Above and Beyond

I have a son who spends his working life promoting “the customer experience” at Disney. Companies and governments hire the Disney Institute to help them create the best possible customer service.

I think that may be why I have become so conscious of customer service, where and when it thrives, and when it fails miserably. Simple small acts, a few friendly words, a smile, a helpful suggestion, can go a long way to making a job more satisfying and ensuring return business.

I baked this cake as a thank you for customer service that went above and beyond. I was puzzling about how to get my disabled car out of my garage so that it could be jump started when the fellow who has worked on my cars for years offered to come to my house and jump my car. 

Really? I must admit, I was blown away. Who in the world makes house calls these days?

Mike showed up, revived my dead battery in a few seconds, told me to let the car run for a while and then bring it to his shop where he could have a new battery installed within hours. No extra service charge.

He already had a customer for life. He was busy and short-handed, but that didn’t stop Mike from going out of his way to help me out.

By: Libby James

E-bikes - A New Era

My husband and I recently purchased  e-bikes. This after we poked fun of our younger friends who  purchased 2 of them ahead of us.  “What, now you are too old to pedal?” we chided.Then we thought about it. Those hills we no longer climb because it’s just too hard to get to the top or those distances that take too long to cover.  We love to bike but we have lost interest in pushing our limits. One too rigorous morning ride can set you off your feet for the rest of the day.

Since that purchase I have encountered two other couples, close to my age, who have also recently bought e-bikes.  There is an epidemic emerging out there.  And I get it. My husband and I have biked for many years and had begun to lament the limitations imposed by aging bodies and declining stamina. Now a whole new experience has presented itself. We have twice ridden to the top of the mountain behind our home, a total elevation gain of 1300 feet, with no problem. This morning I took a lovely 20 mile bike ride along our hilly country road, pedaling at a pace I could choose regardless of the terrain. It was great fun!

If only technology can stay abreast of my increasing limitations, aging might not be such an uphill climb as I had anticipated.

By: Bonnie Shetler

What did you say?

Recently I was at a social gathering with my husband. We were trying to talk with a friend but the background noise of others made it almost impossible for my husband to hear. He put his hands by his ears to indicate hearing issue. The conversation instantly changed as the other person also admitted they had on hearing aids!  Both people then started playing with their volume control to see if that would make the conversation easier, while I innocently sat near-by and listened to the buzz of the aids being turned up too much. Truth be told, I know I will soon be also joining this elite group! I don’t dread the devices, but I sure dread changing those itty, bitty tiny batteries!

By: Kirsten Hartman

Hot Chili with Snow

Every year around this time, I begin to think about the upcoming holidays: gifts, cards, cookies and decorating. It can be overwhelming. But let's face it, reminders are everywhere and most of us will strive to focus on our own traditions. Asking ourselves, how can we balance our time with friends, family and ignore the commercial noise that has a way of seeping through?

For us, we anticipate our December tradition of going to the mountains to cut our own tree. Even if it is windy and 20 degrees, we will bundle up, throw in extra wraps and go.

This began in the late '70's (1 car, 5 of us), but now has expanded to about 8 young families in a caravan of cars, pickups jostling along the bumpy snowy road near Red Feather Lakes.  (Sometimes you are lucky enough to see Smokey the Bear.)  Arriving, boots are pulled on, hoods and jackets zipped up...and with saws in hand, everyone is off in different directions to find the perfect tree. Will it be a lodgepole pine or more delicate Douglas fir this year? An hour later, dragging trees through the snow to the vehicles, they are stood up and twirled around so everyone can see. Perfect! Soon then hoisted into the back of the pickup or tied atop a van, and now everyone is hungry. A few camp tables and chairs are pulled out and we have set up a hearty outdoor spread. Camp stoves are fired up so there is hot chili, corn bread, decorated cookies and more. Hands wrapped around hot mugs, the adults catch up and after a while begin to talk about their progressive dinner – a full evening of going house to house, admiring each others trees. We enjoy the scene and usually remark later “isn't this the best time?!”

Let us know...What is your “best time” in December? 

If you go:

Northern Colorado: Red Feather Lakes area

(Leave early and allow at least 1 hr to get there)

4 WD or chains  (Bundle up and don't forget your saw and rope!)

Open Dec. 7-15, 2019. Entrance open 8:30-2:30

Permit ($20 per tree) Cash only...on weekends pay at entrance station to the forest.

If you go on week day, permits (cash) can be purchased at 

US Forest Service in Ft. Collins 2150 Centre Ave., Building E (closed Wed)

More directions plus a good map! Google - Christmas Tree Sales Roosevelt National Forest

By: Meliss Anderson

Joys of moving

Recently we have downsized. In preparation we sorted thru clothes, books, papers, and more. Upon moving however, we discovered that we had not “ downsized” enough in the realm of furniture! Now it’s time to start selling! By: Kirsten Hartman