October 2023

Many Star Herald readers will remember Greta Strong. Greta and Ann Carroll established the humane society here back in the 80s. Ann was editor of the Star Herald and Greta sold advertising. The community lost Mrs. Carroll a few years ago, and unfortunately, we have also lost Greta too. Upon her retirement, Greta left here and moved back to her native Michigan. Sadly, I received a call from her son last week. When I answered the phone and heard a man’s voice instead of Greta’s, I knew the news wasn’t going to be good. Greta was one of the most knowledgeable, affable, generous people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Indeed, it was my honor to have known her, and the animals in this county are much better for her having lived here. May she rest in peace!

So these past few weeks, Red and I have been staying in a little apartment that we have, here in town. Fortunately, a sweet friend and I had just finished painting the whole apartment. So it was all fresh and clean and the perfect place to hole up for a while. It reminded us a little of fun times spent out at Kilo Vista, except there is no river running past the apartment (but one is very close) though the highway is closer. We both just kicked back, relaxed and let the world roll by. We took only the bare essentials with us, little more than a toothbrush and some clothes. We had already started a beach-themed shack, at the apartment, the colors were right. Splurged on some new turquoise towels and threw in some actual beach towels and shower curtains with beautiful beach scenes! A bit of artwork here and there and hey we were all set, gone to the beach! The living is laidback and easy, with simple chores and a bit of clean-up each day. Would you believe it if I told you it is much quieter here than at our house. Had a brand new still in the box, with the plastic wrapper still on, an air mattress bought to take to the beach with us once but had never used it. Brought it down from upstairs and took it over to our apartment and wala, our beachie bed was ready in a jiffy that very evening, and we had slept just fine. It was surprisingly comfy yes we were a bit like kids with a new toy, and sometimes we rolled off the sides onto the floor. Possibly too much air, still it had been a fun, a novel idea. Let’s see besides the bed we have a small kitchen table one straight-back chair (eventually we will take three more that match) and there are two wicker chairs one of them being a rocker, also took a small bedside table for the clock, a clock is one thing I never need, I always wake up at the appointed time (whatever that time might be), and a bookcase there is always a bookcase filled with books. After a week into our new life, Red took a small fridge to the apartment. O

I remember growing up eating squirrel, rabbit and turkey, biting into something hard and not knowing if it was shot or my filling came out. Good times.