SALAZAR'S HUGGABLES HELP CHEER CUSTOMERS.

Byline: Bettie Rencoret Senior columnist

LANCASTER - At the shop called Terry's Huggables, Terry Salazar serves up handcrafted articles and comfort. There's no extra charge for the comfort.

The business was born out of Salazar's anguish after the death 11 years ago of her daughter Sarah, who died in a traffic crash at age 17.

"She was a good girl and to have her taken from us so early, and in such a senseless way, was almost more than I could stand," Salazar said.

For weeks, she would go into her daughter's bedroom and just cuddle the stuffed bears and Raggedy Ann dolls that Sarah loved so much.

"They were so soft and sweet that I started to make some to give to our friends. That was my therapy. I couldn't stop making them, and I made so many that I ran out of friends to give them to," she laughed.

While she was doling out her little bears as gifts, she found out she was not alone in her grief, but that she was luckier than some. She had learned to deal with her loss by making bears, and she was determined to pass on some of the peace she had come to know.

Word got around and soon people were asking to buy her bears. She sold some and found that there was a real demand, so she took some to a shop that bought up all she had and wanted more.

For the past two years, she has operated Terry's Huggables at the Arroyo Plaza shopping center at 43917 15th St. W.

Salazar seemed to sense it when people in mourning came into her shop and, since she knew what they were going through, she began to give moral support and a shoulder for customers to cry on if they wanted it.

Marie Owen was one of those.

"When first my younger brother died, then my mother and father within months of each other, and only about a year after my brother (died), I came into the shop and Terry let me talk and cry and get it all out. She always took time to make me feel better, even when she was busy," Owen said. "Now I just come in because it feels good to know she's my friend."

Owen not only visits but she brings in her handmade dashboard angels for Salazar to sell. Other people do the same and she never lacks for merchandise.

Salazar still makes most of her stuffed animals and dolls and teaches classes.

Salazar, 66, works from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store is her relaxation, she says, and it gives her a chance to help people get through some of the hard days of bereavement.

Born in Spain, Salazar came to the United States after meeting American tourist Samuel Salazar while working as a tour guide.

Married in 1960, they came to Bryce, Utah, then moved to Lancaster in 1962.

Over the succeeding years, she and Samuel, a teacher and clinical psychologist, adopted six children: Raymond, Josie and Sammy, all of Lancaster; Crysstina Gibbs of Quartz Hill; Richard of Los Angeles and Sarah.

Now the children are grown, Samuel is retired and the store and her customers keeps her life full.

"I don't know that I help them all that much," she said, "but if it's just a little, that makes me happy. I do it for Sarah."

All meals at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk, for a suggested donation of $2.

Monday: Hot roast beef sandwich, mashed potatoes, winter squash, marinated salad, apple pie.

Tuesday: Fish fillet, au gratin potatoes, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw, gelatin with fruit.

Wednesday: Roast turkey, bread dressing, peas and carrots, marinated beets, orange.

Thursday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, spinach, tossed salad, peaches.

Friday: Barbecued chicken salad, macaroni salad, tapioca pudding.

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Photo:

Terry Salazar shows off one of her handmade dolls in her Lancaster store, Terry's Huggables.

Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News