One day I noticed that my maple tree is festooned with other people’s plastic bags tossed about by the wind. They didn’t even look good at Christmas. I believe if one uses a liner in the garbage can and ties the top, refuse doesn’t fly around. They’re expensive but they do the job.

When someone remembered the loss of the Coast Guard vessel ‘Triumph,’ and the fishing boat ‘Mermaid,’ in a recent news article, I recalled those times in the sixties too. They were really tense until everything was resolved. Then the loss of life was hard to accept for quite awhile. I think the Coast Guard is one of the most difficult duties in our line of defense. Fishermen and servicemen who go out in that water every day are so brave and face so many challenges. I’ve always been afraid of water (hydrophobia) so I give them an extra portion of honor and respect. No, I can’t repeat this “Triumph” story without reminding you of the memorial plaque made by my husband, Foundryman Jim Lovell, which still rests at the south end of Astoria. I think it was commissioned for a visit of one of the Astors.

When I found a gnat doing the backstroke in my coffee cup, really struggling, I spooned him out and placed him on a piece of paper to dry.

After a short interval, I came back to toss him outside but he’d already flown the coop. That was a quick rescue and there wasn’t even any cpr. I don’t think I’d be as charitable to all the excess pythons they’ve been rounding up in Florida, though.

Some time last summer, a large amount of nuts and bolts was spilled on Roosevelt at 12th Avenue. Even six months later there are stiill quite a few present. I hope they aren’t the kind that could wreck tires.

Where is Gary Larson? A few years ago he took a sabbatical or a leave of absence. One of my kids says he got married. I figured he’s just enjoy some time off and then return for more fabulous cartoons in the New Yorker. I don’t think it’s fair to have our favorite funny-man disappear altogether.

Sunday night I watched ‘Dalton Abbey’ on PBS – a sort of present day ‘Upstairs and Downstairs.’ The show was deje vu for me, although it doesn’t hold a candle to the other version. Sunday’s episode was a lot like my own experience, although the patient didn’t die. I had a young mother, in labor with her first child, whose blood pressure was rising rapidly. Her old fashioned doctor didn’t seem properly concerned and left for his home in another town with the situation unresolved. Fearing eclampsia, I called another doctor (a real no-no) since she’s already gone into convulsions. He brought her out of her symptoms with the proper medication and saved the day. There were two doctors on PBS as well, not agreeing on diagnosis or treatment – always scary for a nurse.

Quip: When the grass looks greener on the other side of the street, it’s time to water your own yard. Or it might be that you just can’t see the doggie deposits over there from the distance.