St. Matthews Magazine 2022

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BETH WILDER / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING / DAVE SCHROERLUCKE ERIN KINNETZ / JULIE ENGELHARDT / RENEE LARR

TOWN TREASURE

EXPLORING THE LIFE OF LOCAL LEGEND HENRY WATTERSON

Writer / Beth Wilder

Photography Provided

Louisville has had several noteworthy residents throughout its history, but few quite so renowned as Henry Watterson, the famed editor of the Courier-Journal newspaper. Watterson (February 16, 1840 - December 22, 1921) was a legend in his own time, rubbing elbows with society’s elite and making a name for himself by writing colorful and controversial editorials that appeared in newspapers across the country. Watterson also served as a representative in Congress in 1876 and 1877, and became widely known as a lecturer and orator.

In 1894 he purchased land on the outskirts of town that was owned by Joseph Hite, a descendant of one of Jeffersontown’s pioneer families, and proceeded to transform the house and property into a grand estate. Watterson left the original four-room log house on the property intact, but added to it until he had created

a magnificent, 28-room mansion he named Mansfield, after his wife’s childhood home in Nashville, Tennessee. During his years at Mansfield, Watterson was visited frequently by former presidents, congressmen, statesmen, writers, actors and musicians - including one of his very best friends, vaudeville entertainer Eddie Foy, famous for his family act, “Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys.”

Watterson had been in the newspaper business since he was a young man, and he became known for his fiercely independent nature and caustic political writings. During the Civil War, although he served as a Confederate due to his strong belief in state rights and loyalty to his home, he was not a proponent of secession or slavery. He had no problem criticizing General Braxton Bragg in his articles, and the general wanted to have him arrested for treason. Still, his views during the Civil War made him a well-known figure, and he became editor of the Nashville Banner when the war ended, bringing the paper back to respectability after being

virtually closed down for four years.

Not long after that, George D. Prentice, owner of the Louisville Journal, approached Watterson and offered him half ownership and a job as chief editor, in the hopes of reviving the paper’s waning popularity. Walter Haldeman, owner of the Louisville Courier, also offered Watterson an editor job and some stock, but no ownership in the paper, so Watterson accepted Prentice’s offer instead. He did, however, suggest merging the two papers, but Haldeman declined the proposal.

Watterson quickly brought the Louisville Journal back to its former prominence, and his editorials were a source of great interest throughout the country. Watterson again proposed a merger with Haldeman. This time he accepted, and on November 8, 1868, the Courier-Journal was born. Watterson was chief editor and had a free hand in what to write. He did not like the business side of newspapers, and he gladly gave up all but 75 shares of the new Courier-Journal - yet the value of these

shares was $75,000, an enormous amount in those days, and his salary was $10,000 per year, a sum virtually unheard of, even for New York editors at the time. Watterson had just enough shares of the newly established paper to make his personal life very comfortable, and his professional life free from interference with his independent nature and ideas. Watterson would remain with the Courier-Journal for more than 50 years, making it one of the most prominent and influential papers in the country.

Once Mansfield was ready for habitation by the Watterson family in 1896, Watterson used it as his home office, penning his articles there in the morning, then riding the interurban train line into the CourierJournal’s Louisville office. The route from Mansfield into the square in Jeffersontown where Watterson boarded the train became

known as Watterson Trail.

Several local residents worked for Watterson. James Wilson Sr. was Henry Watterson’s beloved butler, and Wilson’s wife, Belle, sometimes acted as housekeeper. Their son, James Jr., became the founder of Skyview Park. Watterson’s cook, Hattie Harris, once owned the Leatherman cabin at 3606 College Drive.

At age 74, Watterson’s career reached its zenith. War broke out in Europe in 1914, and Watterson took a decidedly anti-German stance in the conflict. Other papers in town tried to remain neutral to avoid offending the rather large German population in the area, but Watterson continued with his assertive articles in support of U.S. involvement in the war, eventually earning the paper a Pulitzer Prize. As much as World War I brought Watterson

Mansfield

Rebecca Watterson

added fame, however, it also caused his career to wane. His relationship with the Haldemans became strained, and the paper lost subscriptions because of people protesting his editorials at the time. The paper was sold to Robert Worth Bingham in 1918, and Watterson was asked to stay on as editor emeritus, penning editorials whenever he wanted, on whatever subject he chose.

Watterson retired from the paper in 1919, settling down to a happy and peaceful life at Mansfield. He passed away in 1921 while wintering in Florida. His wife, Rebecca, remained at Mansfield until her death in

1929. Other family members lived in the old mansion, but gradually moved away as the house fell into disrepair throughout the years.

Watterson’s daughter, Mrs. Bainbridge Richardson, had hoped to see Mansfield turned into a shrine in memory of her father. While there had always been an interest in the project, something always seemed to prevent it. The family received somewhat of a consolation in 1960, when an expressway was named for the great editor.

