A few “snow birds” will be returning to Maine soon for the holidays. This is probably a joyous trip for them since they’ll get to visit with relatives and at the same time anticipate leaving for warmer climates.
Those of us who will be toughing it out have lots to look forward to. The mail each day will bring us offers of zero interest credit cards and ways to borrow money. Serious thought will be given to these offers, as we shop around looking for the lowest fuel price.
As our friends in the south are cranking up the air conditioners, we’ll be trying to find those long johns we haven’t seen since the blizzard of ’52. We’ll set aside that book or jigsaw puzzle we were working on, and decide it might be a good time to crochet an afghan, or even piece a quilt.
Some folks will be looking forward to a nice warm ice shack where they can escape the woes of every day winter in Maine weather.
When our summertime friends and relatives wave goodbye in January, and say (with a smile) “See you in March,” we can only smugly think about those March snowstorms which made Mud Week such a unique April vacation when we were school kids.
This will be a good winter for a variety of projects to be done in the house, close to the heat source. Using the oven instead of the crock pot or the microwave might cost a little more, but the side benefits are worth it.
Another worthwhile winter project is cleaning closets. Going through clothing and sorting it out accomplishes a couple of things: You can look forward to a new wardrobe and you may find some warm clothes which can be taken to the local thrift store where others can benefit. You might also find your old long johns while you are sorting!
If you haven’t visited your local library lately, this would be a good time to do that. It’s a nice warm place to go and most of them have comfy areas to sit and read the daily papers or a good book.
Check out your nearby Southern Maine Agency on Aging meal site where you can meet old friends, make new ones, and enjoy a nutritious meal, play cribbage, cards, and all in a good warm place. Get some friends together and make it a regular part of your week.
Take your pen and paper or computer or typewriter and fire off a few letters to your legislators, letting them know what’s bothering you.
There are so many things to worry about – the cost of fuel, the difficulty of getting fuel assistance, the growing cost of prescription medication and the costly (to most) new program which will attach itself to Medicare, the lack of really affordable housing, gasoline costs, etc. The list is endless. We can’t afford to waste our lives worrying.
We will do what hardy Mainers have always done; hunker down and survive.
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