Melanie's Christmas Column: Channeling the spirit of Christmas every day

Every Christmas season, the feelings that evoke the pleasantries of home, family, love and good tidings are amplified by the holiday cheer. The main streets in the little towns are brighter, the smiles on everyone’s faces bigger. Christmas brings that out in all of us, and it starts from an early age.

When I was little, my mother gifted me the Elvis Presley Christmas CD, “If Every Day Was Like Christmas,” and I was instantly hooked. Not only was Elvis my very favorite singer at the time, but the Christmas songs he crooned got my 7-year-old self dancing and singing along. It was his rendition of “The First Noel” that got me thinking more about the little baby Jesus, and I even talked about it in Sunday school at the time. I would listen to that CD for hours. My mother thought it was the cutest thing, and we would often let it play on a loop as we hung out (or danced) around the house or did chores during the month of December. I had thought music was the way to get in the spirit of Christmas, and it certainly helps; but the real reason for the season I discovered in listening to that Elvis CD was that of the memories made because of it. Had my mother not gifted it to me, I probably wouldn’t have as many cherished Christmas memories with her, my other family, and even friends. My college roommates knew it was Christmastime in our dorm or apartment when I broke out my treasured Elvis Christmas CD. In essence, every person has a way to channel their Christmas spirit, whether it be through church, visiting with friends, baking up a storm, walking around town and looking at all the splendid décor, or dancing around to an old Elvis CD.

The trick is, how do we maintain those very same feelings all year long.? The spirit is heightened, and the cheer more easily passed along. What if – ‘every day was like Christmas?’ The truth is, in living here in Sanders County and occasionally visiting Mineral County, every day has been like Christmas. No Elvis needed here, per se. The people who make that possible are ones I hold close to my heart, and my life has been forever changed by them. In the spirit of Christmas, I want to thank Mr. Caleb Russell for all the adventures we’ve had and are going to have, his family – Lisa Russell, John Russell, Jordan Russell, and little Miss Madi and Tanner-boy for taking me in as part of theirs; to the Lulack family – Batt, Karrie, Louise, Jack, Chayton, Cree, and “Dr.” Pepper – for being a constant, loving “Montana” family for me this past year, especially. I want to wish Kathy Logan a very Merry Christmas, and thank you for all the amazingly healthy food, lattes, and not-so-healthy-but-oh-so-good cheesecakes. To the rest of the bistro/clothing store family, Heidi Mack, Pam, Diane, Erika Lawyer, Bruce – y’all are all so amazing to see and talk to each week; you inspire me daily and remind me of the joys of small-town living. Merry Christmas to Christina and Calvin Larsen, Dylan and Brittany Josephson for being such fun friends. Thanks to Sally Braun, Denise Earhart, Thom Chisholm, Julie White, Randy Woods, Nancy Winebrenner, and all the school coaches who make being an editor even better; happy Christmas to Sheriff Tom Rummel, undersheriff Lanny Hensley, and former undersheriff Rube Wrightsman, - thank you all so much for your help and guidance this year, I look forward to continuing the great relationship between SCSO and Valley Press; to Ed Moreth and John Hamilton, although y’all are the competition, I am grateful for the friendliness between us and all the advice you’ve given to me and Justyna - Merry Christmas and thanks; Over in Mineral County, I want to wish my good friend Monte Turner and his wife, Loie, a very Merry Christmas; happy Christmas to Mike and Jackie as well; and finally, to my team at Valley Press – Mineral Independent, I am very thankful for all of you: Lisa Larson, you are a rock – thanks for your ideas, encouragement and support; Cheri Minemyer, we would be lost without you; Dan and Laurie, I learn so much from both of you each day, thank you for your guidance; to my reporters, Justyna Tomtas and Keith Cousins, you comprise the best news team we have had in a long time. I am very grateful for all that you bring to the table, what I’ve learned from each of you, and I praise your talents. I am excited for what the new year will bring for us, and for the papers.

Living in such a great place, and getting to talk to great people every day make this the best job, and best life. I’ve known this for a while, but like I said, the spirit of Christmas amplifies the need to express it. Also given the fact that I am listening to my Elvis Christmas CD as I compose this, the inspiration is, as always, very good.