Hello everyone again! I’m back from New Hampshire, where I attended the wedding of my granddaughter, Victoria Downing, to Cameron Murphy. It was a beautiful wedding, everyone was all dressed up, high heels, short and long dresses, hair styles different, and I had a reading at the nuptial Mass. I will never see the likes of this caliber in my lifetime again. Congratulations to the newlyweds and may they have a long and happy life.
My daughter Kathryn accompanied me to New Hampshire and also my brother Paul Phelan of Westbrook, plus my almost 93-year-old sister Jean Cavanagh with her two daughters and my nieces, Bonnie Cavanagh and Laurie Dobbs of Manchester, N.H. It was like a small family gathering.
What a beautiful Sunday day, nice and sunny. Aren’t we most grateful for these days when so many have it otherwise. Thank you, Lord, for providing us with this great day, third Sunday of Advent.
Things here at the plaza are going along smooth. There are still empty apartments, one on the first floor and two others upstairs. Interested?
The United States flag is flying low today. One can always look outdoors and tell if it is windy or not, by the way the flag is flying. At St. Mary of the Visitation Church today, Dec. 14, is Compassionate Friends Prayer Service. This is a worldwide candle lighting, lighting a candle for all children who have died so that their light may always shine. How beautiful. I have not lost a child, come near it, but what a nice service for those who did.
On the bulletin board is the following: New Year’s Eve Dance Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post 47, Bangor Road, Houlton (cost is $10 per person). The Legion is featuring the Wagon Wheel Country Band with Butch Armstrong, drums, Paul Armstrong, bass guitar, Pam Green, guitar/singer, Phyllis Hersey, guitar/singer, Joe Garnett, sound manager, Stephanie James, band support, Bob Nealey, band coordinator, Mike Nealey, singer and Jimmy Russell, lead guitar. Sounds like fun. Stephanie, Joe and Paul are all residents of Ricker Plaza.
For all those who will be alone on the coming holiday, Christmas, we extend our holiday wishes.
On Friday, I attended the Christmas dinner at the local hospital, Houlton Regional Hospital, and it was delicious as always. About a third of attendance as last year, but everything has changed, like expenses and circumstances. I came home with a poinsettia and my guest was the winner of a gift certificate. Thank you to the donors.
My neighbor, Caroline Folsom, attended a Yankee Swap at a Christmas party on Saturday. Haven’t see her yet, but the swaps are always fun, the ones I have attended anyway. Shirley Nason is home now after back surgery in Bangor. Shirley had rehab at the Gardiner Home Health Facility in Houlton and has the support of her family and nearby ones at Ricker Plaza. Keep on getting better, Shirley.
In the Houlton Pioneer Times a few weeks ago, The From our Files section mentioned Florence Downing opening a candy shop in Houlton. Florence was my husband’s aunt, long deceased now.
I have a list of holidays and commemorative days, stating Dec. 21 is the first day of winter. I think winter arrived several weeks ago, but officially Dec. 21 is the date. I might mention that the birthstone is turquoise and the flower is narcissus.
Pam Richardson is a guest of Margaret Drew, while recuperating from surgery. Margaret is a sweet person and is taking good care of Pam. I was sorry to learn of the death of Ruth McGillicuddy, 96, at Madigan. Ruth had that dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. She had a beauty shop on Court Street in Houlton for many years, until she retired. She came here and did my hair many times after that and liked to mingle with the tenants here and Meals on Wheels, when it was active at the plaza.
My angel verse today is: “It is not because angels are holier than men…that makes them angels, but because they do not expect holiness from one another, but from God alone (William Blake). Time to sign off, have a nice week full of love and do a good deed for someone. Hardly a day goes by without some one doing something nice for me.
