North Norway

NORTH NORWAY — Dell has gone off to recycle and shop for groceries. I did not give him a list so he said he will get one of everything.

He is actually better at shopping at the grocery store than I am but he makes up for his savings at the Farmer’s Market Saturday. The fresh bread and veggies are so good who could resist them.

Hot and humid does not do it for me. Have not accomplished much.

We had our tour to Cook’s on Monday. Our AARP group met at the former Ames parking lot and we were all ready to go at 8:45 a.m. as prescribed by the bus company.

They supplied a 30-passenger bus and for a bit we didn’t know where Charlie Verrill was going to ride but there was a “jump” seat up beside the driver which apparently was part of the count.

Only Charlie could have clambered into it as he has not lost his agility. It looked as if the seat was on springs as every time we went over a bump, which was often, Charlie popped up like a Jack in The Box, seat and all. This bus was a hybrid, diesel and electric and they can have it.

It hated to get out of first, groaned on the hills and rode like a school bus. But fortunately everyone was happy and talkative while we wended our way to Cook’s and the boat ride.

Evidently the bus company had not checked Cook’s hours as we arrived an hour and a half before they open. Fortunately some staff were there and they opened up the rest rooms for us.

We were not to eat lunch until after the boat ride, which meant two o’clock before we ate. We needed sustenance. The nice people at Cook’s brewed coffee and Pat Pulkkinen and the bus driver went uptown to a store and procured some muffins and other goodies for us. We served ourselves in the lounge and awaited the boat.

My sisters Pat Verrill, Mary Perham and Mary’s friend Mimi Gray were not intending to go out on the water so we sat in the lounge while the others got in line when the boat came into view.

I did not attempt to go with my walker but the water was calm and I guess I could have gone without mishap. One never knows. I was looking out the window and thought, that man looks just like Dell’s brother, Erwin. Next thing, Joy, Erwin’s daughter, his wife Doris and Erwin himself presented themselves in the lounge.

They had come up in the boat from Portland, were to eat lunch at Cook’s and return on the same boat later. So had a nice visit with them. Joy had taken them on the railroad ride around Portland and out to Peak’s Island on the ferry for lunch the previous week.

It’s nice to have them as close as Dover.

We were early starting back for home after a very nice lunch and everyone was ready to relax, nap or just talk quietly. All was well until we approached Lewiston. There had been a bad accident on the New Auburn bridge and we were stuck in stop and go traffic for some time. Probably seemed longer than it actually was.

Eventually we were making good time again and arrived back in Oxford. The hydraulics failed and the poor driver could not open the door to release us! I felt sorry for him, let me tell you. He did have an emergency thing to open the door but nothing to let the last step down which made it a long jump to the ground.

I am not Olympic material and it was too much for me with my knee replacements. What to do? The bus driver is a New York City policeman when he is not driving the bus so he is in good condition. At least he was until he volunteered to lift some of us down.

Just put your arms around my neck and lean in, he said. So I told him I was too heavy but he did it anyway and I found myself standing on terra firma. I believe he helped several this way and had I been him I would have gone back to the boss and demanded another bus next time.

All in all it was a fun trip and hope we can plan another sometime. So I can say I had a big hug by the NYPD.

Tuesday was the Marine Corps luncheon and the restaurant changed the rules without consulting the Marines. So they had a conflab with the manager and she probably learned not to mess with them.

They also had a new menu, everything the same price, tax and tip included which didn’t bother me as I always have a lobster roll. No chowder on the menu, a favorite of some.

We get “sot” in our ways at our age and change doesn’t come easy, especially if forced upon us.

Pam Perham and her son, Dylan must be in Maine by now. They are moving here and were driving up from North Carolina with a friend following with a truck full of goods.

Mary and Frank Perham will have all their chicks nearby. Pam and Dylan will be living in Ocean Park to begin with and then it depends on where she finds employment.

Dell visited his brother Duane this week and found him improving. Paula came in while he was there, always a ray of sunshine. Dana has started his job in Saco but is being held up a bit by the permitting process which is slow.

Pat Verrill has been making pickles, the icebox variety as it has been too hot to boil them. Remember the smell of the pickling spices when mother used to put them up.

No one knew about ice box pickles then. Deven went camping up the coast and enjoyed it very much. He had a week off and Six thought that was for his benefit. I didn’t get to see Six Sunday as he fought against a nap but when he gave in he slept all afternoon.

Judi had said she was hot as who wouldn’t be these past days. So Six was talking to his Dad in Hawaii on the phone and told him “Grammy is hot.” Presume Dan knew how to interpret that.

They keep in touch by phone and Skype. Del has arrived with groceries so time to close this with the following. The ten commandments are not multiple choice.