{"id":186,"date":"2005-06-10T09:15:42","date_gmt":"2005-06-10T15:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zanthan.com\/wordsintobytes\/uncategorized\/loyalton-california"},"modified":"2016-10-29T19:13:45","modified_gmt":"2016-10-30T00:13:45","slug":"california-loyalton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zanthan.com\/wordsintobytes\/travel\/california-loyalton\/","title":{"rendered":"Loyalton, California"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nWe arrived in Reno about 9AM local time, walked outside and gulped in the cool dry air. After leaving the record-breaking heat and humidity of Austin, I just wanted to stand there and breathe air which actually has air in it.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe drive to Truckee via interstate 80 took only 45 minutes and then it was another 30 minutes to Sierraville along my favorite stretch of road. We arrived at 12:30. After we checked in, I headed immediately to the onsen<\/i> and JQS headed to bed. (We had been up since 2AM local time and both of us required some down time before facing a barrage of family and friends.) About 5PM we headed toward Loyalton.\n<\/p>\n

\nAs we cleared a rise and glimpsed the eastern part of Sierra Valley, we saw that we were headed for stormy weather. JQS said, “It looks like we’re going to Mordor.” Despite appearances, no rain fell in Loyalton at all.\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nWe arrived at Betsy’s (it’s difficult to get lost because there’s only one road connecting all these places) and joined the family convoy back to Loyalton High School<\/a>. Stephan had arranged seats for our family and the Melancons in the reserved faculty seating.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe graduation ceremony began at 6:30 with the 39 graduates filing in to applause and “Pomp and Circumstance”. Principal Dan Piel addressed his class of champions, 23 of whom are going on to college with $600,000 worth of scholarships in their pockets. Our own Selina earned a $38,500 a year scholarship from St. Mary’s college. The three valedictorians (Selina was one) gave their speeches. All stressed how much the lifelong friendships and community in Loyalton meant to them. That sense of community became even more apparent during the slideshow which showed three or four photos of each graduate growing up, ending with the senior picture.\n<\/p>\n


Sean and Selina, Class of 2005, Loyalton High School<\/i><\/p>\n

\nAll of us city folk were impressed with the thunderous applause given to each and every graduate. The whole community was cheering the class of 2005 on. In contrast, I didn’t know 98% of the people in my graduating class at my graduation. No one in my community knew who I was. Nor were they aware of my accomplishments or my plans for college and the future.\n<\/p>\n

\nIn Loyalton, each graduate received had a moment alone on stage to receive his diploma, to shake hands or hug the principal, and to stand before the entire community and give a little bow. Both in mine and JQS’s ceremonies, we formed two lines that filed past each other quickly, grabbed a piece of paper that represented our diplomas (but wasn’t), as if we were receiving batons in a relay race. Some people were cheered. Others weren’t. It all depended on the size of your private cheering section.\n<\/p>\n

\nAfter exchanging hugs and congratulations with the graduates, the four of us headed back to Sierraville and dinner at Dos Hermanos. JQS again opted for bed, and MJN, Carol and I had another long soak in the hot springs. Walking back to the lodge in the starlight was exquisite.\n<\/p>\n

\nI continue to mull over my ideas on a sense of place and a sense of belonging. I can see how much being part of the Loyalton community means to the people here. And how difficult it is for Betsy’s family to be moving to Las Vegas in two days. It would be easy to say that I’m envious. But I wonder, could I have survived in a very small town for 12 years? JQS thinks it would have made him more outdoorsey…as he’d seek refuge in long bike rides or solitary hikes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Children raised by a village.<\/p>\n

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