We used to have some big Independence Day festivities in La Sal, but not for the last few years. We even had a time where there was a nighttime fireworks display. That, of course, was pre-drought.
Most folks have other ways of celebrating Independence Day now. For me, it’s going to The Mountain. For others, it’s “the lake” (Powell) or just the backyard with family. 

Folks in La Sal came together last Thursday evening at the community center parking lot to offer a collective prayer for moisture on our parched land. About two dozen attended.
Many came early to visit with friends and neighbors. Do you think it has been a while since we’ve been able to do that?

It’s that time of year – the end of the school year. Our little one room school was not to be outdone on end of the year celebrations.
On May 26, parents and friends gathered to watch the students strut their stuff, show off some of what they have done and learned this year, and say a big thanks to all those who make this possible. 

Over the years, folks not of Sierra La Sal have commented to me that it seems we have a lot of fun times in our village. That use to be true.
Lately, however, a person’s worst fears have been realized: What if you gave a party and nobody came? That is the new norm, it seems. 

Okay, this is not a real murder, though there have been a couple of those in the history of our village. What I refer to now is a night of fun and games. It’s a murder mystery dinner.
The movers and shakers behind this night of fun are the Johnson family, with Ma Kristl the main force. It all gets underway on April 30 at the community center. Sounds like a fun night.

As I announced a few weeks ago, I’ve divorced myself from Facebook – to many vitriolic posts and response comments. We are still happily divorced, by the way.
But sometimes there is a call for such posts and comments, and they lead to good results. 

Downtown in our village consists of Ana’s Store, the U.S. Post Office, La Sal Elementary, and the community center, which includes our little library in a closet.
Starting last Saturday, the familiar face at the post office was absent. Friday was the last day at work for Postmaster Naomi Schultz. She has moved on to new adventures but still remains in our community.

It snowed all day last Saturday in Sierra La Sal. By bedtime, there was three or four inches of snow. It’s hard to tell when the wind blows the snow around and drifts it.
I dragged myself out of bed at 7:30 the next morning trying to make it to church on time (I’m not an early riser in my retirement).

I believe in guardian angels. I’ve had too many experiences in my life to not believe. The verdict is still out on ghosts. I just know there are a lot of things that go bump in the night of which I have no explanation.
Last months, a local La Sal lad had a miraculous experience with his guardian angel. We shall refer to this young man as Dillion.

With the arrival of the pandemic last year, elective surgeries were put on hold for a while as medical resources were funneled toward fighting the virus.
After a time, though, it was possible to once again have these procedures. I’ve been contemplating just that of late. 
You see, I have this twitching in my index finger on my right hand. It’s my dominate hand.

Jack Shelby Turpin, a resident of La Sal, passed away January 6, 2021 at his home here surrounded by his family and friends after a battle with lung cancer.
A small memorial service was held in La Sal on January 16 which included a 21-gun salute by the local VFW post, including members from La Sal.
Jack was an Army veteran and served in the National Guard until 1990.

We all have hopes that 2021 will be better than 2020, but we know that for the first few months – and maybe even longer – it will be the same old, same old.
Something new is coming soon though. Dakota Espinoza, née Johnson, or as they use to say on Hee Haw, she who was Dakota Johnson and her hubby, are expecting baby number one.

Several decades ago – as in probably 40 years – La Salian Bill Tatton and his Moabite son created life-sized Nativity figures. Bill and his wife Belle displayed them in front of their house using spotlights to illuminate the scene.
Bill and Belle themselves have been gone from this sphere for decades. The figures were stored away and I guess sort of forgotten. 

Our village hasn’t gone untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this summer a young man who works in Moab and meets and greets a diversity of folks had a positive COVID test.
He quarantined and headed back to work. His family, a wife, and two young sons also made it through without any adverse effects. 

Folks in La Sal are mostly keep-to-themselves kind of people. They try to let people live as they please without too much interference.
However, there is a plan afoot to develop 114 homesites on the main La Sal Block. Now, that’s a lot of abodes!
As with the rest of the western United States, water is a premium commodity here. La Sal residents have seen their well level drop significantly in the last decade.