Appreciate ‘your small but very friendly town’

Dear Editor:

This Christmas, we were invited from Saskatchewan to visit our daughter, Terra Luc, who resides in Stettler.

We decided when we arrived on Friday night to go downtown to do some “late night” shopping. My husband knew that for Christmas, he was receiving a “remote” controlled truck as his gift and wanted to go into your locally owned “Terra Nova” hobby shop to see what was available to him should he need something for his new truck.

We entered the store and received a very warm small-town welcome from the two gentlemen on staff. After some time there, my husband explained to the salesmen that he was unsure of what he might need, as his gift was still unopened and under the tree.

The owner passed my husband his business card and told him that he could call him anytime and he would do his very best to accommodate him. With his business card in hand, off we went to do more shopping.

Two days later was the day that the gift was to be opened and operated. However, this was not to be the case, and we were to leave Stettler very early on Dec. 26.

There seemed to be that something just wasn’t right, as and I watched out the living room window for two hours as my hubby got more and more discouraged by the minute with the truck that didn’t seem to want to stay running. He finally came in and said, “I give up.”

This was Christmas morning … a day that you wouldn’t want to bother anyone with anything. I said to him … “Well … the fella at the hobby shop said you could call him anytime” (doubting in my own mind that he most likely meant anytime other than Christmas Day).

My husband very sheepishly removed the card from his wallet and dialed the number. I could only hear his side of the conversation, of course, and I heard him say, “I can be there in five minutes.”

I’m sure we were in “awe” that this gentleman would go to such lengths to help an outsider that he didn’t even know would ever enter his store again.

A few minutes later, my husband returned with an “ear to ear” grin as this small little hobby shop had in stock the parts that he needed. Finally … success.

The truck ran and the storeowner most certainly has not only a very satisfied customer, but one that plans on giving him his business in the future.

I can assure you that this would never happen in the city. So … next time you’re sitting on the couch thinking about all the benefits of living in the city, I trust this little story will cross your mind.

We are very grateful for all we received this holiday season from your small but very friendly town.

Wade and Brenda Forseth,

Nipawin, Sask.