The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Bristow. One of the community’s fairly new members is spreading good cheer to all the little children and their families. Jewell Carlson lived on a farm in Kansas. There were no children around to see all of her decorations even though she loved putting them out. Two years ago her daughter, Tammy Levin, moved her to Bristow on the corner of 10th by the pre-K building in hopes that she would enjoy seeing all the kids and waving at them each day.
At first Carlson was hesitant because she is a shy person. But last spring she started waving to the kids when they were dropped off at school in the mornings and when they were picked up in the afternoons. The kids started waving back to her as well as their parents. Since then, the children look for her to be outside to wave at them and they love seeing her.
This year, Carlson and Levin made up goodie bags for the kids that Carlson could pass out as they were dropped off at school. The children loved it and she even got to talk to them for a bit along with their parents. Today she wore a long Santa hat that wrapped around her neck and had a bell at the end for the kids to enjoy. One of the pre-K classes came and sang Christmas carols for her, which absolutely moved her.
Carlson is now 85 years old and she loves this town along with all the people in it. She has made it clear that no one is to call her during the times the kids are dropped off and picked up. She said that is her time to wave at the kids and doesn’t want to be interrupted.
If there ever was someone with a true love for community and the spirit of Christmas, Carlson would be that person.