SOLON & BEYOND, Week of May 11, 2017

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

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

My thanks to Marie Poulin for sending me a Solon Historical Society program, I appreciate it greatly. Officers are president, Chris Shaw; vice president, Neil Hunnewell; secretary, Maureen Shaw; treasurer, Albert Starbird and financial secretary, Marie Poulin. Trustees: Rance Pooler, three years, Chris Shaw, two years, and Jeff McAllister, one year. Publicity Marie Poulin and Marilyn Rogers-Bull. Program Juanita McAllister, Neil Hunnewell and Ann Padham. Dues are $5 per person or family, payable at the annual meeting in September. Meetings will be held on the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m., at the Gray Merrill House, 28 South Maine Street, unless otherwise stated. No regular meetings will be held in December or January. Programs and locations are subject to change. This months meeting is on May 22 and the program is called Issac Davis Celebration presented by Issac Davis. The Solon Historical Society was organized on May 8, 1999, by Virginia Merrill.

The monthly supper at the Embden Community Center will be on Saturday, May 13, at 5 p.m. Country Sunday/Open Mic will be held there on Sunday, May 14, from 1 – 4 p.m.

I have always been an animal lover and when a friend showed me a clipping entitled “A Dog’s Plea” I thought it would be nice to share . It was written by Beth Norman Harris. Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I might lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when the sound of your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food that I might stay well, to romp and play, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect y6ou with my life.

And, my friend, when I am very old, and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having fun.

Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this Earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Another friend who reads this column faithfully, and finds Percy’s memoirs quite inspiring gave me some that she had saved. The love and thought were very precious to me.

Percy’s memoir this week is one we both found and loved, it is entitled “A Touch of Loveliness.” Add a touch of loveliness To the things you say and do, Give pleasure to more people By a happy smile, won’t you? Be thoughtful of the people Whom you meet in shop and store, Then to God you will be dearer, He will love you even more. Aim higher, think kinder, Be a better, nicer you, Aim higher, think kinder, For this world has a need of you. (words by Sr. Mary Gemma Brunke.)