By Jane Torres
Special to the Houlton Pioneer Times
Let me get right to the point. After watching my son-in-law spend many happy hours buffing and polishing a set of wheels for his car this past week, I had an epiphany. I don’t know a man (and a few women) who wouldn’t love a shiny set of wheels this Christmas for their car or truck.
I know ladies, it just doesn’t seem like fun but to the man in your life it will be the best gift ever. We are lucky to have two great full service tire places in our town and that is why Hidden Treasure No. 10 is a split decision being awarded to Hogan Tire and Houlton Tire. Both companies have knowledgeable, helpful and courteous staff and would be happy to help take the mystery out of your purchase. It sure beats the standard shirt!
• Hidden Treasure No. 11 — As I was jigging work yesterday afternoon and enjoying a massage with Shirley Armitage of AFJ Holistic fame (I call it stress reduction if anyone asks where I was) I learned that she and Everett of Head to Toe Barber shop are offering this holiday special: A full hour massage and a full pedicure for only $50.00! Yup, you read it correctly. Shirley is an amazing massage therapist who usually books for $40 per hour, and Everett does a very nice pedicure so you can’t miss with this offer. To heck with presents for other people…treat yourself, you deserve it!
• Hidden Treasure No. 12 — The Post Office on Court Street. Not the post office itself, but that wonderful Christmas tree someone puts in the cupola every year. I kept looking for it every night on my way home and thought, with sadness, that it might not happen this year. Last night I looked up while I was waiting for the stop light to change and what did I see? You guessed it, the sparkling lights of a Christmas Tree. Thank you to whomever it may be who thinks of us every year and drags that tree up three stories just on the off chance that someone might look up and feel the joy of Christmas.
• On the coldest of days, I can’t help but think about spring, sunshine and warmth which leads directly to Hidden Treasure No. 13. At the Rotary auction this year I couldn’t help but notice the popularity of dirt and aggregate. Yes, you read correctly, the bidding was ferocious on piles of dirt, stone and someone to spread it. The men who came to pick up their gift certificates looked like they had won the lottery. (I attribute this to a throwback to childhood when they loved their tractors and dirt piles.) Whenever I go to Steelstone to get crushed rock I find myself scanning the piles and wondering what other projects I could start. The possibilities are endless!
• Hidden Treasure No. 14 — The gift of fitness. I know … who wants to think about exercise and keeping in shape when the whole idea of the holiday is to “eat, drink and be merry?”(You did notice that I am sitting at a computer with a plate of warm cookies and not feeling the slightest bit guilty.) But the holiday will be over soon enough and that gift certificate to the Shiretown fitness club or The Mindful Way Yoga Studio will be much appreciated. There are deals to be had people and, trust me, you will not regret it!
What is it about snowstorms that make us all want to go out and drive around? I saw everyone I knew at Walmart this morning. On the way home as I was slipping and sliding I had the brilliant idea to break out my cross country skies and take a trip from my house on Cleveland Street to the Riverfront. (This is much smarter and a lot safer than driving with a small car in blinding snow.) So off I went. Nary a soul out except for the plow trucks attempting to stay ahead of the game. As I passed the Courthouse I could hear music. Christmas music, and here is where Hidden Treasure No. 15 came to mind.
• Patrick Blanchette at The Temple Theater is my hero this Christmas season. He has gone downstairs to the theater lobby countless times over the past two weeks, hauled out the ladder, climbed up to the music system and turned on the music so we can feel that spirit of Christmas every time we walk, shop, or even ski through town. I even saw a mother and daughter dancing in the square to the strains of Bing Crosby’s” White Christmas.” That my friends is small town life in a nutshell.
Jane Torres is the executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 532-4216.
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