It’s been five months since Cora came into our lives, and boy, has she blossomed! She’s such a sweet, smart girl! Cora had a fenced in yard where she lived before, and so with us she had to get used to doing her business on a leash, with Charlie or me watching. That was an adjustment. Because she was a Grand Champion, she’d only been on a leash when she was shown. So when we took her out for a walk, she did a great job of not pulling. But, she didn’t stop and sniff things, you know, like a dog. Instead, she was always looking up at us for direction, just wanting to please. …

The longer I’m married, the more I realize sometimes Charlie and me just have a completely different way of looking at things. Not the big things, of course. We’re on the same page there. But, you know, it’s those little things he does over and over again that can just irritate the crap out of me. And vice versa. Charlie was inspired to write a little diddy about one such thing. Half-a-Banana Man  First thing this morning, I reach in the bowl Grabbed the one banana, I can’t eat it whole, so I took about half, put the other half back Boy, did I ever get flack! I like to start my day before I …

Got together with the Women Who Run With the Moose last week for our usual girls night. Dottie was hosting. The menu consisted of a big salad, mac and cheese, and Pumpkin Spice Martinis. Yowza! For dessert, we had leftover Halloween candy. I had to buy my contribution, of course, because someone (not Charlie) ate all ours. We talked about how kids just don’t trick or treat like they used to? “Too be fair,” I says, “it’s probably hard to wear a mask with a helmet on.” That got the girls going. Shirley made one of them kitty litter cakes for her Halloween party at work. What a hoot! You ever seen one? Well, check …

The other day, Charlie and me were out walking Cora around the neighborhood. We passed Frank Ward’s place. He has a bigger than usual garage and works on vintage cars in his spare time. He’d just gotten a delivery of a new, old car, and there’s a couple of guys from away hanging out, coffee mugs in hand. Never seen ‘em before. The owners maybe? Being neighborly, I say, “Hi, there.” And Charlie goes, “Boy, that sure is beauty. Looks like it just needs a little TLC.” Then outta the blue, one of the guys (who frankly seemed a little lit to me) looks at us and goes, “Did you know there are three types …

One of the things I love most about Charlie is he sees what needs to be done and does it. No need to form a committee, and discuss it to death. No ignoring it and hope someone else will step up to the plate. (Okay, to be honest, there were a few incidents where he left a scrap of toilet paper on the roll instead of replacing it. Hey, no one’s perfect.) But all in all, my Charlie’s a doer, and that includes writing poetry about what he’s doing. Here’s the latest. Happy to Have Done My Bit Today I saw a scary sight Drivin’ back to my abode Something dark was sitting right In …

Here’s the last installment, folks. Need to get up to speed? Check out Part One and Part Two. Once I graduated high school and married Charlie, I had a decision to make. I mean, I loved my job at the A&P, but shouldn’t I want more outta life? I’ve always been good with numbers, so I decided to get an Accounting Certificate at the Community College in Bangor. Couldn’t go full time, of course. Charlie and me were just starting out and we couldn’t swing that. So, I continued on at the A&P and took courses at night. It was slow and tough at times, but I stuck it out. About halfway through, I realized …

Check out the Part One of this story here, and next week I’ll share Part Three, the final installment. As I said in Part One, Fred Nichols (owner of the A&P) basically hired me on the spot. Said I’d start off as a bagger. “Between customers, you can get up to speed on the layout of the store so you can point folks in the right direction if they have trouble finding things.” Then he handed me a piece of paper. “Here’s a map. We move things around from time to time, but this is basically it. When can you start?” “I could work after school a couple shifts a week and on weekends until …

I’ve worked at the A&P since I was seventeen. Seems like I started just yesterday and I’ve been there forever. Does that make sense? Spent a summer scooping ice cream down to The Town Scoop when I was fifteen. That was my first job. The Scoop’s deal was hard serve. Appropriately named. It’s one thing to eat ice cream, it’s a whole other thing to wear it. Big sticky patches of it on your tee shirt, your shorts, your face, the whole shift. No thank you! The next summer, I worked as a chambermaid and waitress over to Henderson’s Lodge and Cabins on Moose Megantic Lake. We’d have people from away who’d come stay for …

Charlie’s been in overdrive with his poetry, and I’m grateful for that. I’m still getting used to being back at work with my eye not being 100%. I find I’m a little more tired than usual. I think it’s because my good eye is having to work overtime because the vision in my other eye is pretty blurry and a little distorted. Still, it’s good to be easing into life and finding my new normal. I’m appreciating every minute of it, especially coming home to our little love bug, Cora, putting my feet up and kicking back with the big guy. Anyhoo, here’s Charlie’s latest. They say “move it or lose it.” I guess that’s …

It’s been a year since our neighbor, Vincent DiSalvo died. His wife Sarah had an open house on Sunday afternoon to mark the occasion. She’s doing pretty good, considering. A bunch a people showed up and it was a nice get together. Folks told stories about Vinnie, of course. What a great guy he was. How he could fix anything. Never charged for it, either, though he wouldn’t say no to a meal. And dessert? He’d always ask for seconds. Vinnie touched a lot of lives, and Mahoosuc Mills misses him. But, like in a lot of small towns, we take care of our own, and some have stepped up to the plate. Charlie’s one …