North Norway

NORTH NORWAY — We feel quite spring like this morning. The nice couple from Connecticut brought us some Forsythia branches when they were up and I have been forcing them. This morning they are showing yellow blooms.

Warren has had his kidney transplant and is just a chipper and upbeat as he can be. Attitude plays a good part in recovery and he certainly has a positive one. We are very happy things turned out so well.

They are the best neighbors one could have. Someone from the family is there most of the time and I enjoy seeing them come and go enjoying our winter sports.

Tuesday last I had an odd day. It didn’t start well as Dell had an appointment in Portland and he wanted to get an early start. I am not at my best early in the morning and I dropped my cup of tea, broke the cup and tea everywhere. So that took some cleaning up.

A nice big mug too so a replacement must be found. We arrived in Portland in plenty of time and as there was a coffee bar there I proceeded to get myself a cup. Trundling up with my walker. Somehow I spilled that, narrowly missing dumping it in the lap of a man sitting beside the coffee bar. Embarrassed doesn’t begin to describe my situation.

There were only a few pitifully inadequate paper napkins to use to clean up the mess so I had to leave it as I slunk back to my seat. Understandably that man kept his eye on me until his name was called. I didn’t move an inch.

Soon, out of nowhere a nice woman stopped in front of me and proceeded to tell me about her escapade getting her cat out of a tree where it had been for a whole hour. Apparently she used a rickety ladder and risked life and limb. She was breathing, walking and talking so I guess she wasn’t hurt.

Next a woman sat herself down next to me and started telling me a sad story about her husband who has Alzheimer’s. That I could sympathize with and even make a few intelligent comments. Seems as if that is a disease one meets everywhere and having read that after 80 years of age one has a 50 percent chance of having it, I am paranoid to say the least.

Another lady sat on the other side of me and had a book written by one of the crime writers that describes autopsies in detail. I cannot read her but this woman said her husband is a forensic pathologist and she enjoys reading about it.

Their bedtime conversation must be jolly good. About that time I glanced down and discovered I had on one light blue sock and one black one. So I tried to keep my feet tucked back hoping my pants cuff would hide that fact.

Eventually the women talked to each other with me in the middle and every so often they would nod at me to emphasize a point. I was wondering what Dear Abby would do but didn’t dare to try and move elsewhere as who knows what would occur.

My neck was getting wry from turning from one side to the other when the nurse called one of the women in to see the doctor. The first woman talked nonstop so I didn’t have to say anything more. I felt like a therapist. I could tell she just needed to vent.

Dell came out with his eyes dilated and couldn’t keep them open but he drove to the darkest restaurant we could think of as he was starving. I didn’t particularly want to drive but told him I would.

He evidently thought it would be less painful for him to drive than endure my chauffeuring and considering my record that day he was probably making the right choice. We went to the Macaroni Grill as we had a coupon for a discount and we like their menu.

We took our time and by the time we left his eyes were better. I found a replacement mug in Target at their orphan discount counter.

Frank Perham has a birthday on March 5 so wish him a happy when you see him. Seems like yesterday when he was just a kid. Jane Perham has attended many if not all of the mineral shows in Tucson, meeting old friends and making new ones.

They have had unseasonably cold weather out there but things are improving daily.

We have been fortunate to avoid the colds and germs floating around but at the Grill there was a man near us coughing up a storm. I wanted to ask him if he had the whooping cough. We washed and washed when we got home and made a big pot of chicken soup with lots of onions and garlic to ward off the devil.

Don’t forget, Monday, March 11 is the AARP meeting. Think Spring and hope for a good day.

Paula has been having back trouble after shoveling and lifting too much. She is better now I hear. Haven’t seen them for awhile due to the bad weather on Sundays and their being very busy.

Dell’s brother, Erwin, in New Hampshire had to be hospitalized with the flu but is back at their assisted living home. Terry had the shingles and haven’t heard how he is now. Reminds me we should get that shot. Even though Dell had them I guess you can get them again.

We are really disappointed in the news coverage. They try to scare us but don’t dig into the facts and tell us the truth. We could all cut 2 percent from our budgets without the world coming to an end.

All I can say is “Any year without a headstone is a milestone.’”