Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 9, 2023

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Mountain View News Saturday, September 9, 2023 

Sponsored by the Sierra Madre Civic ClubAll Sierra Madre 
households are invited 
to create and 
participate in a 
Halloween Art Show that 
will be displayed on 
downtown merchants’ 
windows from October 20 
through November 4, 2023.
All ages from a single 
address are welcome to 
draw or paint any 
Halloween theme on paper 
‘canvas’ delivered free to 
your front door. 
Any medium you choose 
is acceptable—crayons, 
markers, pencils, paint, 
ink are just a few ideas.
Halloween ART ShowDowntown SIERRA MADRE 
Sign up on-line at 
sierramadrecivicclub.org 
before september 29.
Deadline to return completed artwork is October 13.
YourARTWORKHERElet’s decorate 
those windows!
Your 
ARTWORKHEREYour 
ARTWORKHEREAttention 
Sierra Madre!
Be creative! 
WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side

by Deanne Davis


“I have always looked at life as a voyage, 
mostly wonderful, sometimes frightening.

In my family and friends, I have discovered 
treasure more valuable than gold.”

Jimmy Buffett

“If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a 
beach attached.”

Jimmy Buffett

“I don’t get tired of playing Margaritaville. 
It’s paid my bills for years.”

Jimmy Buffett

From the moment I first heard, “Pencil-thin 
Moustache” years and years ago, I became a 
life-long Jimmy Buffett fan. Yes, I have most 
of his CD’s and when cars had CD players, 
that’s pretty much all I played in mine. 
When I heard he had passed away a few days 
ago I was shocked and sad. John and I and 
Crissy and I attended several of his concerts 
and had the best time ever as they are all 
sing-alongs and the fragrance of a familiar 
herb in the air made everyone there relax 
and enjoy being a Parrot-Head. Recently, we 
had the opportunity to attend “Escape to Margaritaville,” Jimmy’s delightful musical that 
only lasted five months on Broadway, but has been traveling around the country ever since. 
Our girls, Jessie and Emily, had no idea who he was, but they had a great time anyway. 

One particular JB song has been going ‘round and ‘round in my mind these last few days…

“But there's this one particular harbour 

So far but yet so near 

Where I see the days as they fade away 

And finally disappear.

And there’s this one particular harbor,

Sheltered from the wind.

Where the children play on the shore each day,

And all are safe within.

A most mysterious calling harbour,

So far but yet so near.

I can see the day when my hair’s full gray,

And I finally disappear.”

I expect that’s where Jimmy Buffett is now, that One Particular Harbour, with a blender full 
of margaritas, a bunch of friends and that lost shaker of salt. 

“Some of it’s magic and some of it’s tragic, but I’ve had a good life all the way.”

(He Went to Paris)

You might not have realized this, but September is National Friendship Month. Henry David 
Thoreau, one of America’s most famous naturalists and philosophers, gave this definition 
of friendship: “A friend is one who incessantly pays us the compliment of expecting 
from us all the virtues, and who can appreciate them in us.”

Most of us know a lot of people. But the majority of those are acquaintances. People we see 
here and there, work with, say hi to, but they’re not real friends. My best friend for most of 
my life was my husband, John. What I remember most is walking together, laughing together, 
just doing life together for 50 years. 

Friendships are so important. They are the source of joy, companionship and love. (Doing 
life together.) We need friends to give us comfort, encouragement, appreciation. A true 
friendship is like food for your soul, it nourishes you and keeps you going when you’d just 
as soon quit. 

I watch American Ninja Warrior every Monday night and I see the friends and family of 
each of these amazing people yelling up at them: “You’ve got this!” “You can do it!” “Go for 
it!” We need cheerleaders in our lives. Friends who can stop us from making big mistakes, 
celebrating victories and just being there. I am so blessed that my children and grandchildren 
are the cheerleaders in my life. 

Columnist, Harvey Mackay gave a few tips for hanging on to friendships in one of his recent 
columns: Be open, share feelings honestly. Be receptive, everyone’s opinion may not match 
yours, but they’re still entitled to it. Listen! Without interrupting or trying to fix things 
(practically impossible but necessary). Express Gratitude, let your friends know how much 
their friendship means to you.

A good friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg, even though you’re slightly cracked.

The picture today is another pumpkin, possibly a more gentle, benign one after last week’s 
Halloween Horror Story. Speaking of pumpkins: I have pumpkin ice cream in my freezer. 
Tremendous self-control needed here.

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

There are treasures there! Trust me! 

Including “Just Desserts” A Fall Fantasy of Pumpkins Gone Wrong!


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com