Sleigh rides...

A lady came to the What's Up "World HQ" yesterday and what she shared with me and my staff made me reflect on the joys of small town life.

In the December issue of What's Up Magazine, we published an interview with Exeter native and World Series winning Bench Coach, Brad Mills. We have had tons of people compliment us on the article and photos (thanks to Tony D and Ryan Krauter) but the visit by this gracious lady was different.

I had heard that Brad's sister (turns out she is his sister-in-law) was coming to pick up copies of the magazine to give to friends and family, which is always a blessing to me. But when she came through the door I had no idea the connections that would unfold from that point forward. Judy has long red hair, a ready smile and eyes as big as the California sky. But she also has what appears to be a natural curiosity, and marketing savvy evidenced by the questions she had about the magazine. One question in particular piqued my interest ...

"How much does an ad cost in your magazine?" she asked.

Well, that is music to a publisher's ears and I proceeded to explain our rates and gave her the ubiquiteous rate card. But I always want to know why someone needs to advertise, partly for my benefit, mostly to see if it is the right thing for them.

"Well," she began, "we own a pack station in Horse Corral Meadow and we are wanting to offer sleigh rides in the winter months, you know, it just goes with the season."

I explained to her that the I loved the sleigh ride concept and, if they got it off the ground, would be happy to write an article about this new venture. Plus, I knew people who knew them and was intrigued by the connections.

"Hmmm," says I, "I have heard a lot about Horse Corral Meadow, in fact, didn't Jack Hannah write a song about it?"

"Yes, he did." she replied.

Long story short, I played that song for several years as part of Belinda Gails band, Wildwind, and loved to imagine being in that beautiful place everytime we played that song.

Then she told me, "we also run pack trips into the back country from our station up there."

Well, this started a conversation about several people that I know that, as it turns out work up there, or have been affiliated with their pack station for a long time. It was like old home week.

Later it dawned on me, this is why I love living in Visalia. Big enough to have World- class athletes call it home, small enough to have connections to remote people and places in the most surprising ways. Hey, I belong to a community, I have found my place in this world. That, at least for me, is no small feat. In my heart it was a reason to celebrate.

Sort of makes you want to hop in a sleigh, pour yourself a hot cocoa and take a ride. Does it not?