Oh beautiful for spacious skies…

I admit it.  I’m spoiled.  I live in one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth.  A place visited by many thousands of people every year who come to enjoy the towering pine trees, breathe the pure air and create traffic jams.  They see the grand vistas of the Sierra Nevadas and the deep blue sweep of Lake Tahoe but what they don’t see is what I cherish: a type of small town life that is fast disappearing across this great United States of America.  They miss the subtle rhythm of the heart of small town life: the people.

And what kind of people are they?  They are just like your neighbors, probably.  But, do you know your neighbors?  I mean REALLY know them?  For better (and) for worse, I do.  I know them and I can count on them.  After living here for over 30 years, it seems I know nearly everyone, but of course I don’t.  But the important thing is I feel like I do and that is a wonderful feeling. 

They are the kind of people who look out for one another... 

Cancer in the family or perhaps a terrible accident?  You can bet there will be a benefit dinner, or auction or dance and you can also bet many people will be there and if they can’t, they will donate anyway.  We actually care what happens to each other and take steps to help rather than just talk about it.  We’ll cook you a meal if you need it and drive you to a chemo appointment or take your kids to school.  Oh – and we’ll keep track of those kids as we see them walking around town (for it’s still safe for kids to do that here) and call you if we think you need to know what they’ve been up to when they thought no one was watching! Something to be proud of for sure.

The kind of people who band together for a common goal...

Schools need money?  Well, just put on your dancing shoes and join the Incline Star Follies. Every year for the past ten years, we have joined together as a town to put on the fabulous Follies which combines the talents of students, teachers and community members in one hell of a show.  The show, which is as heavy on talent as it is on the amount of glitter worn by the participants, is a hit every year.  Even in these recessionary times, we played to nearly full houses this spring and raised considerable money (think five figures) for our cash-strapped schools.  Service groups abound.  They hold pancake breakfasts, sell Christmas trees and hold golf tournaments all to benefit the local youth. Something to be proud of, too.

The kind of people with friendly faces...

We see each other all over town.  We have very limited home mail delivery due to the amount of snow we get so most of us have post office boxes making the post office a de facto town hall.  Depending upon the time of year, you’ll see the Girl Scouts out selling cookies, the veterans with their poppies and any number of political groups and their petitions.  The same goes for our local supermarket, the bank, the rec center, the beach and on the soccer or baseball fields.  You’ll always see a friendly face and get a chance to catch up on everyone’s news.  I know that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – many prefer the anonymity of a large, impersonal city --  but for me, a child of the 1950s who grew up spending as much time roaming the neighborhood as at my own house, I wouldn’t change it for the world.  I feel safe here and that makes me proud.

The kind of people who take pride in their schools...

After teaching in our local middle school for 29 years, I am now teaching children of previous students.  There is a certain joy in watching kids grow, leave town and return to get married and raise their children here.  A continuity you don’t find many places, I don’t think. (Although I have been known to dart to another aisle in the grocery store to avoid a parent/teacher conference in the dairy section!) We have a perfect feeder system: an elementary, a middle and a high school and we do our damnest to not let anyone fall through the cracks.   I’m proud to teach them all.

They are patriotic people...

And now that the fourth of July is right around the corner, it’s time for Red White and Tahoe Blue a true celebration of the spirit of small town America.  There are American flags from huge to tiny, stuck in every possible location all over town including the riprap which holds the mountainside up! We will have daily flag raisings, celebratons honoring our veterans and ice cream socials.  We'll enjoy the somewhat rinky dink parade (do YOU have the REAL Santa Claus on a fire engine in YOUR 4^th of July parade?) and the rubber duckies will race down Incline Creek into the lake to raise money for the Rotary Club. Don't miss the free pancake breakfast at the fire station, the games and food on the beach and, thanks to ardent fund raising all year long, the glorious fireworks over the jewel of the Sierras, our beautiful Lake Tahoe.  Pride of ownership for sure.

Is life here perfect?  Of course not!  Do we argue about issues large and small, have serious political differences as well as our share of dirty laundry flapping in the breeze?  Without a doubt!  But, tonight the heavenly fragrance that the pines release at sundown is redolent in the air and my windows are open.  I can hear my neighbor, whom I love dearly, singing in preparation for tomorrow’s concert of American music. 

Who wouldn’t be proud?