My journalism journey part 13

One of the most difficult things about moving out on my own, away from family and friends, were the holidays. I always spent holidays with my family. Growing up, we'd go first to my dad's family on Christmas Eve for a short visit, but the big visit was at Grandma Delort's (my mom's mom).

The Delorts were a large clan; my mom had eight surviving siblings (twins died before age 1), so Christmas Eve was loud and crowded in Grandma's upstairs flat. Dad's family was smaller; just his parents and two siblings. But it was always important to spend those holidays with family.

But suddenly, I didn't have that family near. What was I going to do?

Wally and Margie immediately stepped in. First, I decided that with the curious kittens already having destroyed a Christmas decoration, there was no way I was bringing a live tree into the house I now was renting (I had moved to a small house where I could put a washer-dryer). Wally wanted me to come with him on the Big Brother-Big Sister tree cutting outing to the forest but I knew the tree was not going in my house with the kittens.

First, however, there was Thanksgiving. I was immediately invited to the Mundstocks' feast. Margie was busy making dinner when I got there; I had brought a video of "A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott that had been on TV Wally wanted to see. Lori Jo and JoNae came out later and helped with dinner.

Sometime while we were watching the video, Wally said, "Margie, I'm thirsty." She asked what he wanted to drink. I looked at him and asked if broke his legs. He said no. I said, "Well, your wife is busy. Can't you get it yourself?" Margie, who was standing there with Wally's drink, started laughing.

I loved Wally for many things, but sometimes he exasperated me. Still, he and his family became my family over the years.

I had to go cover a girls' basketball state tournament that year. Margie was going to take care of the house and my cats. She had a spare set of my keys. One afternoon in December, I came home to a ceramic Christmas tree sitting on my kitchen table. A couple of the little plastic lights had fallen out, telling me the kitties, Kittle and Cinnamon, already had been checking out the newcomer. Margie left a note saying she hoped this would be a Christmas tree the kitties couldn't destroy.

Over the years, I had holidays at the Mundstocks often. But others also invited me. When Carol Davison learned of the Christmas Eve tradition, she invited me over to spend that evening with her two girls and her husband, Jim, who was the Anaconda Local Development Corp. director. I was happy to include them in my family for a few years.

The Anaconda Leader's publisher, Dean Neitz, also invited me for one Christmas dinner after the Mundstocks bought a newspaper in Redfield, S.D., and moved away. His Doberman pinscher, Peaches, greeted me at the door, putting her big paws on my shoulders. As big as she was, Peaches was true to her name: She was soft and fuzzy. Dean used to bring her into the office all the time. I think Puff would have been a better watchdog.

And eventually, I would move on from Anaconda, also to South Dakota. It was strange I would find I find a job 40 miles away from Wally's newspaper, in Aberdeen, S.D. Our friendship continued there and the holiday celebration also continued. But more about South Dakota later.

Christmas was a special time in Anaconda. A giant tree was put in the commons, and the area was flooded to make a giant skating rink. The picture sticks in my mind always. I took a photo of that at night and sold some at the art shows, some in Christmas cards, some in note cards. The Anacondans loved the commons area with the tree. It was as iconic as the stack.

These things made being 1,500 miles away less lonely. Anacondans were warm and welcoming all the time, but especially during the holidays. I never had a single holiday that I spent by myself.