Claire Lovell

? Sunday, June 8, was indeed a sun day. It shone most of the afternoon but for me, at least, there was no warmth in it. As usual, I dressed like an Eskimo for my walk and yet, with the wind blowing down my neck, I was cold, cold! There were more stalwart types out in shorts and light t-shirts, but what do they know? Here it is, almost halfway through the year and we havent had spring yet. The nesting wrens outside my window never had babies. They probably froze in the shell and their home has been usurped by swallows. Its been the coldest year in my memory, expect for that one day of summer.

While I was shopping one day, I bought a single round tomato because it looked so beautiful, though too expensive. That same day, on the radio, I learned that round tomatoes were on the suspect list of vegetables for salmonella and we were advised not to buy them.

Surely they had that information at the store. Why didnt they advise us not to buy them until the emergency had passed? Because, like a lot of things today, business is often concerned more with profit than the welfare of its customers. Since I discovered that one small tomato cost me a dollar and 57 cents, I took it back. I was afraid to eat it anyway.

Have you been to the new Station Grocery yet? Emmy Sellars pointed it out and took me over. Its where the Richfield Gas Station (R.I.P.) once was on S. Holladay and Avenue B A solid little store, packed with those items youve suddenly run out of and catering to locals a nice switch.

There were even fresh steaks on Saturday and many nice sandwich items for anyone who doesnt want to eat out. I bought a box of strawberries, heavenly smelling and picked that morning, according to the clerk. Its great to know theyre there and open till 10 p.m.

So the city council took just 10 minutes to decide to raise sewer and water rates by 3.9 percent. Good grief. And they think it should let them get by this year! Wasnt 80 dollars enough? Perhaps they should take 5 minutes of their time thinking of ways to Hooverize on government expenditures and maybe figure out how some of us will pay these already-difficult-to-meet charges. Running the city is evidently no big deal and such fun that after another big yuk, they can just go home and sleep like babies.

More and more were having to soak up the fall out from their adventures at City Hall, trying to make Seaside like Portland from our humongous library to the huge sun block on Broadway and the Prom. And condos, condos, condos, – mostly for tourists. If we dont learn to practice a little austerity now, what will we do in a couple of years when the real crunch comes? Many of us are doing that already, since our sources of income are dwindling.

It gets scary when your peers show up daily in the obit column. First it was Hazel (Knapp) Brown, a school mate at Seaside High. Next was Bert Wellington whom I knew as a resident of Jeffers Gardens. Finally, it was Stuart Robertson, a friend from earlier days in grade school and church. Although it was bad news at the hospital, Im glad I was given a little more time to finish a few things. Every day is precious. If you can walk and talk, count your blessings. Count them anyway. Will there be anyone left wholl give a darn about my book?