Although my contributions have been rather insignificant, I have really enjoyed the time that I have been able to help with the effort to put the Christmas lights up on the downtown buildings for the Chamber of Commerce.
It’s quite a thrill to work up high on those buildings, and you get to see them from a different perspective. While we were working around the iconic sign at Black & White over the weekend, I felt compelled to take a photo. That sign has always captured my eye looking up at it from the sidewalk. It was interesting to see it from above.
Last year I learned how to operate a hydraulic lift for the first time, and I was working on the Anderson’s Jewelry building. I was scared to death that I was going to accidentally hit their sign, but I eventually became comfortable with the controls.
The lights are being put up by volunteers, and they have put in some long hours. Sometimes the most productive work takes place after the sun goes down and there’s little traffic.
You couldn’t ask for better conformation that there are plenty of folks who truly believe in this community than to see a group of people working so hard and expecting nothing in return but the satisfaction of seeing something fun for our community that will also bring in visitors and provide a boost to local businesses.
It is also a lot of fun.
I enjoyed talking with Justin Pruden, Jet and Vernette Griffin and Ann Taggart while we worked on the lights Wednesday evening. Their enthusiasm is contagious.
Paul and JoAnn Adams have opened the No Smoking Smokehouse for some great suppers that were hastily eaten by volunteers during brief breaks.
Mrs. Jimmie Pickens served us some excellent red beans and rice Saturday evening. Her son Richard certainly earned his meal as he has been one of the most productive volunteers. It has truly been a family affair for the Pickens family as Richard’s daughter KaRaye and her future husband Lucas Jordan have made big contributions.
Michael McCain, who has been a leader in the effort, has also made it a family effort as his children spent much of Saturday and Sunday afternoon downtown while he worked. I was glad to see that as my son James and daughter Elsie had someone to play with while they were with me. The kids contributed by helping carry boxes of lights and testing strings of light to make sure all the bulbs worked.
James even went to church at First Baptist with Michael’s son Cullen and daughter Ella Sunday evening. That was an experience he enjoyed so much he’s still talking about it and sharing what he learned.
When I came down from working at the top of Black & White Sunday night to head home, I was feeling bad about having to leave when there was still work to be done until I noticed Jamie Swafford was standing there ready to take my place. I handed her my wire cutters and started to explain the procedure.
“I know the drill, Jason,” she said, which I should have known as she is one of the many people who have been helping from the beginning.
When Whitney Hurt, director of the Yazoo Chamber of Commerce, first started explaining her vision for lighting up downtown for Christmas and the funds that needed to be raised to make it happen, I saw some people rolling their eyes and swearing it would never happen.
But it did, and it’s going to be even better this year. Whitney’s greatest strength has been her ability to ignore negativity and make others realize that Yazoo can do anything any other town can do if we come together and make it happen.
Whitney and her husband Mike have worked as hard as anyone to get the lights up, and I hope that everyone in Yazoo knows how blessed we are to have them on our team.
This year’s lights are going to be even better, and I am grateful for everyone who is helping make that happen. People like you are the reason that I choose to live in this community, and there’s no place I’d rather be.
