Man on the Street is Greg Kristapovich
“What was the best Christmas present YOU’VE ever received?”
(asked in Angels Camp)
“When I was ten, under the Christmas tree, my mom got me the best Schwinn bicycle I ever saw! It was black and white and chrome. It was awesome! And it had whitewall tires! And it had a horn on the bar that ran from the handlebars to the seat. It had a big horn there. That’s how they made ‘em at that time. And the bike had mud flaps, too! The bike was sitting there right by the Christmas tree. I still remember it!” – Howard Souza, Sutter Creek, (carpet sales)
“A one-man, 13 foot, vinyl-covered, Styrofoam sail boat that was easily carried by one person. My wife, Geri, gave me this present and she had recruited her best friend’s husband to select that particular boat. Geri took me out to look at Christmas lights on Christmas day, and she had recruited her friends to sneak it into the house and place it under the tree! When I saw the boat, I thought, ‘How did they get that thing in the house?!’ But that’s why we’re still married after 50 years; that, and other things.” – Glenn Graham, Angels Camp, (video/bookstore owner)
“I must have been about nine years old, and it was one of the best Christmases I’ve ever had! I remember my mom putting a saddle under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning; and telling me to go outside. I went outside…to the most beautiful Welsh pony you’d ever seen! I loved our Welsh Mare. She was just beautiful! I had that pony for about ten years, until she passed; and then we got several other horses but Penny was always our favorite!” – Chuck Cummings, Angels Camp, (hotel general manager)
“Just giving gifts is better for me, than receiving. I enjoy seeing their faces when they open their gifts! I’d rather see that. That’s what Christmas is about for me; making other people happy! I’d rather give than receive. I’m more of a ‘giver’.” – Yolanda Mattie, Angels Camp, (salon stylist)
“It was the first time that my husband Larry and I could afford to buy something for each other, because we had always thought of our kids and family first. Larry bought me some small diamond earrings! I’d never had a pair of diamond earrings! And Larry actually bought them, on his own! He went and picked ‘em out, on his own! And he was very proud of himself! I could just see the sparkle in his eye, giving it to me! It made him happy!” – Deborah Moore, Sheep Ranch, (banking, new accounts)
