# 332 - November 7th, 2012

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… As regular readers will know, every month I try to include those senior Valley folks with birthdays and on this occasion we have a very special such celebration. Harold Perry, the Valley’s oldest citizen, will turn 96 tomorrow, Thursday, November 8. Quite an achievement and on behalf of all Valley folks I’ll pass on a ‘Many Happy Returns to Harold when I see him… 

       And with Harold in mind, here’s some classic words of wisdom on the subject of old age for your Quotes of the Week. First up it’s this from Rose Kennedy, who lived to be 104 and was a great philanthropist and wife of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., and the mother of nine children, among them United States President John F. Kennedy, United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and United States Senator Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy - “I’m like old wine. They don’t bring me out very often, but I’m well preserved”… Then there is from Golda Meir, the former Prime Minister of Israel, who commented, “Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you’re aboard there’s nothing you can do”… And it was Lord Byron who observed “ ‘Tis very certain the desire of life, prolongs it”… And finally, let’s hear from 50’s presidential hopeful Adlai Stevenson who said “It is not the years in your life but the life in your years that counts” – Hope see you at Bingo over the holidays, Harold!

       The special Veterans Day event held annually at Evergreen Cemetery on A.V. Way will take place this coming Sunday, November 11 at 10.30am. In terms of taking a deep breath and thinking about what really matters, in my humble opinion, this is one of the more important community gatherings of the year so please think seriously about attending. The organizers inform me that inclement weather will not postpone this ceremony; after all, those who are being remembered went through far worse I’m sure. However, in the event of significant rain, signs will be posted at the cemetery informing you that the event has been moved to the Veterans Hall / Senior Center in Boonville. Different place, same time – 10.30am, Sunday, November 11th...

       More Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready… #318 – The Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will return to the Farm Supply in the Valley tomorrow, Thursday, Nov 8 from 2-3:30pm. If you are a previous client you can call them 48 hours in advance (462-8833) to ensure that your pet’s charts are brought ‘over the hill’ and also order any medications your pet might need. New customers and their pets are always welcome and they will be back in the Valley next week (Nov 15) and again on Thursday, Nov 29… #319 – It’s that time of year and people are already suffering from the ‘flu. This can be prevented by a shot and these are being given at the Senior Center / Veterans’ Hall on Thursday, Nov 15 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. No charge for patients with Medicare and it is a very well-spent $29.99 for others, with refunds available for those covered by their insurance. Any questions? Call 964-1848 and press 3… #320 – Time for a quick recap of a number of regular monthly gatherings in the Valley: Every Tuesday and Saturday, the A.V. Lending Library, run by The Unity Club, is open at The Fairgrounds. Tues 1.30pm to 4.30pm and Saturday 2pm – 4pm… Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, The A.V Museum at The Little Red Schoolhouse – ‘The Best Little Museum in the West’, is open from 1pm to 4pm… The County Dump is open from 9am – 4pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.... On two Tuesdays and every Thursday at the Senior Center, lunch is served at 12.15pm; on the 2nd Tuesday it’s dinner and Bingo night beginning at 6pm and on the final Tuesday it’s dinner at 6pm... The A.V. Lions meet every third Monday and the A.V. Grange does so every third Tuesday… Now you know!!!...

       Moving quickly on to a few of the topics and Valley events under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge – yes it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people gather and share their thoughts about Valley life…

… Many regulars plan to attend today’s high school boys’ soccer semi-final at Tom Smith Field alongside the school in Boonville at 2.30pm, Wednesday, Nov 7… If the team wins, the Championship Game will be at the same venue and time on Saturday, Nov 10…

… And quite a few will also attend the same Saturday evening’s 7pm girls’ volleyball quarterfinal at the high school gym… It could be quite a week or so for high school sports – claws and beaks crossed…

… Are there any better ‘store dogs’ than Scooter at Laughing Dog Books and Gracie at All that Good Stuff? I must say that they certainly add to the experience of buying a book or picking up a gift or trinket…

… From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’… Buzzard was in a pensive mood when I saw him this week and had little to say other than, “If the wrong guy wins this election, I’m outta here because the Apocalypse will have arrived!”

       Well, we’ll know soon enough… In the meantime, I’m certainly outta here – but I will return… So, until we talk again – ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; and may your god go with you… Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”… Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…

p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at <turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net>

p.p.s. Skylark – Happy Birthday!