“Clams aren’t all that’s baking,
Temperature records are breaking.”
“The Old Farmer’s Almanac”
As the summer of 2015 wanes, Boston temps have not eased. Our AC has been on a great deal. I fear the electric bill. When it was in the 90s, Hubby and I did not go out very much. We did not check our back yard. Our apple tree had dropped probably several hundred pieces of damaged fruit. We were stunned when we went outside. I try to save empty tomato boxes when I see them in the stores. They are smaller than apple boxes and I can still lift them when they are filled with apples. Hubby and I had collected about half of the fallen ones and boxed them. Some apples we put in our broken whiskey barrel to save to box for the following week’s trash collection.
The next morning, our yard was clean. I was stunned. There were no fallen apples. Hubby stood in shock. Then he saw our next-door neighbor, Alfred. It was he who had picked up the rest of the apples for us. Alfred said his brother and he would dispose of them for us. We were amazed. That was such a heavy job. Thanks to both!
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On another hot day, I was sitting on my front stairs eating a sugar-free Italian Ice. Another neighbor, Dee, hollered over and asked if we would like some tomatoes. “We’d be delighted,” we said.” Dee came over with four picture-perfect tomatoes. She told me that she had different types of tomatoes, one even orange-colored. She saw that we had not planted our tomatoes this year. I thanked Dee. When I went in the house, Hubby and I knew exactly what we’d have for supper – BLTs. They were scrumptious!.
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About three weeks ago, I received a large postcard in the mail, reminding me that I had to renew my driver’s license. I thought I would renew it early to get it over with. I went to the Braintree Registry office and stood in a line outside the building for at least an hour and then spent two and one-half hours sitting on a wooden bench inside.
Finally my number was called and I went in to find No. 8. A very nice gal took my papers and asked me to step to the eye machine. She asked me to read line 1, then 2, and finally, 3. I tried all of them and couldn’t read any. I put on my old “distance” glasses and still could not read any line. The woman told me I should check with my eye doctor to see what was going on with my eyes. She gave me the Registry paper work back after she wrote that I had failed the eye test.
I immediately went home and called to see if I could see my ophthalmologist, Dr. Oates, before my birthday (Sept. 18). He was busy until after then. The clerk asked if I would like to take another doctor in the group. I said, “Yes.” After I thought it over, I decided that I would give up my license. (I never drove much anyway. I was always afraid I would hurt our kids.) Hubby had two jobs and also went to night school to get 84 hours beyond his master’s degree. He needed the car almost all the time. As I got older, I was even happier that I didn’t drive because of some inconsiderate people on the road. I called and cancelled the appointment with the doctor that I was to see because I couldn’t get my ophthalmologist. I then asked if I could make an appointment with my own doctor in October. I should have remembered that Dr. Oates said to me at my last visit, “You’ll come to see me when you must.” (I was told I had started cataracts.)
The following Thursday, Aug. 27, I was early at the Registry. The line outside was not too long. It was very warm, and the line didn’t seem to be moving. Then I overheard someone say, “This Registry office opens at 10 a.m. on Thursdays.” I finally was able to get inside within the hour.
The line moved fairly quickly. When I finally got to the registry desk, I told the employee that I had decided to turn in my license. He took out another form for me to sign, noting that I was volunteering to give up my license. (I have had one since August of 1958.) The clerk gave me a special number and I was called within five minutes. I told the clerk that I was going to give up my license but I had hoped to have a Mass. ID. She told me to get back against a screen and smile. She took my photo. She then gave me a temporary paper ID and told me that the new ID would be at my home within a week. She said that because I gave up my license voluntarily, I would not be charged for the ID. (I think that cost was $25.)
I feel good now that I have given up my license. I should never drive if I cannot read any of the lines on the eye chart. I will have a nice ID in a week and am happy to have it. I will see my eye doctor in about a month to find out what is going on with my eyes.
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Sometimes, Hubby, daughter Sue and I go to the 7 a. m. Mass at St. Gregory’s Church on Sundays when we were unable to make our own church’s Mass on Saturdays. Other times we attend a lovely function at St. Gregory’s but we first attend the St. Greg’s Mass that precedes the function. Last Saturday, however, we did not attend the Mass first. The next day, we would be attending Fr. Richard Putnam’s farewell Mass at St. Brendan’s Church since he has been recalled for duty by the Salesian Order in New York State.
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That Saturday evening, we went to the First Annual Collaborative Cookout for St. Angela, St. Gregory, and St. Matthew parishes. St. Gregory’s activities are such fun and the staff and parishioners are so welcoming. We picked up our pal Eileen Burke, who was delighted to come to this pleasant event since she had just suffered the loss of her brother, Cornelius “Connie” Sullivan on Aug.1. Hubby let Eileen and me off at the usual place on Dot Ave. We discovered that there was construction there. Along came St. Greg’s parish secretary Julie Hayes and her daughter, who showed us the new route to walk. We were a little early for the cookout. Eileen Collins was already there and invited us to sit with her, Peggy, Marilyn, Evie, and Norma. When we sat down, we noticed that Gerard and his crew were getting the food tables ready. We knew we would be eating great food.
Then Father Daily came into the hall. That was the time to start the buffet line. The food was excellent. There were cheeseburgers, large pieces of chicken, potato salad, tossed salad, and pasta salad. For desserts, there were terrific chocolate chip cookies and brownies. We had our choice of soda, water, coffee, and tea to drink. I know I left out some of the food items because I ate so much that I dared not look at any more. Almost everyone with us said that they felt heavier getting up from their chairs than when they sat down. There will be more about St. Gregory’s Cookout and the wonderful people I met in next week’s column. I will also write about my longtime friend Joe Chaisson. What a valiant fight he put up against cancer!
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Added info: About 9 p.m, this past Sunday, daughter Sue called and said, “Your TV show, “Seniors Count,” is on TV now. Turn on Ch. 9.” The program had already started. Sue told me that Eileen Collins had e-mailed her. Carol Murphy had seen me while “cruising” the channels and called Eileen. The program seemed to go well. The show’s host, Annette, asked the right questions and I was able to answer them. So keep turning on Ch. 9 for the next week or so. You may see the program, “Seniors Count.”
