Mechanic Falls

MECHANIC FALLS — I stole sand. I didn't mean to. Sorry, Mechanic Falls, but the reality is this: I don't pay attention anymore. I used to be able to fit so much more into my brain when I was younger. Now it's clogged with "I need to clean the van sometime this year. Is it fashionable to wear pantyhose these days, because Hoda and Kathie Lee never do. Why is there a salad in the bathroom?"

Little details never used to escape me, but they do now and the spray painted sign on the concrete barrier directing residents to the sand specified for home use escaped me that day. My eye was on the sand mountain behind the municipal building, so naturally I drove my van up, parked as close to the pile as I could to not get my dress coat dirty and started shoveling.

The big sander on the other side made me a little nervous. And irritated. I mean, I was there first. When I went to exit behind the Head Start building, I couldn't get out because it hadn't been plowed yet, so I turned around and went back the way I came. I saw a sign stating something about no vehicles beyond this point, but I thought, that's silly, how is a Mechanic Falls resident supposed to exit the sand mountain after getting her allotted amount of dirt that she has paid for with her municipal taxes?

Two weeks later when I went to license my dog I saw the concrete barrier and the little sand pile for the first time. That's when not one, but a whole series of light bulbs went off in my head. Oops. I can pay it back, I promise, but the municipal department will have to wait until spring when my daily kitchen regimen of sweeping up the leftover sand will begin. I usually sweep about a cup of the gritty stuff each day and at that rate I should have it paid back by next fall.

If nothing else, this winter has afforded time to kick back with a good book in between shoveling and snow-blowing. Some of you may have received an eBook for Christmas. On Wednesday, February 16 at 7 p.m., the Mechanic Falls Library will host a tutorial on downloading a books for free to an eBook, in addition to downloading books from the web to a home computer.

The tutorial also includes downloading books to a readable CD and other assorted appliances. All that's needed is a valid Mechanic Falls library card. For more information, contact the library at 345-9450 or Nancy Petersons at 345-3134. You can e-mail Nancy at nepesons@myfairpoint,net. Registration is not necessary.

Happy reading and don't forget to wipe your feet whenever you enter a building. I could use that sand. E-mail me at @mitsou7@msn.com.