TOWAOC – Brokenness fixes you, and time doesn’t stop for anyone.

Those were the words declared by Ute Mountain Ute tribal council member Darwin Whiteman Jr. Wednesday.

Reflection seemed inevitable as the tribe mourned the loss of an elder – a funeral proceeded on the hill and tribal operations halted.

But the tribe’s drive-thru Christmas dinner at the Ute Mountain Casino was a happy event.

By the time the meals were being distributed, a layer of snow blanketed Towaoc and continued to fall gently as casino workers and volunteers, all smiles and swiftness, delivered a delectable dose of holiday cheer to tribal members.

With 10 days to go until Christmas, Whiteman was grateful to observe themes of unity, empathy and dedication enveloping the festive spread before him.

“The people are receiving what they prayed for,” he said.

Prayer was a pillar of the day’s provisions – as it is in all tribe endeavors, he said.

With a note of loss tinging the event, Whiteman reflected on losing his own father years ago.

“Everything in life is always OK,” his father told him, dying of cancer.

Whiteman didn’t see it that way, until one day, after his father’s death, he did.

“Today’s a blessing,” he said.

Every day is, he said.

The two drive-thru lanes circling the casino were frequently full. The event provided an opportunity to reconnect with friends and relatives, as well as to meet new people, Whiteman said.

Nearby, Whiteman’s sentiments were playing out on the assembly line, where dozens of workers briskly prepared a projected 2,000 meals for tribal members.

While in one corner of the casino ballroom Whiteman had been positively reflecting on the unexpected growth in loss, in another, laughs reverberated off of the rows of hot food waiting to be packaged.

That range of emotions, and experiencing them together, is what the holidays are about, Whiteman had said.

“I’m enjoying the laughs while serving good food,” said Raymond Bigman.

And he was. Bigman and his friends were joking throughout the venture, swaying others nearby with their cheery dispositions and quick jokes.

Joining in on the laughs was Chaz Hamlin, who said it was all about “great company, great food, and holiday vibes.”

They were scooping servings of traditional holiday fixings, with mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry and turkey galore.