SOLON & BEYOND: Local man enjoys trip to Alaska

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy!

Was very pleased to get the following news about a wonderful trip to Alaska from our neighbor Ronald Brown. He and his friend, Jim Provost, of Skowhegan, went on a 13-day trip to Alaska recently. There were 31 of them who left Bangor for Boston on the bus, they then flew from Boston to Seattle. They went by bus from Seattle to Vancouver, then got on a boat and stopped in Juneau and Skagway, then on a train to White Horse and then by bus the rest of the way to Angoog.

They went to many different places during their stay in Alaska, like Denali Park, and going through a two and a half mile tunnel to see the glaciers and even drank some of the glacier water.

Ronnie said there were lots and lots of snow covered mountains and the weather was much the same as it is in Maine.

They also went to the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau, and when the singer there learned they were from Maine he sang, “Tombstone Every Mile”.

He said it was a great experience, but…”There is nothing like Maine ” and he was glad to be home. His sister, Deanna Gilblair of Skowhegan, was taking care of Ronnie’s faithful dog, Smokey, and he said he had never left her that long. He said when she first saw him, when he went there to get her, he thought she “was going to wiggle herself to death” she was so happy to see him.

Thanks, Ronnie for sharing your wonderful trip.

My son and his wife Eleanor of Maine and Florida again hosted the 11th Annual Sticks & Stones Break Your Bones BBQ at their Camp at Flagstaff recently. We all look forward to this special event, and as usual there was lots of great food and fun. This is extra special for me because it includes my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Some were unable to attend this year, but there were 23 of us there to share love and the fun games that Mark and Karen build for our entertainment. And it was a picture perfect day on that Saturday which took place in “God’s country.”

I’m not sure how many of you who live in Solon will remember Kay Hoffman, who lived here many years ago, she was a good friend of mine. I used to subscribe to the Ideals magazine and I came across a page I had cut out years ago about her and the heading stated, “Ideals Best-Loved Poets”. There were four of her poems printed on this page, and I would love to share one of them with you, entitled Friendship.

Friendship is a handclasp,
Warm and sincere,
A smile that says plainly,
“I’m glad that you’re here!”
It’s knowing there’s someone
Who’s always true blue,
No matter what others
May say about you.
Friendship is sharing
The good and the bad,
It’s laughing together
When life’s bright and glad.
Sometimes it’s sharing our hurts and our fears,
Sharing a prayer,
And sharing our tears.
Friendship is giving our heart-gifts away.
It’s helping another and wanting no pay.
It’s giving a compliment,
Encouragement, too.
Making the sky a little more blue.
More precious than mountains
Of silver and gold,
Friendship is a gift
That brings blessings untold!

Last weeks column about our ‘critter problem’ evidently pleased some, have had responses from e-mail and comments and laughter from others, and so I’m going to tell you the latest news on that. When we got home (safely) from our trip up to The County, Lief bought a huge rat trap. He promptly wired a peanut in the shell and set the trap. And there the next morning lay a fat little mouse caught in the rat trap, he was plump as could be after consuming so much of our peanut butter! It was a sad sight, but a relief to know that we were one down, and perhaps one to go! I really believe there is some good in all bad.

And now for Percy’s memoir: A person has two legs and one sense of humor, and if you’re faced with the choice, it’s better to lose a leg. (words by Charles Lindner.) This one was used back on Feb. 9, 1989, but I think it’s worth repeating.