Andy Dolan

We just learned that Frank and the late Gail Dolan's (Narrows Drive) son, Andrew, died last week. He was hit by an automobile and died of his injuries. Andy lived in Colorado, but had close ties to Vermont and Joe's Pond. Dee Palmer (Clubhouse Circle) is his aunt. Our sincere condolences to the Dolan and Palmer families. Messages and cards may be sent to Frank at 98 McKenna Rd., Norwich VT 05055, or to Dee Palmer at 1471 Greenbanks Hollow Rd., Danville VT 05828. 

We have another eight inches, more or less, of beautiful new snow at the moment. Most fell during the night, but there were another couple of inches added during the day today. We didn't see the sun at all today, but there was plenty of wind to whisk the snow off the trees and swirl it around over roads and off our roofs. I'm not sure if we will get rain tomorrow or perhaps a little more snow. Nothing is certain where the weather is concerned.

It's about time to put the holiday decorations away for another year - I usually can't wait to get things back to "normal" here in the house; but this year, I've enjoyed the few decorations I put out - candles in the windows and some lights outside. I will take down the candles and pack them away, but I'm not going out to remove the outside lights until it's warmer! I'll just enjoy them a while longer.

We're into the New Year now, and lots of us are hoping for some sort of miracle that will end the pandemic and get people talking together and mingling again. Probably not right away, but soon. Someone told me recently that she has added on some weight because of the isolation. She said she finds solace in eating. I'm betting she isn't the only one who has gained some weight or added some inches to their waistline. I think lots of people have reached out to friends or family more by email or other means than they normally would have had they not been cooped up and unable to socialize. The holidays are a good time to reach out to those we've lost touch with, and there seems to be a lot of that going on this year. Humans are generally a social bunch, and we miss contact with other souls. Even if you didn't get all those Christmas cards mailed, the postal service was swamped this year, so haul out some cards that say simply, "Happy Holidays," or "Greetings" and send them now. No harm in extending the good will of the season a little longer! And it will help keep the postal workers from getting work withdrawal symptoms.