North Norway news

NORTH NORWAY — Dell is out scooping snow out of the yard. I am sitting here itching. I have stated out loud I wish I could find my Shea butter. Then I thought I better shut up because my Santa might be listening. I am sure he has no idea what it is and I am liable to find a pound of Land O' Lakes under the tree come Christmas morning as butter is butter to my Santa. This cold dry weather makes me itch and shea butter is good for that. The current wisdom is to limit your showers in the winter but I do not want to be known as that stinky old woman so there lies the dilemma.

Pat and Charlie Verrill had an early Christmas gathering of the Verrill family at their home last Sunday. Despite the threatening weather they had a good crowd, with six yougsters and over 20 adults. The rains didn't come till later so all was well for traveling.

This coming Sunday Pat and Charlie are entertaining the Tamminen side of the family but our only really young member is in Hawaii. Dan, the father, didn't come through Bangor after all. They were re-routed to Anchorage, Alaska due to bad weather in Bangor to the disappointment of all of us. He is re-united with Kara and Six in Hawaii and he is getting acquainted with his son. There is a really touching photo on Facebook of their first meeting.

We had our annual Christmas party with the AARP last Monday. A delicious lunch and then a game where we exchanged gifts right to left and left to right. As I usually cannot tell my left from my right it was confusing but fun.

Tuesday we drove to Portland for the gathering of Marines and their Christmas party. We women brought Christmas ornaments and had a game where we exchanged them. We all became confused but I ended up with a very nice ornament.

I also came home with a bouquet which I put in a vase and woke up this morning to find Rajah had pulled out the fern and chewed on it. She has been sick on and off all forenoon but doesn't seem bad enough to take to the vet. I guess we will have to get her some grass. Green grass especially for cats, I mean.

Paula and Dana went to Boston Sunday as Dana had a check-up early Monday morning. They were upgraded to a Suite at the hotel they stay at. It was very Lux with a big entry with a kitchenette, a huge living room, a bedroom with large windows all along Beacon Street, a dressing area and a bathroom. The bath was big and had a big tub. They had a good soak and then had supper in the suite as Paula had brought along some lasagna and fixings. The manager called to see if everything was OK and to ensure they were happy.

Around 11 p.m. Paula awakened to find the ceiling in the middle of the bedroom was dripping water onto the carpet, so they had to move to another room in the middle of the night. They sent a nice young man to help them move and they finally got some sleep. The manager reduced the room rate and gave them a free breakfast so it was quite an adventure. Dana's appointment went well and he doesn't have to go back until May.

Paula drove them back to the Gorham jobsite where they arrived about noon. Dana loaded up the boom truck and Paula followed him to Woolwich, another jobsite, and then she brought him home. They got back to Greenwood around 4 p.m., had supper and an early night. An interesting couple of days.

Some news I have overlooked lately. Teddy and Emma, the Newfies, had their first birthday. Teddy is recovering well from a surgery on his knee joint but is not supposed to roughhouse with Emma for a bit.

Joan and Gordon Morgan were seen at Crosstones at breakfast a couple Sundays back and Joan seems to be doing well after her knee surgery. Joan Poland is still recovering from her operation and will be having a further surgery to replace her hip joint in the future, after Christmas I believe. Wishing them all well and that they shall overcome all their difficulties.

Mary, Frank, Paula and Charlotte were at Mimi and Cliff's for lunch at their new house one day recently. Their dog always likes to have Mary come by as a special treat is usually forthcoming.

The family held a kitchen shower for Bernie Haines one Sunday a couple weeks ago at Pat and Charlie's. He received many useful items to stock his kitchen at his apartment; things for keeping house and cooking. Russell was with him and as he is a good helper in the kitchen he was pleased to see all the items also.

Owen and Pauline Morgan have arrived in Tucson after stopping in Kansas City to visit their daughter over Thanksgiving. Then they went to Lubbock, Texas to visit grandson Chaz, Dessie and the baby. Jane Perham was happy to see them in Tucson but Punkin, one of her cats, continues to hiss at Owen. Jane writes that now, with one exception, all the neighbors on G Street have arrived and they are all decorated for the holidays. This year they close red, white and blue and each palm tree is festooned with a large yellow ribbon. Punkin has been spending part of the day out on the patio but was distressed when an older lady called him "kitsy witsy."

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

Will Rogers said "Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save." I say, slow down and enjoy the day.