North Norway

NORTH NORWAY — It’s a cold, cruel world out there. I was standing in the lobby waiting for an elevator yesterday, shivering and freezing and a lady waiting with me said, “You need long johns, tops and bottoms.”

I could not but agree with her. Never saw her before but she evidently is prepared for anything. Haven’t owned any long johns for some years but by golly, I am going to get some soon. They tell me swim suits are on the racks now so probably winter clothes are all gone.

We haven’t been very active. Dell had a bad cold so we were housebound for that spell. Had an appointment in Bridgton Wednesday so we went on down to Windham for lunch and then over to Gray to visit Dell’s brother, Glenn Hayes and wife, Rachel.

They are joining the rest of us, fighting a losing battle to get rid of “too much stuff.” I know all about that. I have days when I can do it and other days when I cannot bear to part with things. Everything has a memory attached but unless we start building a pyramid like the Egyptians, we cannot take “stuff” with us.

Glenn and Rachel’s grandson and daughter-in-law were suffering from this norovirus that is going around. It is devastating for a few hours but luckily it doesn’t last long. Heard that cousin Helen Heath had it but was better now. Hope they all recover soon so they can enjoy this delightful winter.

We had our teeth cleaned yesterday. When I worked for a dentist I can remember a famous Norway character coming in and saying, “Just fix me up so I can get the winter out of my teeth, Doc." We just have to have wear and tear repaired.

We don’t seem to get cavities, but our old fillings fail us. How we can be still breathing with all the silver, mercury amalgam fillings we have, I don’t know. Perhaps that explains the way our memory sometimes fails us.

From where I am sitting I can see two crows sitting on a branch talking things over. Dell has about 11 deer that come by every so often. We wonder if all the logging going on is driving them out of their usual habitat.

We have five big male turkeys that come to be fed, a flock of ducks, numerous other birds including chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, a cardinal, mourning doves aplenty and let’s not forget the pretty Tit mouse, of which we have several.

Other birds stop by now and then. I would like to claim them on our income tax but am told we cannot do this.

Glenn loaned Dell a bunch of Zane Gray westerns and he is reading those. It was just too cold and windy to stop at the library yesterday so I am rereading some old favorites.

When it warms up I will go and see if I can find some good mysteries. I do not like the scary ones but Agatha Christie type stories. Nowadays both movies and books are too explicit for me.

Paula and Dana had Kevin Jr. for the weekend and he gets cuter all the time. He is just on the verge of walking. Next time I see him he probably will be up and at ‘em. Kara had this norovirus and was quite ill. Deven took care of Six and then he caught it. Haven’t heard if Six did or not.

Pat and Charlie went to a Seniors Plus seminar in Lewiston this week and said it was very informative. I had forgotten to write that we celebrated Charlie’s 85th birthday in December at one of our Sunday get-togethers. Or perhaps I should say he celebrated it. We wish him many more.

Tony Andrews had a birthday on the 17th. He doesn’t eat many sweets but Pat made him a cake. Not having been out and about much I do not have much to relate this week but hope you are all healthy and warm. Remember, the heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge.