January 11, 2006

Falls City Notes / Dorothy Cassidy
From a new angel, things look different

Perspective is such a strange word. It affects our lives everyday. I drove up Chamberlain Road the other day. As I looked across the hills I got a different perspective on things.

Funny, from up there I didn't see the laundry to be done, the phone calls to make, or myriad other "critical" needs. I saw the velvet green hills with a ribbon of silver below. Even the houses and other buildings took second place to the beauty around me. It made me think about which things are worth spending my time and energy on.
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I stopped by the library, and Sandy was very helpftil. She showed me materials and booklets about historic Falls City. It is a great little library! Don't let its size fool you. I overheard visitors wanting to set up an e-mail address, and high school student assisting in the library was ready to help them.

I also met up with one of the seniors, Chris Wessling, who is helping out as a volunteer in the library. He and Sam Wilt are working on their senior project together. They are going to be building a set of steps down the hill reaching from the school to the gym. The city has donated the use of a backhoe and a dump truck for the project. J & R Surveying has volunteered their expertise and time as well. Valley Concrete has agreed to donate concrete for the project. Thanks to all of these organizations and businesses.

The students will need adult community volunteers to assist in actually building the steps once the weather is cooperating and the guys have everything ready to go. Please contact the high school if that is something you have even a little experience in doing.

In the meantime, Chris and Sam are volunteers in the library. Thanks, guys!
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I couldn’t resist -- I had to see if the new tower made a difference in cell phone reception. It may not be on line yet. I drove all over town checking on it. I felt a little like the "Can you hear me now?" guy on TV. I couldn't tell any difference, so it must not be working.
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As I've said before, January and February are not my favorite months, but I am trying to change my perspective on that, too. I have noticed something: In the other seasons there are so many leaves on the trees and shrubs that you can hardly see more than a few feet into the forest. During these winter months, with the leaves gone, you see many things that you ordinarily pass over.

I noticed the green mossy forest floor, the shape of the bare branches, and the beautiful assortment of ferns under foot. My favorite is the sound of the small streams barely trickling over the rocks and sticks. With a new perspective, winter has more to offer than I thought.

Until next time -- blessings on your home.