Sara Serves: Seasons
I write this at the end of October. Our Town had its annual Halloween event last Friday, and it was a banger. We had to reimagine the event after our venue partner stepped back this year (no shade, they’ve had a lot of changes). Staff closed Main Street and transformed the downtown into a hometown Halloween trick-or-treat party. There was a DJ, a bounce house, face painting, and dozens of organizations, businesses, and neighbors who decorated tables and tents to hand out candy. And the kids? Who knew there were so many that would come to town! Overall attendance estimates were 6,500. It was bonkers, but in the best small-town way possible. Happy kids, grateful parents, citizens serving each other, and no issues at all (other thanemergency candy runs). The good feelings that it created about our town? Priceless.
Of course, Halloween means November is here, and time to get ready for Christmas. Staff aremobilizing for the switch to Christmas. That means the street banners change from veterans and welcome signs to holiday designs, Christmas lights go up, and Town Hall gets a Christmas parade-themed makeover. This year, the theme is “Christmas Movie Magic,” so it will be fun to see what our decorating elf came up with. We have our Parade on the first Friday in December, so after that, we take a little breather and just enjoy the season.
Until January. Then it all comes down, and we dive into the budget. The cycle starts again, each part in its own season.
I used to be stressed out by the constant churn of what was next on the calendar. Seeing that it never ended felt like a burden. After all, there are no real breaks. It is holidays, budget, audits, retreats, plans, elections, and so on… until we retire. In the last few years, even as each one seems to speed by faster than the last, I’ve learned to enjoy the rhythm. The cycle is predictable; we know what’s next, and we help our electeds know too.
Amid the chaos and churn of our society, the steady rhythm of our local seasons feels like a gift, not a burden. Focusing on how our town can make the holidays brighter for our citizens feels like important work right now. In the past, I saw this work as good work, but more ‘fluff’ than the ‘real’ work we do. Today, when I see the street banners change and swarms of kids fill downtown, I think: ‘this is the real work.’ Helping people love where they live is a pretty coolcalling.
In January, we will do the serious work of minding the money plan for the next year, and, of course, that matters too.
For now, Halloween is behind us. This weekend, I’ll be sitting by the firepit at our pond with friends. Next week will be in full Christmas parade mode, with the next wave of projects coming at us. Life is good. Seasons are good. And my small town is the best.