A Sierra Evening: Truckee’s Christmas Tree Lighting
Last night, I headed up to Truckee for something I’ve wanted to experience for years: the annual Christmas tree lighting. I planned to go on my own, but earlier that afternoon, through casual conversation, I invited a truly lovely work friend I’ve grown to know and enjoy. She said yes, and what would have been a quiet solo evening quickly turned into something shared, easy, and unexpectedly meaningful. She offered to drive (because my Crosstrek still bares the stains and dust of countless summer adventures), and as we wound our way into the Sierra, the world began to shift around us. Snow tucked itself between the sage and pines, and the alpenglow washed the mountains in soft winter pinks and oranges, that fleeting glow that feels like December easing in. When we reached downtown Truckee, the town was already humming. Kids in puffy coats hopped from foot to foot, families clustered together for warmth, and Santa and Mrs. Claus rolled through the streets on an old fire truck. It im...
