Here at Ocean Point sunset is around 4 p.m., which makes the day end quickly! In the morning at 6:30, when John gets up to go to work, it is still very dark and it feels like the middle of the night. Just before the storm, there was a starlit night and each day the weather was getting colder. Snow was predicted and whitecaps whip-ped by the wind raced out into the open sea. Our little dogs balked at the door, bracing their feet in defiance to the rule of going out before breakfast.

Then on Monday the snow stopped everything in its tracks-newspaper delivery, schools, state government, and all other planned errands. During the day, our roads were cleared by the town plows, with their usual prompt response. Fortunately, the traditional weekend activities of Harbor Lights Festival were concluded before the storm came in. The town businesses, civic organizations, and community groups all extended good cheer around town, with the Festival of the Trees and the Gingerbread Houses at the Opera House bringing warm spirit to the season.

There is lots of happy news to share. It was very quiet on Thanksgiving, with visitors walking by occasionally. All our neighbors reported very special celebrations with families and friends, which is what we enjoyed at our daughter's home. The Kleins, Betsy and Skip, have arrived in Tucson and are delighted to be there for the winter. Jim and Judy Boyd are settling into their home at Ocean Point as our nearest neighbors, and their lights remind us every night how fortunate we are. Alison and David Butterworth have sent the news that their son David has become engaged to Croi McNamara. They are planning an Ocean Point wedding on July 26 th .

Marilyn and Jack Heise took a fascinating trip this fall to visit the Truman and Eisenhower presidential sites in Independence, Mo., and Abilene, Texas. Amy Leimkuhler, an Ocean Pointer and Deputy Director of the Truman Library/Mu-seum, gave them a wonderful tour of her facility, and also arranged for them to have a private tour of the Eisenhower archives in Abilene.

While in Independence, they also enjoyed the Trails Museum containing information and artifacts about the Santa Fe and Oregon trails where the pioneers both prepared for and started out on their strenuous overland wagon trips west. The original Mormon Church is headquartered there also. The spiral steeple looks like a nautilus shell from the inside. Their account of the trip has piqued our interest for our next adventure, as we recognized on our trip much more clearly the struggle and hardships that lay ahead of the settlers in the rugged and unforgiving territory ahead.

If you saw the photo of the Northern Gannet in the last Register, you'll understand what a big bird it was. I can report that it is in York, ME, at a rehab center for its dislocated shoulder, thanks to Dean Domeyer's immediate attention.

Please stay in touch. We are a community and need to hear from each other. I thank all of you who have contacted me since we returned.

You may contact me at: (207) 633-3669 or e-mail: waldman1@ roadrunner.com .