The holidays are a great time for traditions, whether it’s following them or creating them.
For me, a favorite tradition includes the Christmas party held by the Rotary Club of Durango in the Pullman Room at the Strater Hotel. My father, Charlie Butler, was a member of the club for more than 30 years, and as far as I can calculate, I have missed the party only a handful of times in the last 45 years. This year’s event was held Dec. 17.
It’s all very predictable, and that’s part of the fun. It starts with all the parents – it was just the dads before women members were welcomed in 1987 – sneaking the gifts in under the tree, so they’ll be ready for Santa to deliver later in the evening.
After a traditional holiday meal of turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, salad and veggies, it’s time for the singing.
And to kick that off, there’s no one better than former club member Don Mapel, who allows the club to twist his arm every year to serve as song leader. It’s not because he’s such a great singer – all that talent in the family belongs to his wife, Sandra, and daughter, Meredith – but because he conducts with such gusto. This year, he managed to con his wife into not only attending, but to accompanying the singing on the piano, which made us sound a lot better but was probably tough on her nerves.
All the Rotary “kids,” that would include people like me, who are the children of Rotarians, even though our kid status is long behind us, perform the timeless “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Mapel’s hallmark is the rousing “Twelve Days of Christmas,” which helps everyone work off the aforementioned holiday dinner with each table assigned a number, and lots of upping and downing as your table’s number comes around. Every table creates an action for its day. Alas, I must report that my table’s cleverness on “six geese a-laying,” went unremarked, as we stood up then sat right back down. (You get it, right? What are geese doing when they’re laying eggs?) Oh, well, maybe next year.
Allison Barker, a Rotary kid who’s now all grown up, served as Santa’s elf, and kids of all ages trooped up to receive the only gift they’re allowed to unwrap before the big day arrives. There’s always a sweet moment or two, and always at least one child who’s not too sure about the guy in the red suit, and that’s part of the tradition, too. As is Santa’s delight when a lovely young woman comes up to give him a hug.
As Santa heads back to his sleigh, which was double-parked on the roof of the Strater – wait, who else was parking up there? Maybe that’s the only space left in town with the free parking – it’s back out into the chilly night for everyone, with another warm memory of a Rotary Christmas party.
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Friends and family are singing “We Wish You a Merry ... uh, Birthday,” to these folks – Gary Wessman, Ryan Phelps, Jim Marentette, Lynne Mueller, Carol Connelly, Bob Patterson, Mina Willemin, Kelly Miller, Duncan Gilpin, Avery Blalock, Donna Davis, Marj Martinson, Mary Sieger, Ava Hobby, Maria Meyer, Estelle House, Nicolina Lasher, Carol Lyman, Gwen Cook, Vicki Calwell, Janie McLaughlin, T.J. Trump and Laurie Barker.
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The Center of Southwest Studies wasn’t lucky on the weather front when it held its Black Boots, Black Bolo Holiday Gala on Dec. 7, which was, as you may recall, the night of our big, icy snowstorm.
The snow didn’t stop about 50 ardent supporters from showing up, including a great mix of longtime fans and new aficionados of one of our community’s crown jewels.
Attendees enjoyed appetizers (including a memorable hickory-smoked, bacon-wrapped chicken), desserts and a performance of the Fort Lewis College Ballet Folklórico, complete with several costume changes.
Center of Southwest Studies Executive Director Jay Harrison told me they tried something new. Instead of going all over town looking for silent auction items, they had three sponsors whose businesses focus on some of the same items the center has in its collection. Toh-Atin and Sorrel Sky galleries and the Shared Blanket each contributed several items, including several bolo ties, of course.
The goal is to raise money for two museum exhibits for 2014, the 50th anniversary of the center. In April, newly acquired Rio Grande blankets and other 19th century textiles will have their place in the sun.
And in October, the Treasures of the Durango Collection exhibit, which has been a big hit down Santa Fe way, will return to its home.
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Enjoying a last glass of eggnog for their anniversaries are Delmar and Patricia Beard, Allen and Suzanne Washburn, Robert and Lillian Boe, Jim and Barbara Edmanson and Tom and Ashley Creyer.
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I am happy to consider photos for Neighbors, but they must be high-quality, high-resolution photos (at least 1 MB of memory) and include no more than three to five people. I need to know who’s who, left to right, and who to credit with the photo. Candid photos are better than posed, and photos should be submitted as .jpg or .tif attachments.