His estate, however, continued to deteriorate while people argued about what to do with it. In 1963 Marion Miller, Watterson’s grandson, had hopes that Mansfield would be selected as the site for the proposed Louisville Zoo, and offered $25,000 to go along with James Graham Brown’s $1,500,000 donation for the attraction. Local residents did not like the idea of the noises and smells a zoo would bring, so they were very much against that idea.

Several groups had differing plans for Mansfield, including residential development. Many legal entanglements ensued, keeping anything from happening to the estate, as it grew ever more dilapidated. Meanwhile, the house repeatedly fell prey to vandals, and on the evening of Thursday, October 6, 1975, Mansfield was badly burned in a fire. The second and third floors were gutted, and the cause was listed as arson. No one has ever known for certain exactly who set the fire, although police at the time highly suspected teens who were constantly found there.

Eventually, Watterson Woods subdivision was established on the site of the Watterson estate. Although no tangible shrine to Watterson was ever created, his legacy remains in Jefferson County, and nationwide as well. The outspoken editor of the Courier-Journal made himself a part of history, and locals are proud to live in the area he called home.

Years Of

Experience

THE MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS

LOCALS TAKE DIFFERENT PATHS TO BECOMING MRS. CLAUS

Writer / Julie Engelhardt Photography Provided

Discovering when Mrs. Claus first appeared on the scene results in conflicting information. One report states she is first mentioned in an 1849 short story called ‘The Christmas Legend,’ written by missionary James Rees. In the story, a couple disguises themselves in angel-like clothing while traveling to seek shelter with a family.

A bit more research reveals that although there were occasional references made about Mrs. Claus in the 19th century, it wasn’t until 1881 when an issue of ‘Harper’s Young People’ featured a poem by Margaret Eytinge’s poem entitled ‘Mistress Santa Claus’ appeared, featuring Santa’s good-natured wife.

Earliest depictions of Mrs. Claus portray her

Laura Jo Uber

as having a no-nonsense, take- charge attitude. Yet, during the last 100 years or so, her character seems to have mellowed some, and she is often depicted as kind, patient helpmate.

Barbie Mueller, who was raised in Louisville, made her first appearance as Mrs. Claus in 2008.

“I lived in Missouri at the time, volunteering at the parks and rec department,” she says. “My friend, Miss Amy, asked if I would want to be Mrs. Claus at the breakfast with Santa.”

This request hit home with Mueller, as her father had played Santa for many years for family and friends and at a local club he belonged to.

“Earlier that year, my Mama had passed away and Daddy had a stroke that left him in a nursing home,” she says. “Needless to say, it was not a good year. Nothing would be the same. When Amy asked me, I teared up, and I’ve been enjoying it ever since.”

Portraying the Claus family definitely runs in Mueller’s family, as her younger brother, Michael, now makes appearances as Santa.

Mueller keeps extremely busy as Mrs. Claus. She visits daycare centers, nursing homes, schools and retail stores.

“I love being Mrs. Claus!” she says.

Amanda Spalding is a Louisville native who now lives in Prospect. She began her journey portraying Mrs. Claus several years ago alongside her Santa husband, Jay Kluckhohn. Their first appearances began in 2018 with small events and visits, but during the past four years, they have been invited to participate in wellknown events in the area.

Spalding says that she has grown significantly over the years in her role as Mrs. Claus and as a member of the Holiday Performer Community.

She’s served on the board of directors for IBRBS, which was formerly known as the International Brotherhood of Real

Bearded Santas. The organization officially took on ‘IBRBS’ moniker when Mrs. Clauses were added as full members.

Spalding says. “I’ve been able to speak at the International Santa Organizations conference, at local organizations and I’m a subject matter expert for the Santa Nana

“I always have my business cards with me, and I talk to people in places that we patronize,” she says. “We’ve gotten referrals from word of mouth, and that’s how we worked with the Louisville Orchestra in 2021. I’m also working out the details for two solo Mrs. Claus events.”

They’ve even been the featured Clauses at Westport Village’s ‘All is Bright’ celebration.

Amanda and Jay have had wonderful experiences as Santa and Mrs. Claus, but Amanda says there is one moment that she will always remember.

“At Westport Village, a family from Columbia was walking by us. The children were whispering about Santa.  The whole family’s eyes lit up when I wished them a Merry Christmas and asked what they wanted for Christmas in Spanish.  And it’s always awesome when the children shout “It’s Santa and he brought Mrs. Claus!”

In last year’s edition we featured Laura Jo Uber’s husband, Michael, who can be seen zipping around Oldham County and Louisville in his little, red, toy car with Laura sitting right beside him.

Uber began portraying Mrs. Claus in 2011 when Michael began his Santa journey.

