get paid by the hour and love coming to your room in the middle of the night to fix your running toilet, the heat or a.c., or show you how the coffee maker works. Waiting until the next morning to complain won't get you a discount on the room, that is an old trick and never works. Instead try complimenting them on the matching decor!


5. If you find yourself in a lodge and what you flushed seems like it is coming back to visit you, don't flush again. There is a little rubber bowl with a stick on it nearby. You can use it, and if I have to explain how, you need a book called, "Plunging for Dummies!" Quick, the last copy may now be purchased at Amazon!


6. If your hostess makes something you simply hate, don't put it in your napkin unless it comes on a roll and is disposable. Instead, keep the intolerable mess and toss it outside when no one is looking. If you are lucky, the evidence may not be found for weeks, and by then, you are off the hook!


7. In a motel, remember, the toilet is not a bong. Yes, there is water conveniently placed there, and yes, there are straws near the coffee maker, but there is simply no excuse for leaving your umm... medication, on the toilet bowl. 


8. If visiting a lodge, and the television doesn't work, throwing it off the balcony will only make a mess. Instead, unplug it and move it to the dining room table. Someone is more likely to find it there, and who knows when the snow will melt enough for someone to find all the parts!


9. When designated to the couch at your friends, it could be considered rude to remove the cushion and look for spare change. They may be saving it for a rainy day!


Last but not least: Tip your housekeeper, unless you like your alarm clock set for three in the morning!


I hope you enjoyed these basic rules that can be used in a variety of settings.