Thanks for fixing your sidewalk

As the story goes, or at least as what I gather to be at the very least somewhat reasonable, the elves at the Toy Workshop work year-long, except with a bit of a respite after the busy holiday season.

But as the Frontiersman stories go, or at least what I gather to be at the very least somewhat reasonable, there are many, many Mat-Su ‘phantom elves’ who work year-round. Before reading any further, I want you to take a minute or two to leave this article and count up how many advertisements, how many stories, how many photos you see IN ONE ISSUE that relate to some form of a “Toy Workshop” (aka: volunteers)

Now — for kids, toys are needed for their ‘work’ — right? Playing is their “work.” But some toys around town are not always nor will be accessible to them to play on for various reasons. The child might be fighting an illness or their style of ability — physical or mental health ability prevents them from enjoying the variety of toys and activities available around the Valley. But there are ‘phantom elves’ who make every effort that they may be included as well. Some ‘phantom elves’ helped build the new accessible playground at the lake; some ‘elves’ volunteer hours and hours with Special Olympics, or LINKS, or REACH, or as short- or long-term foster parents; maybe they are part of the school system where, yes, it may be their ‘job’ to be with this child, but OH!! Soo much more love and time go into it than a mere paycheck.

As a child gets older the “Workshop” changes a bit. The ‘toys’ get more expensive!! Sometimes more adaptations need to be made. And the more adaptations, the more funds it requires above and beyond. Unfortunately, too many of our teens are, for a myriad of reasons, left to fend for themselves. More phantom elves pour in to help. Alternate methods of learning/schools are becoming available; more are planned. Some elves are great at making meals, or shelters planned and made; and the teens themselves become ‘apprentice elves’ as they work alongside these tireless ‘phantom elves’ who do this not because someone is making them, but because they want to; hopefully a lesson not lost on the youngster.

Our kids dubbed us Toys R Us parents, as we never want to grow up, which means with age, our ‘toys get sometimes more ‘exotic’! Our workshops often get remodeled — sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller, depending on our needs. It becomes the same with the toys — we ask “is it a ‘need’ or a ‘want’?” And when we ‘can’t “do” phantom elves pop in delivering groceries, chopping firewood, or stopping by for a cup of coffee or tea, mostly for the companionship of a visit or to check to make sure you are OK. (Regular readers know I am an author and retired occupational therapist, but have battled cancer, been hit by a drunk driver and had a traumatic brain injury that sometimes rears its funny ways.)

The elves in our community are amazing — phantom or not. But a huge shout out needs to go to some “Phantom Elves” that I imagine would go totally unrecognized. They might especially go unrecognized because unless you use what they ‘phantomlike’ did, you may not give it a second thought. That is, unless you are one of the many Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman subscribers, or advertisers, or maybe one of the thousands of loyal Frontiersman readers who is paying a bill, starting a subscription, changing an address or sharing an article idea.

It really doesn’t matter if you are young or old, have differing abilities, wheelchair bound, use a walker or cane, or are super nimble on your feet. For several years, the sidewalk in front of the Frontiersman was slowly crumbling. Pretty soon there big chunks that were missing, causing more than a few Mat-Su folks to stumble.

And then, what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a new asphalt partition sidewalk with no missing pieces, no missing chunks of puzzle to try to navigate!

So thank you, “Phantom Elves” whoever you be, for fixing your sidewalk — from all your readers!

Care Tuk is an author who lives in Wasilla.