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Show 4A Emery County Progress Wednesday, November 30, 1983 perspective Has it romp to this? Christmas tunes by Larry Over the river and i W. Davis Dust off those Christmas disks; it's time to revive the festive spirits of the holidays. The first time I hear Christmas music each year, feel kind of tingly all over. After awhile, the tingle wears off and about a week before Christmas, and get migraine headache which begins just below my socks and runs all the way to my stocking cap. I've got this dreadful memory of Christmas music. That, I'm sure, has a lot to do with the dreadful effects suffer after prolonged listening. When was about 10, was going to a friend's house on a crisp December morning, and I felt like singing, so started bellering out "0 Holy Night". It sounded pretty good to me, and couldn't see anyone around to be bothered by my youthful voice, so bellered on. As rounded a corner and right at the crescendo of the tune, I ran into my sister who was coming my direction. I had to swallow the words as she laughed arid said, "Aren't you glad it wasn't somebody else?" "Shut up," replied ' and scurried on. , That same year, I was required by my fourth grade teacher to sing a solo in the Christmas program. Jhe song was "Silent Night" and the last thing wanted to do was to sing all by myself in front of Central Elementary School kids, their parents, and everybody else and his dog. couldn't figure out how my teacher ever got the word think my sister that I could sing anyway. Sometimes must have concocted this cruel plan to embarrass me by telling my teacher that she heard me singing "O Holy Night" one morning, and it sounded awesome. I never had proof of that, but it didn't matter. My teacher was convinced that could sing. We had a rehearsal before the big concert, and that was the first time in my life ever sang in front of real people. While walking to a friend's house, could sing just fine, or in front of the mirror, or to the dog, but not in front of real people. The teacher made me do it. waited for someone to start playing the piano in hopes that I could hide my shaking voice behind piano chords. It wasn't to be. My first time to solo, and it had to be a I thought maybe could claim that didn't know the but words, everyone knows the words to "Silent Night". I was trapped. It didn't take long to let everyone, and I do mean everyone, know just how lousy a singer I was. Each time I reached for a high note, my voice cracked. I mean it cracked like timid lightning. wanted to stop and shout to all those who giggled before me "Knock it off. I'm a kid in puberty. This can't be helped ! " I didn't need to stop myself, the teacher stopped me. She kind of side stepped up to me with her hands in front of her face and muttered, "That'll do; that'll do." When she lowered her hands, I noticed that both lenses of her hornrimmed glasses were shattered. I don't do much Christmas singing these days, but I love to listen to the records until they become a little obnoxious. Just recently bought a new Wayne Newton Christmas album featuring his hit single, "Christmas Tree Balls". Wayne really brings that old spirit into the heart when he sings that number. "Christmas tree bails, hanging from the limb; Christmas this year looks pretty grim; I get kind of misty as the snow falls; Perhaps I'll escape into the Christmas tree balls." That says it all, doesn't it? I I through the woods by Larry W. Davis Progress Editor I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I cap-pell- a. I I I I Forum Educational excellence To the editor: The need for improvement in education is no longer a question. Many people have varied ideas and solutions for our educational woes. The State School Boards recommendations for educational excellence in Utah public schools were recently presented in Huntington. Many issues were discussed. Ideas ranged from career ladders and evaluations for teachers to minimizing classroom interruption, research of effective schools to rescheduling ex- tracurricular activities. The line is the need for proposals (approx. $150 million) to the state legislature for funding the implementation of these recommendations. Public outcry against possible highter taxation is already rising. "First give us better bottom quality, then well be glad to is a common help pay! demand. This time we cannot afford to insist upon delivery of the product before payment. The proposed funding is not a carrot to be dangled before the horse of the educational community to entice it to move. This funding is the lifeblood of the educational reform; our childrens future. We need to realize that such funding alone will not insure educational excellence. Not only must we dig deeper into our pockets, we must then continue to work with both local and state representatives to aid in and monitor the implementation of these improvements. Necessary funding and involvement must go hand in hand with (not after) educational improvement. Steven and Leslie Hood Castle Dale The little depot in Helper may have been as full as it has been since the decline of the rail systems decades ago. But on this Thanksgiving eve, hundreds came from throughout Castle Valley to board Amtrak for the trip west to Provo and north to Salt Lake City and points beyond. It may the journey. have been the which foreboding threatened to close the already Not as many got off on night. weather icy mountain highway routes, or it may have been the costs which when weighed against the costs of driving, appeared to be a bargain. But for many, like me, it was the lure of something never tried. The mystique of the rail, and the sense of adventure. Whatever the reason, hun- were dreds in the depot designed for dozens, and as fate would have it, the train was 45 minutes late. Outside, where many stood, unable to squeeze into the crowded waiting room, a winter wind swirled the snow and made the cold night air even colder. Children huddled around the knees of parents and babies were wrapped tightly. The anticipation of the adventure kept the cold in the back of most minds, but when the train arrived, all who had been waiting scampered a little faster than usual to the entrance ways. The unusual number of passengers boarding in Helper caught even the Amtrak officials off guard. "Ive never experienced anything like this, one attendant said to his superior as an endless stream of passengers stuggled near him through the narrow hallway. Its i ood experience for you, his supv rior replied. Although the usual procedure is to have those boarding in Helper assemble in the same car, on this night, the Helper passengers went in all directions, up, down, right, and left, each seeking a seat and a place to pile the luggage. At one point, I lost my family a wife, three kids. They got ahead of me and I pooped out, having to rest, to rid myself of the two suitcases, camera bag, and two overnight bags I carried. During the wait at the depot, I had made friends. And as I wandered around the train, they directed me toward my family which had passed their way earlier. I was finally able to find the family by following the distinct howl of my ',r -- With all the excitement going on around the train, Zac Davis found that peeking over the seat to see what was behind him 'tIIT" was kind of fun. What he found was a camera, r X . . , i . 4 j. t'4 ,v 1 1 i h f i f t r . XJ b VTs t 4 x 4 , y P" 7 ' - ri ' frightened daughters. Once in my seat, I wiped the sweat off and realized that the train was moving and in fact had been for several minutes. It was a smooth ride. So smooth that it was like not moving at all. It was dark, so a lot went by unnoticed. However, passengers still got brief historical sketches as we passed sites of interest. To your left is Lake Thistle, the result of Utahs worst natural disaster. Everyone looked out into the darkness and wondered what was out there. We found out on the way back. The same historical remarks were given only this time in the full bloom of the sun. It was remarkable. The ride was still smooth, and the attendants were forever gracious. A lot more gracious than my kids who found that getting up at 5 a.m. to catch a 6:40 a.m. train made them a little surly. We tried to lose them in the trip, but they managed to do that for themselves. It was all part of the nlntil . 7 . ,!u I I k The homes, powerlines, and foliage of Thistle slowly come to the surface as the I lake drains. The view comes from a comfortable seat aboard Amtrak. ! ( sr training. photos by Larry W. Davis "If we lived here, we'd be home," Carly Davis concludes as Amtrak winds through the mountains along the Price River towards Helper, the local Amtrak depot. |