Lisa Heyamoto: Tragic event sets stage for romance

When the helicopter bearing Eric Henrikson and two other Sacramento sheriff's deputies went down near Lake Natoma two and a half years ago, Stacey Carrithers saw the smoke from her apartment.

When she watched TV coverage of the horrific crash, she saw something else: a name she'd known for years.

Henrikson, the sole survivor, had played soccer with her brother 22 years before in San Jose. Their families had been close, but had lost touch over the years.

Henrikson doesn't remember much about those days – certainly not that Carrithers and her family visited him in the hospital when his survival chances were sapling slim. Their brief reintroduction several months later is still not all that clear.

But when he e-mailed her a year after that, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Now, two decades and a miracle recovery later, Eric Henrikson and Stacey Carrithers are planning a wedding.

"I don't want to sound too corny, but she's perfect," said Henrikson, 31. "How something so (wonderful) could come out of something so horrible – it's just amazing."

A silver lining, a golden ring.

* * *

Sixty-six years ago, FDR declared that Dec. 7 would live in infamy.

Well, not always.

The local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is upset with Sacramento for not honoring the Pearl Harbor anniversary by flying the Memorial Auditorium flag at half-staff.

The kicker: Their office is across the street. The double kicker: the auditorium is dedicated to fallen soldiers.

"It's just a particular affront," said VFW spokesman Doug Elmets.

The snafu, said auditorium general manager Judy Goldbar, was a simple case of human error. The Stars 'n' Stripes were lowered by 1 p.m. and she said there won't be a problem with the flag again.

Which amounts to waving a white one.

* * *

Lori Skinner already knows you've never heard of a deaf dog.

Considering she has five of 'em, there's no question they exist. But the widespread surprise her hard-of-hearing hounds elicit is, she figures, all the more reason to bend people's ears.

"They really aren't any different than a hearing dog," she said. "If you give them a chance, they'll do fine."

Skinner is vice president of the Woodland-based D2CARE, which educates people about, and supports those who own, deaf dogs. To spread the word, a portion of new subscriptions to Dog Lovers Wine Club will go toward supporting its mission.

Because even deaf dogs appreciate a thrown bone.

* * *

Watch out if you must, don't cry if you can, and pout all you want, because the Santa Claus that came to midtown Saturday night wasn't your average jolly fat man.

He wasn't required to be old, male, or have a beard so snowy white. He didn't even have to be jolly. At Santa Con 2007, anything goes.

It's the fifth year Sacramento St. Nicks have taken to the streets as part of a nationwide movement to dress up like Santa and take to the streets.

"Frankly, this is the closest I've felt to the Christmas spirit in years," said newbie Eliza Skeffington, wearing a furry red coat and candy cane leggings.

Around 50 revelers met up in the afternoon to begin a raucous march down Santa Claus Lane that lasted well into the evening.

After all, no one said Santa has to be partial to milk.

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Lisa Heyamoto, (916) 321-1261.