Raising money for Alzheimer’s research while trying to come to grips with this dreaded and debilitating disease. This disease affects someone every 70 seconds according to the Alzheimer’s Association of America.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Old Monroe, Missouri
Time for me to leave the warmth of Florida, and my friends in Atlanta for today I am heading to Missouri. Love to my friends
Anne Marsha, Lisa and Rusty
I have to make Missouri by Saturday because my friends, Mike and Linda Kasevich, have planned my weekend. Saturday night a family picnic with bonfire and hayride, then Sunday is my presentation. All this outdoors and it is November in Missouri. When I arrived it was 70 degrees, and I could wear my sandals. Hurray for me!
I am now in the flood plains and Tornado Alley! Welcome to Missouri the “Show Me State” where it is now raining, cold and damp. It's Wednesday and still raining - this sign is so true seeing the roads and fields flooded.
Fortunate for me, with this weather, Linda has time to proof reading my book, and I am taking the time to finish Life and Times in Island Falls, Aroostook County, Maine and hopefully sending it off to the printers. Linda claims it is a fun read and the stories everyone submitted add great local flavor. I am so excited and can't wait to see and hold the finished book.
I have to ask, I thought I knew my geography and where the states were in relation to each other. Being a tour director, this is something I should know. Does anyone out know that to get to Missouri from Atlanta you must drive through Kentucky? I had mapped my route, but when I saw the welcome to Kentucky sign in the dark at seven thirty at night, I was sure I was lost. I quickly called Anne and Mike, and neither knew Kentucky was on my route. We quickly discovered, on a dark, rainy, cold night with no road signs in site, I really needed my stolen GPS. Yes, you do drive through Kentucky and cross both the Mississippi and Missouri River to get to Old Monroe, Missouri.
This weekend is St. Paul UCC Churches 150th anniversary and I want to move on. I want to see where I am going, get to warmth, and I want so to find home. But I just might stay for the Ice Cream Social and Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday.
Sandy is the daughter of Dr. R. C. Newman, Aroostook County, Maine’s long time veterinarian. She is driving across country raising money for Alzheimer’s Education and Research.
Donations can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Drive to Find Home, c/o Beverly Cooperative Bank, 254 Cabot St., Beverly, MA, 01915.
Your donations will go towards furthering Alzheimer's and Dementia Education and Research, with a portion going to Alzheimer's Research in animals. Cornell University and the Baker Institute will receive this portion in the name of my dad, Dr. Ray C. Newman, the oldest practicing veterinarian in the State of Maine until his retirement at the age of 85.
Graduating from Cornell in 1947, Dad worked a short time for Dr. Sawyer in Windsor, VT where he met and married my mom, Joy (Skinner) Newman, the daughter of Oakley Skinner, Windsor's local druggist and owner of Windsor Drug.
In 1949, Dad was offered a position by the State of Maine and together Mom and Dad moved to Augusta, ME. It was while working as the veterinarian for the State of Maine and traveling north to Aroostook County, that Dad met the farmers in the Island Falls area. It was through these friendships, and his love of the area, he became the areas devoted local veterinarian. For 60 years Dad cared for Aroostook Country's large and small animals, oftentimes traveling 400 miles in one day to doctor a sick cow.
Much loved by all, he was affectionately known as the local "Pet Doc", or lovingly "Doc".
Dad and I thank you so very much for your donations. Yes, animals too get Alzheimer's and Dementia.