Christina Reitz, a true Idyllwild ambassador, is in her final week as an Idyllwild resident. From the counter of the Idyllwild Post Office, Christina has brought smiles and aid to so many. In evenings and weekends, she has worked just as hard to bring pleasure and happiness to her community and its visitors.

Now she is joining her husband, Lakepoint California Fire Chief Patrick Reitz (former Idyllwild Fire chief) in the land up north.

“It’s bittersweet,” Christina said. “I’ll miss the people and certain aspects of town and the job. This is the longest I’ve ever been in one place; [leaving] is scary and exciting. It gives me tears.”

As a youth, she lived in several Southern California locations, such as Newport. But she was not just a beach girl; Christina began fishing at Lake Hemet at age 8.

Her first husband was in the Navy and Reitz saw a lot of the East Coast. After a divorce, she moved to Lake Hemet where her mother lives. Her children, four boys and a girl, and grandchildren are spread throughout the country.

Christina began her postal career as a temporary. But she quickly earned the respect and comradery of her co-workers. This bonding formed a closeness that transcended occasional errors, such as her sign one spring welcoming the PCT hikers.

“Hickers are here!” One of her co-workers made copies and posted throughout the post office and in the front. But Dawn Miller, the former postmaster who recognized Reitz’s skills and talents, is responsible for bringing Reitz to the post office and front.

Then there was the 50th birthday exchange. A notice was posted announcing her coming birthday. While at the front desk, a patron asked what Christina would do for her birthday. She replied, “I’ll be gone for two weeks.”

The second patron then asked, “Is the Post Office going to close during those two weeks when you’ll be gone?”

“No! Other people work here, too!” she replied with a laugh.

The post office is not the only place where one could have seen or met Reitz. She has been active in many community groups. At Jazz in the Pines festivals, she was often seen driving a cart full of attendees or musicians from one location to another. She has worked at the Nature Center and been involved with the Mountain Community Patrol and Rotary Club.

And the opportunity to continue to volunteer for community work is one of her goals after settling in Lakeport, she added. “They may have a Dickens Festival there, so I’m bringing my Dickensian attire.”

But the post office is where she met Patrick. They had requested the fire department come over to the post office one day, shortly after he started in 2012. They met and had some long conversations. That was repeated. Before then, she had never been to the fire station.

Then one day, she encountered him walking Roscoe, his dog, so she joined him for the walk, some volunteer events and eventually in marriage.

“It comes down to trust,” Christina stated. “He is good at what he does and has a lot of confidence. And he knows I’m good at what I do.”

Patrick resigned as fire chief for the Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) in 2019. He continued to consult with fire districts until last fall when the Lakeport Fire Protection District asked him to be their fire chief.

And he had to be there Nov. 1. But Christina could not go immediately with him. They had a house to prepare for sale and she still had the post office job, so they were separated for much of the next six months.

“I hated it,” she said. “We managed to be together at least once a month. There was Thanksgiving, Christmas and some memorial services. [His mother died recently.]”

But IFPD still had a Reitz involved. In the November 2020 election, Christina was elected to the IFPD Commission. Two vacancies were available. Of the total votes cast for three candidates, Reitz had 42% of the total and garnered more than 300 votes greater than the second winner.

“I was surprised, actually shocked by those results,” she said. Her tenure ended March 28, when she resigned after serving more than two years of her term. Once her transfer to another postal position was official, she was ready to move and made the announcement at IFPD’s March meeting.

After the move, Reitz’s new post office assignment will be part-time, but that just allows her time to pursue other interests. She has been enrolled part-time in college here, but plans for a full-time student enrollment soon.

Her degree work has been in communications and fire, already an Associate in Arts degree for fire service. Future studies may include a communications degree and perhaps some journalism, she shared. “I love the Brown Act.”

As this couple departs, Patrick expressed his regrets, “Idyllwild is one of a kind. It can’t be replicated or repeated. I will greatly miss it and hope to come back and visit. There are a lot of special people and I’ll miss the town and the events.”

During his time here, he added that he has encouraged “newcomers to join the flow of Idyllwild and get involved with the volunteer groups.”

“Patrick and I love helping others,” Christina declared. “If he’s part of it, I’m part of it; and if I’m part, he’s there.”

“I’m incredibly blessed, honored and humbled for my time here,” she said happily and sadly.