“I almost exclusively appear only in tandem with my hubby Santa,” she says. “I wanted to be his Mrs. Claus because it seemed it would be fun and extraordinarily effective since we have been married so long… we easily portray a married couple.”

Laura and Michael have appeared at many community events, including Light Up La Grange, sleigh rides with Santa at the Paddock Shops, a night at the Kentucky Science Center with Santa, Oldham County Day parade, Shop Small in La Grange and Boy Scouts Christmas events.

Donna Clontz

Amanda Spalding

“My favorite is Light Up La Grange because we have been doing this long enough now that we see the same children that used to be babies in our laps,” says Uber. “It is also our hometown and families know us and we have a bond with many of them. We also do a very lager party for a gentleman who invites many families into his home. We see these children each year and have seen the families grow and grow.”

Portraying Mrs. Claus and Santa often takes a lot of work and research. The Ubers frequently travel to conventions where they can hone their holiday skills.

“Together, my Santa hubby and I have attended the International University for Santas school which gave a great deal of background on the history of Santa,” Uber says. We have gone to Santa gatherings in Santa Claus, Indiana, where they gave workshops on everything from makeup to sign language. They also had a market available where suits and accessories can

be bought. The largest event we have done is the Discover Santa event in Branson, Missouri, where more than 750 Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves gather to have fun and train at offered workshops.”

Donna Clontz began her journey into the Mrs. Claus world in 2011 when the Belle of Louisville was looking for someone to play Santa for their Santa cruise.

Clontz was working for the Belle at that time in their accounting office, and she let them know that her husband Tom had been portraying Santa for many years for family and friends.

“They said, ‘oh, really?’ Well, maybe you guys can do it, because we need a Mrs. Claus, too!” she says.

“I was like okaaaay…,” Donna says. “I went out and got all the stuff together, the red dress, the apron and the little hat. We did the first one on the ‘Spirit of Jefferson.’ It’s

always been Santa and Mrs. Claus together.”

Clontz says that during their first time as the Clauses on that cruise, they would appear from behind a screen at the back of the boat and would visit with the kids during breakfast. The kids would tell Santa what they wanted and then they would do fun activities like the limbo, the chicken dance and the Hokey Pokey.

“I help Santa. That’s kind of my thing,” Clontz says.

The Clontzes will continue to appear on the riverboat three times this year. Other appearances during the past few years also include working with the Louisville Philharmonic.

When asked what she loves most about being Mrs. Claus her answer is: “I enjoy watching Tom with the kids, it’s so cool to see. “He’s happy and the kids are just overjoyed and so excited!”

LOUISVILLE ZOO OFFERS OUTLET

Writer / Julie Engelhardt Photography Provided

For many Louisville children, a visit to the zoo can be a leisurely way to spend the day in the community. It’s pretty much a normal activity they’ve done numerous times with family or friends. Yet, for other kids in Louisville, seeing a real rhino or a long-necked giraffe for the first time can be inspirational—even quite therapeutic for some.

These are children who live a life which many aren’t familiar with. They live in areas where they’ve grown up witnessing gun play and gun violence on their streets and possibly even in their own homes. Some are just babies or very young children.

Yet, thanks to one man who is making a

powerful impact in the community, some of these children are being offered a chance to escape the violence of their neighborhoods and look towards a safer future. He is Christopher 2X, the founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization Christopher 2X Game Changers.

“Game Changers is a continuum of what I’ve been doing for these many years--reaching out to kids who are unfortunately impacted by violent crime issues in Louisville,” 2X says. “When I say kids, they are 4 to 13 years old. Kids either directly, or in their family, suffer from secondary trauma as it relates to this plague from the public health side.”

Game Changers goal is to create the best possible way to link and connect resources

and to help these children understand there is more to their world than what they know.

“We’re trying to get families into better spaces with their kids,” 2X says. “We need to understand that we might not be able to change their environment, but we want to give them some healthy options to look at so they don’t follow a direct family member or someone in their family’s friendship circle and become part of this reckless, violent culture situation that’s going to be detrimental to these kids’ lives.”

One program initiated by Game Changers is Future Healers, an innovative idea involving reaching out into the community to help these kids.

The first phase of Future Healers began

when 2X started working with the University of Louisville Hospital. They brought in children to meet and learn from physicians. The post on the U of L Health site says:

“This outreach program is focused on building stronger bridges between the Louisville health care community and our city’s youth most impacted by gun violence. Our goal is to introduce more youth to the field of medicine while helping them navigate through the emotional trauma that stems from the increasing violence currently plaguing their communities. Through compassion, mentorship, and advocacy, this program will do its part to uplift and empower our city’s young individuals to aspire for better futures for themselves and for the communities in which they reside.”

