(Mission Times Courier, Ca) -  I was aware that I was smiling when I ran past one of the cairns that was on the Del Cerro side of the lake. Cairns can be cute little terrier dogs or rock formations that mark a trail. The little dogs weren't in formation on the trail. But rock displays often are. The rocks are placed precariously on top of one another to show hikers the way to their destination without using breadcrumbs. They are an art form and I am cheered when I see them by the side of the lake road. Scott Wilson said that he has observed a man and woman as they created the conical piles. I hope that the twosome realize that we appreciate their work.

I started thinking of things that make me smile and wonder about what others smile about: Babies, puppies and kitties are a given; People that sing or dance for no reason and a peaceful breeze; A hot fudge sundae or a hot shower after a run in the rain; How about Pooch Café on the funnies page of the newspaper; snuggled up in bed with a book or Mitch Gallagher's Christmas tree.

Mitch has a happy face and a great sense of humor. One would think that he has not had an unhappy occurrence in his life.  However, he lost his wife whom he nursed while she was ill. His mother-in-law was ill and Mitch took care of her until she died. Orphie his black Newfoundland female dog, and best friend also passed away. She had been a comfort to Mitch during his most difficult times. Yet, Mitch continues to smile and he makes us smile.

Mitch "the nurturer" saw an ugly brown star pine tree at the lake. No one knows who planted it but it didn't look like it was going to survive. Mitch decided that his mission was to keep it alive. So, he carries water to the pine each day. It is now healthy, green and ugly. Mitch calls it his Christmas tree and decorated it for the holiday. Some people look for reasons to be happy. Mitch and his tree are other reasons why we smile.

Do you know what makes Councilwoman Marti Emerald smile? She smiles to think about a group of people who got together to fix a problem. A number of parents with small children wanted to know why playground equipment taken away from the kiddy park at Lake Murray wasn't being replaced. The slide and other pieces were no longer stable. Not only were the equipment taken away, but the San Diego Park and Recreation Department didn't have the money to replace them. When they found out that the city could not help, Tracy Dahlkamp and her friends went to work; they sought the advice of Councilmember Emerald.

The grass root group got together and outlined a program to get funding from whomever or wherever they can find it. That will include groups, grants or generous persons who deem the project worthy of a few dollars.  They aren't stopping at pieces that will replace the old equipment but are expanding their vision; a climbing wall, pictures on a wall to teach children about botany and animals indigenous to the area and more. It is hoped that their children won't be grown by the time their dream is realized. Marti thinks not and says that she is proud of this proactive group. She is supporting their effort…and she smiles.

Helen DeCarlo was riding her bike at Lake Murray on October 4th of this year. She saw young boys throwing a football back and forth to each other in the main parking lot.  As Helen was riding and trying to stay out of their way, a youngster ran in front of her to catch a football.  Helen made a sharp turn to get away from the boy and fell.  She broke her collarbone, had a contusion on her head and cracked several ribs.

A man came by on a bike, stopped and helped. The man was a doctor. He checked her over and tried to stave the flow of blood from her head until an ambulance arrived. Helen didn't get the doctor's name or how to reach him.  She is grateful that he took time to care for her.  She asks that if anyone knows the doctor to please have him contact this paper (Barbara.Cleves@NewsEtc.com) with his information so she can thank him.

All kinds of good deeds have been happening.  Dana Dugan had her second annual food drive at the lake.  The starting date for drop-offs was December 1st and the last day was December 6th.  Dana put food donation containers at each end of the lake between 5:30 and 6:00am. She picked up the full containers at 8:30am. She and her husband, Patrick, took everything to the San Diego Food Bank and they weighed the donations: 1,508 lbs!! The Dugans want to thank everyone for their contributions and helping those who are in need of the food.  Thanks everyone from Dana and Pat!

Art Wrightson is a longtime lake walker.  His oldest daughter, Destiny, contracted breast cancer four years ago.  She is doing well but the whole Wrightson family; wife, Diane, and daughters, Marla, Trista and Audrey have been involved with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation ever since.  Art walked and collected donations for the 3-day walk the first and second year.  The third year he collected and trained for the walk but had heart problems and couldn't participate.  This year Art crewed for the event and even spent the night at the walks facility and dyed his newly grown beard pink. Marla has walked the walk for three years. The Wrightsons thank everyone for caring and helping with the worthy cause.

The Friends of Lake Murray meeting will be on January 21, 2010 at 5:00pm.  The program will be Neville Connell's talk "Wildfires." Neville is a physicist retired from the Palo Alto Research Center. Then, his inquiring mind focused on wildfires and how communities can protect themselves. His group Greater Alpine Fire Safe Council partners with the US Forest Service, Cal Fire, San Diego Natural History Museum, Chirp (gardening forwildfires and the protection of sage and songbirds) and US Bureau of Land Management.
The Friends meet at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church on the corner of Wandermere Dr. and Park Ridge Blvd. For more information, call Barbara Cleves Anderson at (619) 463-9706 or via email: Barbara.Cleves@NewsEtc.com.
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On December 6th, we went to the symphony to hear Ludwig Van Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Ode to Joy.  This seems like a wonderful time to reflect on the poem, "An die Freude" written by Fredrich Schiller. Beethoven was so taken with the poem that he wanted it heard through the music that he created: Ode to Joy. Schiller's poem is about a greater being and man caring for man. It is about hope and the dignity of man.

When the students rioted in Tiananmen Square, they played Beethoven's 9th Symphony during the massacre. When the Berlin wall came down Beethoven's 9th was played. During unsettled times it may difficult to recognize good. Perhaps we should remember the giving people that brighten our lives. The wonderful ones that give us hope and joy. Be good to each other. Happy Holidays!