True Love

It must have been a cold wintery Christmas morning in downtown Prescott back in 1863 when the residents first gathered beside Granite Creek to observe the holiday. Since 1867, the courthouse became the center of attention with simple decorations. Modern times, those “good old days” back in the 1950’s, began a brighter focus when the chamber of commerce got into the act to add lighted decorations to the courthouse and the Christmas parade started in the 1982. Then Governor Rose Mofford declared Prescott as Arizona’s Christmas City in 1989. There are lot of books and historical references about Prescott because it has had, let’s say, a colorful past. From infamous Whiskey Row scoundrels to famous lawmen of the old West, the residents have always celebrated the Western cowboy spirit and embraced the holidays to welcome visitors in “Everybody’s Hometown”. It must be true love to hold your town and your community so dear.

The town’s designation seems to have more meaning these days as we struggle to find a moment, or a word, about peace when there seems to be so little around the world. Maybe Prescott holds the key. It doesn’t take a fearless sheriff to “keep the peace”, it takes everybody. Setting an example of the true meaning of the season with everyday life as “Everybody’s Hometown” is a simple idea. Living up to a unique and official designation as Arizona’s Christmas City, maybe kind of daunting, but worth it. True love isn’t just for a holiday when everybody’s watching, it’s all the time, every day. My Grandma always told me, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

This time of the year we all get a little misty-eyed and sentimental about the holidays. It’s part of the deal. The idea is to just go with the flow, of tears, if necessary. Bake a few extra cookies to share with a neighbor. And, as expected from the partner in a candle business, light a candle to welcome family and friends.

Take a walk around town and head over the Granite Creek to admire an amazing gift. The Granite Creek Mural Project (https://www.trailmurals.org/) was painted by Dana Cohn spanning the concrete wall of the creek from Gurley to Willis streets. This colorful and beautiful mural, must be an act of true love. You’ll see. Here’s just a part of the mural.                                                                                                                      Denise Jenike, Nov. 2023