Comfort in Traditions

As the daughter of a fourth-generation Modoc County cattle rancher, it was effortless to immerse myself in Tehama County and its western traditions when I married into a Flournoy ranching family. My dad, Pete Weber, was a best friend to Tehama County rancher, Jim Owens. He was there the day Jim died with his boots on—on horseback and shipping cattle. Jim’s concern would have been whether the truckers arrived on time to get those cattle moving down the road. Shipping cattle was a time-honored Owens family tradition.

For me, nothing is quite like the early morning smells, sights, and sounds of feeding cattle. Waking in the cold, dark, and rural Alturas winter mornings wasn’t always so enticing, but when I look back now, there are few places I would rather be than beside my dad in that old pickup, waiting for both the sun and the truck’s heater to wake up as well.

What is it about a tradition that evokes so much emotion? Woody Allen seems to have grasped it, “Tradition is the illusion of permanence.” In an ever-changing world, we long for a sense of permanence, and tradition feels permanent when life feels like it’s moving beneath our feet.

Togetherness and intentionality are building blocks of tradition. Whether it is a daily chore, or a task done once-a-year, tradition can bring comfort to your children. Screen time usually does not involve the five senses, but the traditions in your family probably do, making them unforgettable.

Here are a few traditions celebrated by some of our local families. They might give you an idea for a few of your own.
Blogger Kristy McCammon has a red dinner plate emblazoned with the words, “you are special today.” If a family member has a birthday, test-taking day, a hard day or has done something selfless that day, Kristy places this plate at their spot at the table. Kristy gets to be pleasantly surprised when her children carry on the tradition and present her with the plate!

Red Bluff’s Debbie Deem has a tradition of celebrating St. Nicholas Day, December 6! On that day, her family discusses how Nicholas, the bishop of Myra, helped people in need and this led to the story of Santa Claus. The Deems have a fun, festive meal and then go out and shop for someone in need. Next, they come home and open stockings. Debbie says, “celebrating this tradition in early December leaves Christmas Day to be all about Jesus.”

The Kitchels, owners of Lassen Landscapes and Kitchel Family Organics in Los Molinos, have taken time on Sundays, since their children were babies, to go for a local hike. Afterward, they have brunch, talk and play cards. Lana says, “we are exceptionally busy, but want to prioritize special time with each other.”

Kathy Brandt, owner of Julia’s Fruit Stand in Dairyville, remembers “back in the 1970s, we would take a bob-tailed truck, put plywood sides on it, fill it with straw and have six or seven families ride in it singing Christmas carols to the different sets of grandparents from Dairyville to Red Bluff. We would be all snuggled up riding down 99E in the back of this truck!”

There’s the Murrays with their Saturday sourdough waffles, my sister-in-law doing puzzles with family on rainy days, NSP editor Deb Peel letting her kids bang pots and pans in the winter night to ring in the New Year, Margie in Paskenta hiding hundreds of eggs on her ranch each Easter for whoever wants to come.

Traditions become established when you intentionally slow the everyday busyness to pay attention to your family. Some of the best traditions are shared with grandparents. Large or small, be encouraged that even when done sporadically, a child will say, “Remember how we always…”. In their hearts, they found “permanence.” When my dad took me along in the feed truck, he was showing me I was special. Creating tradition with the people in your life will tell them, “you are special.”

The ancient word “Tehama” once meant a place where rivers could be crossed. With our county’s rich currents of history, happenings, and hope, this is our crossing place today — where we meet to celebrate our beautiful Tehama County.