COTTAGE GROVE – Saturday’s Kickoff to Christmas in Cottage Grove had something for everyone.
The all-day event started with Breakfast with Santa at the Fire Station. There was a Holiday Bazaar, Open House, and the ever-popular South Valley Winter Market. Local churches served free soup and cider at All American Square. A large crowd attended the annual tree lighting with Santa at the Trailhead.
Scenes from this year’s Christmas Kick-Off in Cottage Grove. BOB WILLIAMS / CHRONICLE PHOTOS
But one of the most heartwarming events of the day was a book reading at the Bookmine by Janice Jensen, who lost her 9-year-old son Brian in a harrowing accident in 1972.
She dedicated the book to her daughter Erika, who was 6 at the time of the accident and was rescued by her husband Oskar.
Author Janice Jensen discusses her book, “One Ripple at a Time,” at the Bookmine.
BOB WILLIAMS / CHRONICLE PHOTO
The book, “One Ripple at a Time,” chronicles Jensen’s journey, first through unthinkable grief, then through helping others find peace after losing loved ones, and bringing joy into her own life and others’.
The longtime Eugene residents always traveled frequently. In 1972, they were visiting Austria, where they were having a picnic lunch. There was a river down below, and Brian wanted to teach Erika how to skip rocks.
What they didn’t know was that, across the border, a Swiss power company had unleashed dams. Suddenly, a gushing flood of water poured into the channel that held Brian and Erika. The water was rapidly rising, and Oskar was able to get ahold of Erika’s arm and pull her to safety.
Brian, however, was overcome by the strength of the water. Hoping that he was clinging to a branch somewhere downstream, the parents’ search proved to be futile.
“Not even the strongest swimmer could have saved him,” Jensen said.
Her book is a quick read, and once you start reading it, it’s next-to-impossible to put down. It is on sale at Bookmine.
“This was my journey to overcome tragedy, and hopefully, you can find one small piece of joy that will help you in your journey, to help you move forward, because I meet people every day who have lost a 5-year-old child, a 25-year-old child, a 50-year-old aunt, a 60-year-old grandmother, whatever, it isn’t just young people – you can lose a job, you can lose your home – those are losses too, and they need to be dealt with,” said Jensen, a retired elementary school teacher.
“But the most tragic and deeply felt losses are losing people. This book is about helping people move on from that experience to find a resolution to feeling grief, you never resolve all grief, but you do find a way to move on, enjoy, and give love to others. But sometimes, that means reaching out to people who don’t give love back. And that’s OK. That has to be part of your journey if you want to be able to give it to other people.”
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You can find all sorts of treats at the South Valley Winter Market, including quince fruit.
“I would say half the people who stop by know what it is,’ said Richard Sedlock, who has been selling quince at his booth for 6-7 years. “The other half have only seen it in word, or they’ve never seen the fruit.”
Sedlock, a retired geology professor from San Jose State, also grows apple, pear, and fig trees. He says quinces grow best in Mediterranean climates, such as California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as Spain and North Africa.
“If you read ‘Tales of the Arabian Knights,’ figs and honey and quinces are all over the place,” said Sedlock, a board member of the winter market.
He sells jam and raw fruit at his booth.
“It’s also good in a saute. Put it in a meat stew with onions, carrots, and garlic. Or, you can make an apple crisp with it.”
