When TERESA and JIM BESAW became homeowners, they were unprepared for the chaos a windstorm could bring to their new place on Fern Place.

Up until then, a mix-up in paint color was the only annoyance worth mentioning, then suddenly, trees were tossed around the once pristine back yard. They lost five trees and enough branches to make a sixth.

“I wasn’t very positive about the new house,” she said, “but I also knew life could be much worse.”

And even though not much furniture got through on moving day because of the cutting and clean-up, she remembered the families displaced by hurricane Katrina and decided she didn’t have it so bad.

Things started to turn around when BUD, a neighbor from across the street, told her she had great family and friends. “I have to agree,” Teresa replied.

On Friday, BOB MARTIN and Teresa’s ex-husband DAVID “NIC” NICHOLS showed up at the house with chain saws and chopped up some of the downed trees.

On Saturday, her brother PETE MICHEL came from Snohomish and helped Bud clear the destruction the downed trees caused across the street.

Co-worker JOLIE WOODS and her husband JOHN showed up with a chain saw, cut up logs and cleared branches with Pete.

“DOC LIVERMORE, my neighbor from two doors down, and Don from next door cleared the trees from the road the day of the storm Friday and again on Saturday they showed up to clear the rest of the logs and mess the wind had created.”

Her father DAVE MICHEL stacked logs so they’d have future firewood and supplied pizza and subs for movers and helpers.

“CONNIE ROSS showed up to help with another truckload after our moving helpers had to leave,” Teresa said.

She could have fumed and complained, but things turned out for the best with support from her family, relatives, colleagues and new neighbors.

When said with a note of sarcasm, “Welcome to home ownership” can be a warning to unsuspecting buyers. Now, Teresa said, it feels more like “Welcome to a great neighborhood.”

What a guy …

There ought to be more men around like BOB SULLIVAN. He made some real brownie points recently by whisking wife LYNN RILEY away for a surprise five-week trip to Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania and Fiji.

“I don’t want to see another suitcase and hear another zipper on a suitcase for the rest of my life,” Lynn said. “We had so much fun. We were with 11 other couples.

“Bob planned the whole trip and didn’t tell me where we were going until we were on our way to LA. He told me to pack some warm clothes and some cool clothes. I really trust that guy!”

They went to The Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, had a home stay with a sheep and cattle rancher and his wife, flew on 12 planes in five weeks and boarded countless buses, boats and trains.

Santa’s helpers …

Do something for someone you don’t know and will never meet with no expectation of thanks. It’s the best way to get that Christmas spirit back.

In fact, you may even know of a military family having trouble filling the stockings of their little ones.

Why not secretly nominate them to be put on the Giving Tree? Forms are at the Base Chapel or the American Eagle Communities Oak Harbor office. Return it to the Base Chapel by Dec. 15.

Children’s names will be placed on angel tags on the Holiday Giving Tree at the Seaplane Base Navy Exchange. If you just want to help without nominating someone, pick out a tag, purchase the gift and place it in a marked box with the tag either at the Seaplane NEX or Nor’Wester. Gifts will be delivered before Christmas.

Thanks to the Navy Wives’ Club of America Puget Sound 310, the NAS Whidbey Island Chapel and the Navy Exchange for arranging all this. Call 240-2579 or 240-2160 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Attention, shoppers …

What are you doing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5? You may just want to get over to the Coupeville Methodist Church on Main Street where everything from pashmina shawls and brooches to vintage bracelets and earrings will be available for under $20 in a benefit for Whidbey General Hospital.

The line, called ‘Girl Candy,’ is owned by ROBIN CRANDALL. Her mom, LYNN SULLIVAN, is president of the WGH Hospital Auxiliary and a member of the Doctor Paul Bishop Guild.

“We hope to do well for the hospital and invite all of Whidbey Island to come and not miss this one-day sale.”

Food bank benefits …

The Coupeville Historic Waterfront Businesses have partnered with Gifts of the Heart food bank to help replenish its food stocks. Businesses will accept non-perishable food items on the five Saturdays between now and Christmas. Bring in food items to any participating business between 9 and 11 a.m. and as a thank you, receive a free entry for a gift certificate drawing.

At 11 a.m., all donated food items and entry forms will be collected. A drawing will be held each Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and the lucky winner notified. Winners need not be present at the drawing. Prizes are gift certificates to various restaurants located in the historic waterfront business district. Come out on Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23.

See you back here on Dec. 6. Write to me at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or call 675-6611.