The second phase of Future Healers premiered in September 2022 and its home base is the Louisville Zoo. This idea started through a chance encounter between 2X

and the Assistant Director of Conservation Education and Collections at the zoo, Steven Taylor.

“So much of it is being in the right place at the right time,” says Taylor.

“I was at work on a Saturday and Chris had brought out the Future Healers to the zoo. I ran into him down at our Gorilla Forest Sanctuary and stopped and introduced myself and spoke to him just for a minute about his program and how excited I was that it was in place,” Taylor explains. “I told him I would love to talk him when he got a chance; to see if there was something maybe we can do at the zoo to help. Our little impromptu meeting got us both excited and that led to a series of conversations right after that and about the potential of what we might be able to do. The rest is history.”

They began by bouncing ideas off each other to understand what would be involved with a program at the zoo. After many

discussions, the children who were to be involved chose the name “Future Healers Got Zoo Buddies.”

Kim Allgeier, Curator of Conservation Education at the zoo, plays an integral role in this new venture.

“Steven and I met with Chris about the Future Healers program and what they’re doing with the kids,” she says. “I was brought in to develop the partnership in this relationship, how we could work with the families and the kids and what the potential would be. From there, I have been the person who has developed the curriculum and I will be involved with the kids and families for the longevity of the program.”

The first meetings involved talking with 2X to get to know more about the children that would be participating. 2X hand selected 17 children, from ages 4 to 13, to participate. He says that these specific children were chosen based upon his knowledge of their families and which ones would be fully invested in helping with the program.

“We had the kids come out and we did some introductions and I actually had a meeting with the families. We used that to introduce ourselves to them,” Allgeier says. “We had activities set up for the kids and some animals they could meet, but that was really our opportunity to talk to the parents and caregivers directly and kind of set the tone of what we were hoping to get from them as part of the program and really get their buy in.”

The children, along with their parents or caregivers, will participate in 10 different day sessions for a couple of hours that are scheduled monthly. The families of the children 4 to 8 years old will be doing one activity, and the families of the children 9 to 13 years old will be involved with another project. Then, they all join together during the second half of their day to have a zoowide experience.

Taylor and Allgeier are very excited about this program and cannot wait to see where the future takes them. The program is different because there is no specific end date each year. The children will continue until they’re 13 years old, then they have the option of becoming a junior volunteer if they so choose to do so.

“The thing that is really special about this is that we put in a lot of focus and intent, not necessarily on the science content that the kids are going to be doing, but we put a lot of emphasis on building relationships with them, building trust with them and building engagement with their families,” Allgeier says.

Allgeier and Taylor want these families to get to know them and the zoo staff on a deeper level.

“We want those families to know who we are… we want them to know us by our first names and we want to know their first names,” she says. “We want to understand their kids and we want to be able to help them along their personal journey.”

Christopher 2X Game Changers is located at 1800 Muhammad Ali Blvd, Suite 2D2, Louisville, Ky 40203. You can reach them at chris@2xgamechangers.org or visit www.2xgamechangers.org.

Therapy session

Where the Heart Is

Therapy session

Writer / Renee Larr Photography Provided

Home of the Innocents in Louisville was founded in 1880 by Dr. James Taylor Helm, Episcopalian minister of Christ Church in Louisville, to enrich the lives of children and families.

In 1972 it was relocated to a facility on East Chestnut Street. Subsequently the organization took over child-care programs that had been run by the county government, and pediatric services provided by the old Jewish Convalescent Home for Children.

The 20-acre campus in NuLu can accommodate the needs of the community’s

most desperate children. The Home has offered assistance to more than 10,000 children and families. As a nonprofit, it offers residential and community-based behavioral health services, therapeutic foster care and adoption services, supportive services for homeless young adults, and long-term care for medically complex or terminally ill children.

“We do this with 13 different programs within our organization,” says Meredith Pack, director of communications. “That is split up between our residential and emergency shelter, pediatric convalescent center, and community services.”

The pediatric convalescent center serves as a skilled-nursing facility providing short-

term, long-term and respite care for children from birth to age 21. These children face significant medical, developmental and physical disabilities. Many are on supportive technology such as feeding tubes or ventilators.

“When the children arrive here, their condition is typically too acute to be hospitalized,” Pack says. “We have a 76-bed facility staffed with doctors, nurses and all types of therapists. They get all the medical care they require, while still having normal childhood experiences like attending school and participating in activities such as community outings, swimming, creating art projects, and music therapy.”

The residential and emergency shelter

HOME OF THE INNOCENTS IS HELPING TO DRIVE LOCAL CHANGE THROUGH MULTIPLE PROGRAMS

provides residential care for children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned, for a period of a few days to a few years in some cases. The Home staff members step in when a child is removed from an unsafe living situation. The Home is available to receive children 24/7, 52 weeks per year. Kids stay in the emergency shelter until a more permanent and suitable situation is found.

