My Interview with Mary Jasmine, "The DIckensheet Hat Lady"

If you have spent much time around the Priest Lake, Idaho area, then you more than likely have met Mary Jasmine "The Dickensheet Hat Lady." Mary Jasmine is most commonly known as "Jazz" to the locals.

Recently Jazz has become a little bit famous in the small community of Priest Lake. Through her job at the Dickensheet Dump, she has over time acquired many nick names from the people who pass through the dump, she call them her "customers." One of these nicknames she gained was "The Dickensheet Hat Lady," because of her many crazy hats she wears according to season or holiday.

Her popularity among the residents and visitors to Priest Lake led to an idea for a calendar, which in turn led to a way to help support a small community.

I had an opportunity to interview Jazz about her calendar, her hats, and how she feels about her little bit of fame.

Below I have included a little excerpt from our interview.

Me: "Jazz, how many nick names do you actually have?"

Jazz: "Minnie pearl, Hattie, Hat Lady, Jazz, I don't know but, I've called myself a bag lady from the beginning." (laughs)

Me: "Is it true you won an award for being a 'Character of Priest Lake?'"

Jazz: "Yes, in 2009, for the Memorial Day Parade."

Me: "You went as a bag lady?"

Jazz: "Yes. My son helped me build my bag lady cart."

Me: "How does it feel to be a character of Priest Lake?"

Jazz: "At first I was just enjoying the notoriety and then later, it started to feel as if I had a sort of responsibility to my public. It's like an evolving thing. Like how the Buddha has the lotus and the leaves open a little at a time, it appears that I'm a lot more popular than I thought." (Laughing)

Me: "What do you like most about your job?"

Jazz: "I have to say, there is an awesome type of people up here. Its pretty stress free and I have enough time at work to get some quiet time to be introspective and work on writing or drawing."

Me: "So your latest venture is the calendars, right?"

Jazz: "Yes, they started as an accident when my sister sent me a lace apron with lace rubber gloves. People started to Joke about it and then someone mentioned doing a calendar. After that it was a thought which evolved into this. And this would have never happened if it weren't for how I love the people here and how they love me back."

Me: "That's awesome! And the profits go to the Lions Club?"

Jazz: "Yes, it's like my way of paying it forward."

Me: "How many calendars do you think you have sold?"

Jazz: "Probably about 350, most likely more."

Me: "Do you have plans for another calendar?"

Jazz: "Yes, I am working on the 2012 doomsday edition. I think this time the proceeds will go to the fire dept or search and rescue. Something where they volunteer and they don't have a lot of funds for equipment."

Me: "Where are the calendars available?"

Jazz: "At most any business in Priest Lake and some businesses in Priest River."

Me: "Well, thank you so much for taking time to do this interview with me."

Jazz: "No problem."

Jazz is a very nice, quirky lady, who seems in awe of how well the calendars have been doing. This adventure with the calendars is simply another example of how small communities support each other and how the residents of a town can become "characters" in the eyes of their community as well.