Dear Sidney,
I’ve been up and down this mountain since Grandpa bought a vacation cabin in Crestline circa 1954. From 39th and Arrowhead in San Bernardino, we’d all pile into the red and white boat of a Buick and head up the mountain from 40th Street. Not long of a drive, but I always got carsick. Every horrifying turn up the 18 sent my stomach into a violent roll. I was, of course, condemned to the backseat, where the cigarette smoke from the front seat hovered over us grandkids. But that’s not at all what my question to you is about.
When donating my time to an organization, I am a volunteer, not a paid employee. I enjoy giving back in my senior years. I’m excited to help! However, not everyone, apparently, enjoys my enthusiasm. I was pleased as punch to be given the chance to be a small part of a community attraction. Once a week, I proudly spent three set hours greeting neighbors from the local area, as well as those driving up from cities down the hill and foreigners visiting our beautiful country for the first time.
Well, someone “in charge” decided that my enthusiasm for my position was off the charts and an embarrassment to all concerned – that it would be best if I donated my time “in the back room” and not in the front. Not wanting to be a continuing problem, I promptly quit the whole thing.
That hasty decision has turned out to be an unhappy one for me. I’m saddened and now idle. What say you?
Docent No More in Rimforest
Dear Rimforest,
Get up off the couch and dust yourself off, my friend! It’s a sad fact of life that you can’t please all of the people all of the time – well, some such foolish rhetoric as that. Find your niche in our special community chock-full of charitable opportunities.
The Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club can always use a helping hand sorting all those donations that end up at the Ye Old Thrift Shoppe in Top Town. Of course, you’ll have to go through the hierarchy to be vetted as a hanger expert.
How about donating your enthusiasm to the Rotarians, the Crestline Chamber of Commerce, or the Moonies at Mozumdar Temple, if they’re still active?
This is America, where if you can dream it, you can be it!
Sidney
Send your questions for Sidney to Sidney@thealpinemountaineer.com or by snail mail to Dear Sidney, The Alpine Mountaineer, P.O. Box 4572, Crestline, CA 92325.
This advice is intended for entertainment purposes only. No animals were harmed in the writing of this column.
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