Dear Editor,

I write this today because of Bella Lamb, my Girl! When I read the March 9 Mountain-Ear, on how Bella is a mentor, I knew what I had to do. For the first time I stopped crying and started smiling and decided to do something positive with my positive COVID test. Thank you, Bella, for being you!!

Well, this girl caught the ‘VID’, and has been locked up within these 4 walls for the last 10 days. Yep, COVID is still among us! I truly thought I was invincible from getting Covid. I have been in the same room as others who had Covid. I have had family members and friends who have tested positive, but not me. My tests always came back negative. But not this time.

My last booster was in February 2022. I decided one vaccination a year would be sufficient for me, because ’I can’t get covid; no not me!’ But on March 9 my Covid test came back positive. My world flashed before me! On March 8, I signed up for Pickleball and it felt great to meet new people, and play a sport somewhat similar to tennis. Well, that day I fell three times on the court, but I got up and continued to play. I loved it! I thought it was my shoes, but no, it was Covid taking over my body, screaming for me to stop. But I wouldn’t listen.

The next day I woke up to my body feeling like a train hit me. I hurt so bad!! So, I took a Covid test. And, there it was positive. So, I took another.... again POSITIVE!!! I cannot cry anymore; I’m too dehydrated. I cannot continue to beat myself up for what I cannot control. But I can say I am sorry and I never meant to hurt anyone.

So, instead of going to Estes Park this past weekend for their first FDGD, I’m writing to The Mountain-Ear. I know exactly where I was a year ago on March 18, 2022, I was at Ms. Ressa’s house trying outfits for the FDGD Black & Blue Ball. I was blessed with the Nederland Clothing Closet, a ball ticket, and an amazing night of dancing. It was liberating, freeing, and I knew at that moment, I was where I was supposed to be - at Frozen Dead Guys Days in Nederland.

I had the privilege of setting up a table in front of the shed on 1st Street, in hopes to raise money for the Nederland Food Pantry/ Clothing Closet/Garden. I made a personal FDGD challenge to raise money, motivated by someone saying to me that I wouldn’t raise more than $100-$200. But my heart told me differently. With the generous donations of gloves, hats, and socks from Parmita Pushman, Claudia Schauffler, and Annette Treufeldt-Franck, I raised $970. I was excited, and overwhelmed with joy!

So after a night of dancing and a day of volunteering I was starving and I was broke. With permission from the Executive Director of NFP at that time, I snagged $20 out of the donation jar to get something to eat knowing that I wouldn’t be able to replace it. With that $20 I walked across to Busey Brews and ordered an amazing HOT chicken finger meal! It was in that moment I realized; it wasn’t about the money. It was about love. Love for the people in need. Love for a community. My time, my energy, my love for what I believed in was more than God could ever ask of me.

So, when I read about Nederdays I was over the moon. I knew I wanted to be a part of Nederdays!! I immediately emailed Stephanie Andelman and asked where do I sign up to volunteer? I was given a task, and excited to finally be part of something that is about the community for the community. So, on March 23 I’ll take another Covid test, and if it’s negative (and only if it is negative!) you’ll see this girl Friday night dancing her way into Nederdays. If I can’t help with the Nederdays festivities I know I can help celebrate!!

SJ Truettner

Nederland