What changes in the weather since last week, but at least we were well warned and able to prepare for spring snow. I still don’t like the wind that comes along with the changeable weather. My son was raking up pinecones for several hours just so I won’t trip over them. I don’t know when I’ve seen so many cones. Then came the snow. How many, seriously, shoveled or plowed, knowing that when the sun came out it would all melt. Then the latest newsworthy subject: the earthquake. I didn’t feel it, but Neil came running over and his trailer was shaken. Jay texted Judy, and he was on his break on Ulster Avenue in Kingston, and the whole room was shaking. It seems that people on the ground floor didn’t feel anything, but those on upper levels felt the tremor.
Remember our WAJPL club meeting on the 15th when we will have Peter Wheelright author of “The Doorman.” Meeting starts at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center on the corner of South Street and 23. Pot luck refreshments. Sign up for our spring luncheon is underway. Call MaryLouise if you would like to attend. Our summer craft classes will be starting on June 18 at 10 a.m. and continue for 10 weeks. You can come for one or more crafts, or just watch and see what you would like to do. We try to have enough activities, trips and meetings to keep everyone happy and active.
There was a great breakfast on Saturday at the Ashland Town Hall to benefit EMS Week. Very well attended and yummy food.
The bears are up and scavenging. A huge one has been seen on many porches checking out bird feeders on North Settlement, then coming to the trailer park before continuing to the local dumpsters.
Prayers for Jerry Cunningham.
AS I REMEMBER IT
Flipping through television channels looking for something to watch, I came across a show about Pawn Shops. While growing up in the country, I was sheltered more than I knew. My father’s motto was “If you don’t have the money to buy something you did something different or went without.” My husband grew up outside of Rutland, Vermont and every Saturday, his mother took him on the bus to Proctor to pay $1 on each of her credit accounts. It was a never-ending cycle, but they always had new stuff.
When I married and moved to Pensacola, Florida, I learned that in most towns or cities, especially those near a military base there were pawn shops. They were instantly recognized by the three golden balls suspended from a bar. We soon had friends from the ship, The Lexington, that lived by pawning goods all month until payday when they would go and redeem them. It started out with jewelry that wasn’t needed, but by the end of the month, it would be anything that brought in a couple of bucks. Including the electric can opener. They rented their furniture and appliances such as washer and dryer, refrigerator and television. Every payday they would go and pay $5 on each rental. The pay was meager, and the one family had 13 children, so that was the only way they could afford to live. I often wonder what happened to them, and if they ever could afford to buy anything outright.
I learned the other day that people now have to pawn item to have money for their medication. It’s a shame that even with insurance, even if the co-pay is $15, which is what mine went up to, by the time you pay for 4 or 5 different meds, it gets expensive.
I don’t have a lot, but at least it’s mine.