The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

For a second consecutive year, the Big Sandy holiday tradition, The Christmas Stroll, has been cancelled due to concerns over recent spikes in Covid cases in Montana. Throughout the month, I have found myself watching Big Sandy adapt and celebrate the holiday without the beloved community gathering, and I would argue that in our own little way we have managed to do a low key version of the event. To make my point, I would like to share my own low key Christmas Stroll that has taken place through out the month. I first came up with this idea while visiting the Black Granary, Big Sandy's own bakery/coffee shop. Mary has made it a point to try to keep Christmas cookies in the case this month and has given hot chocolate to children for free. It's a little touch, but I found that it added to my Big Sandy Christmas Stroll. A few times, I've settled next to the Christmas tree to read in the coffee shop, and there has been no shortage of "Merry Christmas" and other holiday well wishes shared between neighbors.

The town has still been decorated and Christmas music has still filled main street from The Grocery Store. I miss the parade, but celebrating with less has put me in a spot where I appreciate the other aspects of our town's efforts more. Speaking of The Grocery Store, my kids have been eagerly speculating about the "World's Biggest Stocking" giveaway. Their excitement and anticipation has reminded me of all the wonderful things Dave and Deb do for our town to help kindle the Christmas spirit.

It would be impossible to get into all of the things our neighbors do this season to make Christmas wonderful. I enjoy breakfast with Santa every year, but am grateful that Tim and Gena set up a sleigh on their lawn and dressed up for pictures with kids. It's wonderful that we had a choice for pictures in with Santa in our town. The elementary school taught our kids about giving through their Christmas food drive and offered some love to neighbors in need. The senior center opened on Saturdays to give local vendors a chance to sell their wares for those looking for local Christmas shopping options. I had a chance to narrate the Christmas program at Little Flock Preschool this year and was blessed to see the show from a different angle. I got to watch parents delight, cringe, laugh, and ultimately glow as they watched their children perform Christmas fare. It was wonderful. I could keep going and going about my personal Christmas stroll this month. The school concerts, ugly sweaters around town, the inflatable Ralphie in the pink bunny costume I get to pass on my way to town every day, and so many other efforts. It is a reminder that what makes the stroll so cool is the people in our town. Maybe it wasn't all in one evening, and I didn't get to not win anything in the button raffle, but slowing down and watching my neighbors celebrate and bless each other was a pretty good alternative. I hope we get back to normal next year, but I am grateful I got to stroll through our town and enjoy Christmas in small bites and scattered moments of joy.