By Elaine Rassel

I thought the Elementary School was to go down this past Monday, but it didn’t. I checked every day that week but found nothing moving. Someone said they were getting rid of the insides first.
I have been at therapy for 20 times (2 times a week). Things are getting better but not as fast as I would like it. Typing really does affect the wounded arm but how else can my work be done?
I was able to go to the Veteran’s Day Program on Friday all because a good friend picked me up and took me there. Bethany had to work and Zachary said he was going to be out of town—which in the end, was not true. Thanks, friend—I really appreciated what you did for me.
The Veteran’s Day Program was put on by the Student Council. This year the QOV (Quilt of Valor) was added to the program. Phil Ladenthin was given the QOV.
I did get the list of names of Veterans who had signed in. it was hard to make out some of the names and girls that had to say the name for the Veteran to stand up—I can see where they probably had trouble making out the name. There were some from Marcus that had not signed in but I did recognize them and added their name to the list.
The speaker this year was Skylar ‘Harms’ Casson from Remsen. She graduated from R-U in 2012 and was a 2nd Lieutenant /nurse while serving our country. I am going to see if I can get her speech.
Well, I really have a big problem! I generally charge up my hearing aid for 3 hours during the late hours and then do my work as I don’t need any of the background noise I get from this aid. Friday night I put it on the charger at 10:30 p.m. I have had the charger on my nightstand ever since I had my accident as I couldn’t go downstairs. There is an outlet by the nightstand which made it easier. However, at 2 a.m., I looked to see if the “yellow” light had changed to “green” meaning it was done charging. I couldn’t see any light. Then I saw the aid was not in the charger at all even though I had put it in there.
Panic happened right then. I figured Little Butterball (Teddy) the kitten had taken it. I spent until 6 a.m. looking for the aid. I couldn’t get under the bed but figured that is where it was. After cleaning areas and wiping the floor damp, I went to bed. At 8 a.m. I went to the bathroom and returning, right beside the bed on the floor that I had wiped clean earlier, was something. I went to pick it up and found it was only the part that goes over the ear—nothing else. The most expensive part was missing. I’m still looking for this, but I hope he didn’t swallow this missing piece. That aid was $3400 a year ago and probably much higher now. Even if I find the other part, I doubt it can be used again. I was going to have it cleaned on Tuesday, but won’t have to now. There is a very small part that has to be taken out and replaced but I need two hands to do this and the left one can’t help yet so I have someone else do it.
Of course I was told that I shouldn’t have had the charger where it was. All this time nothing was ever touched, but now it had to happen. I’m sure there will be no help in getting it replaced even from my insurance company. So, if I just smile at you when you are talking to me—realize that I cannot hear you!
Steve and I went to the Pancake Breakfast on Sunday. There couldn’t be the Belgium Waffles because that company had to have 300 people go through and Marcus would have to pay regardless to make the 300 even if there weren’t that many. So, those putting it on decided to have all you can eat pancakes. The pancakes were made in the outside area of the Marcus Community Center and we ate inside. When we left at 11:30, there was a long line waiting for pancakes.
This brought back a memory of when Floyd would help with Boy Scout pancake breakfast. He said that the same lady would come through and say, “Only flip them once”. I told him that as many kids as she had to make pancakes for, she certainly would know how to make them.” I think he just didn’t like having anyone tell him how to make a pancake! (He never made them at our house!)
The voting was done on Tuesday. If you are not happy about who got in, but didn’t vote—then forever hold your peace. If who you voted for didn’t get in, at least you voted.
Marcus Mayor Pat Bunt ran unopposed and received 244 or 98% of the votes with 6 write-ins. Three were needed for council seats with 4 on the ballot. Robin Jenness had 201 votes; Austin Whited had 184 votes and Gary Edwards had 165 votes.
I hope there is room for another article I have that had articles from the early 1960’s. One of them was on the dump ground bought west of town after the previous dump ground had outgrown its use.
Remember in your thoughts and prayers those who have lost loved ones to death, have had their lives changed, have health problems some of which are terminal, are struggling to make ends meet even though they have a job; help those who desire “wants” are more important than “needs” that prestige isn’t everything and be with those who are still struggling to shorten the distance between family/friends to build a bridge instead of a wall. Count your blessings!
I will close with this quote from Happy Siesta Nursing Home cookbook: “As all people laugh in the same language, so do all shed tears with the same pain.”