“These children are here because of a

situation they encountered, whether that be abuse, abandonment or neglect,” Pack says. “They’re here with us to get the treatment they need until they can be reunited with their family, if it’s safe, or enter a foster-care adoption program. We have room for up to 90 kids based on the need.”

Home of the Innocents also offers community-based services such as Pathways HOME, behavioral health services, Parents Acquiring Skills and Strength, Safe Exchange,

aquatic therapy and Project Keepsafe. Pathways HOME provides safe and secure housing and services for homeless young adults from 18 to 24 years old.

“Many times, people come to us through the judicial system,” Pack says. “All these programs aim to educate people and break the cycle. We provide ways to help identify ways to overcome the barriers and challenges of growing up in today’s environment. We’re giving

Graduation

Therapy session

them the foundation and skills to be fully independent.”

The therapy pool is fully accessible for those with special considerations, equipped with an aquatic wheelchair, a stretcher lift, a zerodepth entry ramp and an exercise bench.

The facility also offers a splash pad for small children, and aquatic exercise equipment including stationary bikes, treadmills and an elliptical machine. In addition to locker rooms featuring lifts and adjustable shower tables, there are also family changing rooms. The saltwater pool has a ultraviolet filter and is heated to 92 degrees for therapeutic benefit.

Pack says the aquatic center benefits the children at Home of the Innocents greatly. The floating sensation allows them to move their limbs in a way that they might not be able to on dry land. She says it’s utilized as a behavior incentive for children in the residential and emergency shelter.

Project Keepsafe allows parents to voluntarily place their children in a licensed foster home situation, so that they can seek treatment for addiction, mental health problems or physical illness. This enables the parent to focus on healing themselves while ensuring the safety and well-being of their children.

“This program provides an opportunity for the parent to remain as the custodian of their child while they seek the medical help they need,” Pack says. “The child is placed in a very safe, skilled environment with as minimal changes to their normal routine as possible. It’s a great way for parents to take care of themselves while knowing they will be reunited with their child.”

Kendra Simon, outreach coordinator, says it’s important to remember the children they serve could be your friends’ or neighbors’ kids.

“People often think we have mostly babies

here at the home, but really we serve mostly teens and adolescents,” Simon says. “It’s important for people to keep this in mind when they want to help our organization. Frequently, people want to help provide infant and baby supplies, but we need things like board games, personal hygiene products and clothing for teens and youth. It’s also important to note that we can only accept new items.”

There are several ways people can get involved with Home of the Innocents, including hosting a fundraiser, supporting a collection drive, selecting Home of the Innocents as a charitable recipient at Kroger, AmazonSmile, or Nanz & Kraft Florists, and attending an information session.

“We’re helping more than just the population of Louisville,” Pack says. “Through our various programming throughout the state, we serve Kentucky’s greater commonwealth.”

Cheryl Wimsatt has hosted a toy drive and craft show benefitting the Home for the last six years. This year’s event is on December 10 from noon to 6 p.m. at Bud’s Tavern (9119 Galene Drive in Louisville). She also accepts donations at her hair salon, Looks Hair & Nail Salon (201 Breckenridge Lane, Suite 103 in St. Matthews), throughout the holiday season.

“I was compelled to help Home of the Innocents because these kids have been through so much,” Wimsatt says. “Often, they’re the victims of abuse or neglect, and the Home helps protect them from those situations. I just want these kids to have a good day when they receive these toys, and to know people in the community care about them.”

Home of the Innocents is located at 1100 East Market Street in Louisville. To learn more and to get involved, call 502-596-1000 or visit homeoftheinnocents.org.

Cheryl Wimsatt

VILLAGE CROSSING RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

We all strive for autonomy in our lives. However, relaxation sure is nice too. At Village Crossing Retirement Community, residents can enjoy the best of both worlds. It’s an all-inclusive community, and seniors pay a monthly expense that covers electricity, gas, WiFi, landline, entertainment, maintenance and all meals. Weekly housekeeping is also included.

“There are no surprises for families because they are able to count on that monthly expense,” says Kelly Jo Hinrichs, vice president of marketing at Village Crossing Retirement Community.

The meals alone are a primary hook, as they are healthy and made fresh daily.

“We don’t do freezer to oven to table,” she says, noting that they have an executive chef, a sous-chef and a full culinary team, including a dining room supervisor so that residents have access to all kinds of choices and variety. “It’s good, healthy living and eating.”

They have a chef’s pantry that’s open 24 hours a day for residents who want to grab a prepackaged, grab-and-go salad or sandwich.

“Those are made daily and packaged by our culinary team,” Hinrichs says. They also have a pizza and sandwich station that’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so if a senior is craving a burger at 3 in the afternoon, they can step up, ring a bell, and someone will come out and make it for them.

