North Norway news

Are you tired of left-over turkey yet? I realize that by the time you read this, the turkey should be long gone. We don't need a speed bump out front as our wild turkeys hold up traffic on a regular basis. The neighbors are real good about slowing down for them to cross thr road. I have given up chasing them off and hope they are doing us a service by combing the grounds for bugs and whatever it is they find to eat. Right now we have a crab apple tree full of them eating the small apples.

Henri and Wally Taft are heading out for New Hampshire to celebrate an early Christmas with their son and family members this week-end. They hope to arrive before the coming storm. We are not looking forward to snow but come it must and will. These next few weeks are the danger time for older folks. If we slip and fall and break something it can be a serious matter. Dell already slipped and fell on his bum once but he went down so easy it did not hurt him at all. For that we are thankful. For me, the problem is not in the fall but getting me back on my feet.

We went over to Rene's one day recently. Judy and Brad Barker were there and it was good to see them. Pat and Charlie took us over and after shopping we went down to Windham to Charlie Beigg's for lunch and home via Route 26 to see how the road work was coming along. Lots of nice smooth road now for the tourists to enjoy as they cruise through.

We had Thanksgiving Dinner up at the Bethel Inn with Dana Kaas and Peggy. A great buffet as usual. I enjoy all the shrimp. Mary and Frank entertained the faimily the Sunday after Thanksgiving. They also had giant shrimp for an appetizer. And lots of good eats.

Dan Rowe V will be coming back to Hawaii through Bangor from Afghanistan this week-end and Deven and Judi hope to go up amd meet and greet him as well as his comrades. We are so happy he is out of combat for a spell although I believe he is being given further training and then he will be re-deployed. But this is just conjecture so may not be accurate. He has never seen his son "Six" in the flesh, just via Scype on the internet.

Pat had an ombudsman meeting at the AARP building in Stroudwater yesterday so Dell and I went with them to do some shopping and to look at the Christmas Decorations. After leaving Pat off, Charlie, Dell and I were on our way. The Christmas Tree Shop was first, then Target to see what they had to offer. i was stopped in my tracks by the book department and browsed there awhile. We went to the Cracker Barrell for lunch. Newly opened, it was very busy. We particularly liked the line up of rocking chairs on the porch, where you could sit and wait for them to call you when they had a table ready. We went early so got right in. The special on Thursday is a turkey dinner with all the fixings. Somehow, that did not appeal right now but we each had a nice lunch. Dell likes catfish and you do not find that everywhere so that was his chioce. I have to warn you it is a noisy place. Hard to have much of a conversation unless you shout. But the food was good and if you like cornbread and biscuits this is the place for you. There were other people there from the Oxford Hills. I tried out one of the rocking chairs as it was such a nice day. People could purchase them and some did.

Then we went to the Mall to see the decorations. I made it through Sears and up to the center of the mall but was too tired to advance any further. So I sat and watched the people go by. Dell walked the whole mall. I think Charlie did also. Good for them. Our few purchaes did not add much to the economy but frugal is the name of the game now.

Pat had a productive meeting as there are lots of changes in the rules and regulations. The Goold Assessment has changed. This determines ones eligibility for a nursing home. Private pay residents in nursing homes must pay between $7000 and $9000 per month. It sure wouldn't take long to deplete your assets at that rate. I haven't read the rest of the artile as shock set in when I read the cost but when I recover I will read the rest of it.

Jane Perham sent an interesting e-mail about her trip west and I will relate some of it another week. I am out of time and energy now.

Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to be a bad example.