It’s been a good year in Aromas

It’s been a good year in Aromas
Dear friend/family member/other,
 
Happy holidays from San Benito County! It has been quite a year
here in the Rural Transition Zone also known as Aromas. We’ll try
to get you all caught up on what the clan has been up to in the
past year.
It’s been a good year in Aromas

Dear friend/family member/other,

Happy holidays from San Benito County! It has been quite a year here in the Rural Transition Zone also known as Aromas. We’ll try to get you all caught up on what the clan has been up to in the past year.

For openers, there is a fresh little one next door, his name is Owen. He just turned one and can say “Audrey” – the name of Dan’s cat – but is unable to say “Dan.” Dan says Owen is getting vegetables for Christmas.

  We also lost another neighbor. He moved to San Jose because it is quieter. He said that between the barking, chainsawing, dirt biking, and loud music, it no longer made much sense to live in the country. He said in the suburbs there are all kinds of rules about loud noises, and that the neighbors call in code enforcement if your portable basketball hoop rolls too far down the driveway.

  There are new neighbors on the street. They started with a dog tied to a trailer, and now have goats, pigs, sheep, and cows. The land surrounding their place has been grazed smoother than a kitchen floor. We’re all kind of interested to see what happens if we get a good rain. The bald hillside leads right into their house. Should be fun.

  There is a lot of exciting news around town. Marshall’s Market sells tacos for less than $2. They would be the best taco anywhere at $3, but at $2 are one of the deals of the century.

  A new running track was installed at Aromas School. We haven’t seen anyone actually run on it, but it’s working out well for dogs, and even parents pushing strollers. We also saw a woman reading a book while walking the track.

  There is also a guy in town who has a comb-over and a mullet. Having a comb-over or a mullet is one thing, having both is a step ahead of everything.

  There has also been a lot of news this year for the rest of the county. Without telling anyone, Hollister held an election. By a 31-9 margin, an increase in the local sales tax was approved. Opponents say it will lead to communism – or worse – universal health care. Most likely, it means more tree limbs will get cut.

  As long as it doesn’t bring back the meter maids, we’re OK with it. And in reality, the increase in sales tax will have a small effect on Hollister because no one shops there. If Hollister residents were charged in Gilroy, a serious revenue increase might find its way into the Earthquake Capitol.

  The little town of Tres Pinos, which makes Aromas look like an urban center, may get a modern hotel. We’re uncertain who will be staying at this hotel, maybe some bikers, but we think they should build an arch welcoming folks into town with the boast: “Tres Pinos, Gateway to King City!”

  Speaking of bikers, the Independence Rally has been moved to days that do not include Independence Day. The local daily newspaper put the date of the rally in November, sort of a Thanksgiving Rally, but it turned out to be just a funny mistake. We heard rumors that rally promoters would actually like to eliminate motorcycles from the rally altogether because they get in the way of T-shirt shopping.

  Oh, and Dan would like to add that he came around a corner heading into Panoche Valley on his motorcycle and came face to head with a cow. It was a lone cow walking smack in the middle of the road. The two managed to avoid one another, but neither feels they were better for the experience.

As you can tell, it has been a very exciting year in these parts. The power didn’t go out over the winter, but did cease to operate a couple of times during the summer.

  We hope you and all of yours enjoy a safe and enjoyable holiday season and a happy new year. And if you decide to drop by, remember that there is a speed trap leading into downtown Aromas. We suggest abiding by the speed limit coming down the Carpenteria Hill because the Highway Patrol occasionally likes to hang out and issue tickets.

  But do stop in, we’ll get a bag of tacos and have a great time.