“It’s food when you’re hungry,” Hinrichs says. All food is included, so residents don’t have to pay extra for that 3 p.m. burger.

Residents also appreciate not having to deal with maintenance issues, whether it’s changing a lightbulb or fixing their washer and dryer (which are included in every apartment unit). They offer 24hour concierge services and valet parking as well.

Village Crossing plans a robust calendar of events and activities for seniors, which includes a variety of health and wellness programs. They line up guest speakers and offer dances, fitness classes, educational

talks, and volunteer opportunities through which residents can participate in events with the community at large.

“We focus on making sure residents really do live their best life,” she says.

Though Village Crossing is an independent-living community, they have a home care provider located in the community if a senior needs that support.

“That’s contracted out since we are independent living, but we do have them on premises for our residents’ convenience,” she says.

At Village Crossing the managers live on-site, which means they are extra attentive and always available to residents.

Seniors can choose from a variety of floor plans including studio, one-bedroom, twobedroom and three-bedroom options, all with full-sized kitchen appliances.

Village Crossing

2400 Arnold Palmer Blvd. Louisville, KY 502-694-3740 rlcommunities.com

“When families start talking to their loved ones about the possibility of moving into a retirement community, the answer they often hear is, ‘I’m just not ready yet,’” Hinrichs says. “After they move in, however, I consistently hear, ‘I wish I would have done this sooner.’”

Hinrichs encourages anyone interested in learning more about Village Crossing to stop by for a tour or join them for lunch. Just call the community and the concierge can help set it up.

IDEAS TO PUT THE JOLLY IN YOUR HOLIDAYS 7

Writer / Aimee MacArthur Photography Provided

When I think of the holiday season, I think of snowy afternoons spent in front of a roaring fire listening to holiday music. I get excited about trees dusted with snow, displaying the Advent calendar and hanging up strings of lights around the outside of the house. The kids are home from school and it’s time to play games, work on crafts and other activities for them to do. There is always a lot happening during the holidays and a full calendar of events can seem daunting. Don’t worry. I’m here to help and share a few ways I try to stay merry throughout the season. Here are seven ideas to put the jolly in your holidays. I’m wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy and blessed holiday season.

TWINKLE, TWINKLE

SEE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS

Is there anything more festive than going to see holiday light displays? I don’t think so. My family has a tradition where we visit our local light show. We visit a drive-thru light display and see the millions of flickering lights set to holiday music. We marvel at all the hard work and magic put into decorating for all of us to enjoy. Don’t forget your neighborhood holiday light displays. You can search online for listings of holiday displays near you.

YAY, YULETIDE!

ATTEND A HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OR PARADE

There are always a handful of holiday festivals and parades in most cities and towns. My friends and I like to put on our cheeriest winter wear (I have a hat with the word “jingle” on it) and visit a local Christmas festival. I enjoy looking at the decorations and seeing happy kids waiting in line to meet Santa Claus. There are even a few reindeer you can feed treats to while you wait to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. We buy hot cocoa and sugar cookies and listen to carolers while we pop in and out of local stores and pick up last-minute gifts. After you attend a holiday festival or parade, you will be singing “Jingle Bells” in no time.

VISIT A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

I have so many childhood memories of visiting the local Christmas tree farm and picking out a tree to bring home. It took about an hour to get to the tree farm, but the beautiful country drive was worth it. We passed the time by talking about what kind of tree and what size tree we wanted. Our favorite tree farm is beautiful and filled with hundreds of trees. The smell of fresh pine just gets me in the holiday spirit. It smells so earthy and woodsy. My go-to tree is Frasier fir, but there are so many trees to choose from. I also like to pick up fresh garland, a wreath and some mistletoe to hang over the doorway.

WINTER WONDERLAND

ICE SKATING, SKIING, SNOWBOARDING AND MORE

Visit your local indoor or outdoor ice rink and practice on your spins, turns or just glide along with the best of them. I have so many cheery memories of visiting my local skating rink during the holidays. I’m not the best skater and fall a few times, but it is so much fun. If ice skating isn’t your best sport, try skiing, sledding or snowboarding. I’m better at skiing and there’s nothing I enjoy more than spending a day at the slopes with friends. If there isn’t snow near you, try driving a few hours north to find a ski resort.

GO TO A HOLIDAY CONCERT OR CHRISTMAS SHOW

I grew up listening to Johnny Mathis’ Christmas albums. Make a Christmas playlist and share it with family and friends. Consider attending a holiday concert or Christmas show. My neighbor and her family attend the symphony orchestra holiday concert every year. They say it’s a wonderful night with joyful holiday songs. It fills them with Christmas cheer for at least a month. I also enjoy attending productions of “A Christmas Carol” or “The Nutcracker.”

