SOLON & BEYOND: Observations from budget committee meeting

SOLON & BEYOND

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

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

After the Solon Budget Committee meeting had ended the other day, I went over and introduced myself to Keith Gallagher, who is running for the selectman position, and told him I write for The Town Line newspaper, and asked him if he would like to have me put something in the paper about this fact. He said he would like to and brought it down to me one day this past week. The following is what he wrote:

“My family and I moved to Solon in June 2016 from Montana. We have developed our property on Hole In The Wall Road into an off Grid Home. We are also striving to become self-sufficient . I am a father of four children under 10 years old. I have a strong faith in God and believe that living and acting with integrity is very important. I am a former successful business owner and put 110 percent into everything I do. I feel like Solon needs more involvement from younger people. I currently serve as vice chairman of the Solon Planning Board and look forward to serving Solon on a bigger scale.”

I also went over and spoke to Gaye Erskine, who is running for that same position, and told her the same thing, but at this writing, I have not received a response from her. Mary Lou Ridley is the selectperson not running again.

I have been rather bothered since that Solon Budget Committee meeting. Something happened there that I never would have dreamed would take place in Solon, Maine. The meeting started with the solute to the flag and one member of the committee did not stand and salute the American Flag. I am a strong believer that everyone has a right to their own opinions, but…. in this case, my thoughts are that America needs more Love than Hate.

And now for Percy’s memoir: Guidelines for Sane Living: 1. Strike a balance between work and play – between seriousness and laughter. Go to church regularly, and also to the ball game. 2. Stick with the truth, even if it makes you look or feel bad. Falsehoods are like wandering ghosts. 3. Forgive your enemies as part of the price you pay for the privilege of being forgiven. Realize you are sometimes a pain in the neck yourself. 4. Walk. Gets lots of air and sunshine, and occasionally get some rain or snow in your face, some dirt on your hands. 5. Talk through your troubles and mistakes with someone you trust–and your dreams too. 6. Don’t underestimate the ability of God to straighten out a situation even when you can’t, and give God a little time! 7. Discriminate among your fears. Learn to tell which ones are useful and which ones are destructive. 8. Remember that the ultimate death rate is still 100 percent. You would be getting short-changed if everyone got to die and you didn’t. 9. When you can’t sleep, say, “Aha! Here’s a chance fror a little privacy and creative thinking. All day I’ve been too busy to pray, and now I can get around to thanking God.” 10. Fall in love with life – with children, older people, (that’s hard to find for me these days!) middle agers, sports cars; the theater, music, books, cities, hills, the sea, the Bible – with everything except money. (words by James Angel) This from another one of those old yellowed papers I saved, not sure it kept me totally sane, but I hope it will help you, who may read it!