Joey

HOST A WHITE ELEPHANT PARTY

Is there any party as fun as a white elephant party? I don’t think so. If you haven’t been to one, now is the time. My aunt hosts an annual white elephant and holiday sweater party. She sets a limit of $25 for funny and impractical gifts. Each guest is required to bring a white elephant gift and wear an over-the-top holiday sweater. My aunt provides food (small bites like meatballs, mini mac and cheese, mini slider sandwiches, stuffed mushrooms and chocolate peppermint cupcakes) and drinks (hot cocoa and mulled cider) and later the guests decide the rules for swapping gifts. It’s a party filled with merriment. My aunt awards prizes for the funniest gifts and the best holiday sweaters.

HOLIDAY TREATS

BAKE AND SHARE YOUR MOST CHERISHED AND FESTIVE COOKIES

I have a favorite holiday cookie. It’s my mom’s decorated butter cutout cookie. The cookies are in the shape of bells, reindeer, stars, snowmen and all sorts of delightful holiday shapes. My mom and I make dozens of cookies to give to family and friends. Spend an afternoon baking and make up baskets and plates to give to family, friends and neighbors. A good friend makes plates of cookies and other treats for delivery drivers, mail carriers and trash collectors. It brings me great satisfaction to share homemade treats. I try to deliver the cookies as soon as I make them, so I’m not tempted to eat an entire plate of cookies. Believe me, it’s hard not to sneak a few cookies here and there.

NATURAL WONDERS

Writer / Erin Kinnetz Photography Provided

Recently, while checking out an area for a school program in Beckley Creek Park, The Parklands of Floyds Fork’s education staff came across some very unusual animal signs. We found blood, and a lot of it. While we know that violence is a part of our park ecosystem, it isn’t very often that we get such an intimate look at the events in some of our animals’ lives. While a bit upsetting, it was also very exciting to piece together their story.

I’m going to give you the facts and my interpretation of them, but keep in my mind that we will never know the complete story and there may be a better interpretation out there.

Before we came across the blood, while walking through an open field we saw a large buck heading south into the forest. He was one of the biggest whitetail bucks I’ve seen this year and had a substantial rack on his head. I wasn’t able to photograph this deer as it was only a brief encounter.

We headed into the forest, moving away from the buck. We were loosely following the creek when we saw another, smaller buck cross the creek ahead of us. This second buck paused and I was able to snap a few pictures as he turned to check us out. He appeared fine and had no visible injuries, but he only showed us one side of his body.

After the deer gracefully picked his way up the bank and out of sight, we discovered the blood - fresh, red blood

that had been spilled so recently that it had not oxidized in the slightest. It was not only a spot of blood, but also a trail of drips and larger splashes. First we followed it to the creek and it seemed to follow along the same path across the creek as the second buck we had just seen. While he didn’t seem injured, it also didn’t seem likely that another animal had passed by so recently, following that same trail. Crossing the icy cold creek was not a safe option for us, especially if it meant cornering a potentially injured deer.

Instead, we opted to follow the blood trail back to where it came from. We followed the drips, occasionally pausing as they were spaced out in some areas, as maybe the deer had taken a leap. In other areas the blood flowed a little more heavily, perhaps as the deer paused in one spot for some time. After about 100 yards, the

blood trail took us back out of the forest into the grassy clearing where we started and where we spotted the first, larger buck that took off in the other direction.

The mowed area was where our blood trail ended, and it seemed the most likely place where the trail began and where the injury had taken place. This is where I start to weave our observations in with my own knowledge of behavior and seasons together into a story.

Deer rut is the mating season for whitetail deer. It lasts two to three weeks, around the last week of October and the first two weeks of November. During this hormone-fueled time, males will spar with each other to establish territory and mating rights. These sparring matches generally don’t last very long as the two deer butt heads and lock antlers.

Typically these matches are over in a few minutes after one deer realizes that he’s outmatched. Death is rare, but injuries can be fairly common and sometimes serious. What we probably saw when we first happened into the grassy clearing was the victor dashing away after the spar was over, having been startled by our presence. The loser picked his trail through the forest and eventually made his escape across the creek, where we saw him after we entered the forest. I only think of him as the loser in this fight because he ended up with an injury. There is definitely room for other interpretations in which he was the victor even though he was injured, or in which neither of them were victorious because of our human presence.

The final piece of our story came as we reentered the forest and got back on track with our original reason for heading out

to that area. We startled another deer, this time a doe that was hanging around at the edge of the forest near the spar sight. She was startled and fled as we resumed our walk back into the forest. She would have been a good reason for a spar between two bucks.

While it is unsettling, the bucks were both hardy enough to survive and heal from most injuries sustained in a fight. The injured buck will likely heal and learn to be a better match next year. As we headed back out of the forest, we paused to try and find the trail of blood once more, but already the blood trail was obscured from oxidizing into the same brown color as the leaves on the ground. We truly stumbled into the trail at just the right moment, and even half an hour later, the opportunity for a glimpse into these animals’ lives would have closed.

PUSHING THE ENVELOPE

Writer / Dr. Dave Schroerlucke

“Just like in bodybuilding, failure is also a necessary experience for growth in our own lives, for if we’re never tested to our limits, how will we know how strong we really are? How will we ever grow?”

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

How does the mindset of the world’s elite performers differ from the mindset of those who are, well, less elite?

This question lies at the heart of the mental performance industry. Seemingly every week a new bestseller hits the shelves touting the latest greatest mental construct or approach that will put you on the path to success. The only problem: you do not have time to read them all. Let’s face it, no one does. What you really need is for someone to distill that vast sea of information down to the absolute essentials.

That’s where I come in. In this article, I am going to go as far as possible with this

distillation process and try to crystallize it all down to the single most important mental trait of elite performers – the sine qua non of performance excellence.

I wish I could distill it down to just one word for you. But the fact of the matter is, I am unable to find a single word in the English language that perfectly encapsulates what I have in mind. Therefore, I will begin by offering a description of the core mental processes of elite performers and then proceed to play around with finding an adequate label.

TESTING THE LIMITS

Elite performers enjoy testing the limits of their current capabilities, and they are undaunted and undeterred by the prospect of mistakes or failures. In fact, failure is actively sought out as a way of gathering important information on how to improve. Part maverick, part researcher, they are constantly putting themselves in unfamiliar, challenging environments,

trying to locate the edge of their current physical, mental and emotional capacities. Individuals who are more risk-averse might call them “gluttons for punishment.” But to these folks, failure can hardly be called punishment. On the contrary, failure is a source of thrill and delight because it signifies that they are on the cusp of learning or growing.

LOVING THE PROCESS

Elite performers also have a high tolerance for risk and uncertainty – particularly with respect to outcome. Like the rest of us, they have no guarantee of ever receiving any tangible reward for their efforts, that they will ever reach any particular level of excellence or be recognized and acclaimed by the world. But, for them, it is not really about recognition. The greatest joy in life is simply seeing the needle move – to know that the boundary has shifted ever so slightly, even if imperceptible to an external observer. It’s not that they don’t have lofty goals or visions for themselves.

THE MENTAL PREREQUISITE OF ELITE PERFORMANCE

- DR. DAVE SCHROERLUCKE

They typically do. But the focus is more on progression – moving forward a little at a time. Evidence of incremental improvement is all that is necessary to trigger the feelgood chemicals in the brain that keep them coming back for more.

GETTING A GRIP

Okay, now we need to find a verbal handle for this quality of seeking continual

improvement by regularly placing themselves outside of their comfort zone and learning to adapt. What we are aiming at is a sort of an aggregate of an entire constellation of mental qualities that are frequently touted as being part of a champion’s mindset – including self-confidence, optimism, courage, selfdiscipline and mental toughness, to name just a few. In one way or another, each of these concepts by itself falls short of capturing the mindset that undergirds this relentless daily

assault on the discrepancy between what currently is and what could be.

In trying to come up with a single phrase that captures this quality, some candidates that I came up with were boundary-testers, edge-seekers and envelope-pushers. “Boundary-testing” sounds like the activity of a petulant four-year-old, and “edgeseeking” is too closely associated with sexual play of the sadomasochistic variety. Thus,

“pushing the envelope” is ultimately the best I could do.

Looking at the history of this phrase, it actually works quite well. The expression entered the popular lexicon following its appearance in Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book, The Right Stuff, about the U.S. space program: “One of the phrases that kept running through the conversation was ‘pushing the outside of the envelope’... [That] seemed to be the great challenge and satisfaction of flight test.”

Within the context of aircraft design and testing, the envelope is the set of limitations governing safe operation of an aircraft. Inside the envelope, the aircraft is able to function normally, while moving outside the envelope stresses the aircraft and threatens system failure. “Pushing the envelope,” then, is a phrase that refers to the process of testing a new aircraft by

taking it right up to the theoretical limits of performance and, if possible, beyond. This is done partly to test the calculated limits and partly to observe the consequences of transgressing those limits. This sounds about right for our purposes, doesn’t it?

So there you have it. Elite performers are first and foremost envelope pushers. In order to grow and improve as quickly as possible, we need to continually test and stretch the limits of our current capacities. Weaknesses must be transformed into strengths. This cannot happen without stepping outside of our comfort zones on a regular basis and being willing to be vulnerable — physically, mentally and most importantly, emotionally.

The process is simple but not easy. Push Your Envelope, Recover, Repeat. Over and over again.

Are you ready to push your envelope?

Visit ripeminds.com for more mental performance tips.

YO U R M O N E Y S H O U L D W O R K F O R YO U

DR. DAVE

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