My Love is Always Right

When she brought it to his attention, all he did was shake his head. He couldn’t believe these were her thoughts, nor believe that it was said. With over forty years of silence, she decided to contest? Apparently she’d been harboring thoughts, she felt she must confess.

He knew the path they were going down; she seemed to be showing him the way. In order for him to eat his lunch, there might be a price to pay.

“How do you know this?” was his response, as he looked her in the eye. She met his gaze with pure certainty, “I just know,” was her reply.

Wanting proof, he asked for specifics, quite sure she could not provide. She commenced rattling them off, as he sat there with mouth open wide.

For starters there were wedding photos, and then the family pix, Pictures for trips and for birthdays, with holidays thrown in the mix.

Cars and bikes parked in the garage, coats and hats in the closet, too, Not to mention their seats in church, as they sat in their favorite pew.

She noted their recliners, sinks in bathrooms, and their sides of bed, Even cemetery plots, so it would go on when they were dead.

He then shrugged and he sighed, regrets for having to switch both their seats, Because the argument was over, he’d have to admit defeat.

In order to eat his lunch, or at least to enjoy it all in peace, He would have to swap his island seating, or these comments would never cease.

How was it that he’d never noticed? He had not a single clue. She now exuded confidence, as he wrestled with what to do.

Nodding, he finally conceded, it was there in black and white. “I’m the lady on your left,” she said. Switching seats, he said, “You’re right.”

JOYCE B. WILCOX//WRITER’S QUEST

Roger Stobert Mobile Watch Coordinator 231-288-0148

spankky@charter.net

The Top Ten Things

BURGLARS WOULD RATHER YOU DIDN’T KNOW OR DO Canadian Lakes has been most fortunate at having very few home invasions, but break-ins do occur. For those of us who are planning a late winter getaway or a short romp in the sun for spring break, please consider these helpful suggestions before you leave home.

1. If a burglar can hear your radio, chances are particularly good he’ll think someone’s home. Consider keeping a radio on a timer to come on and off at scheduled times. Make sure the radio can be heard outside of the front door. (Don’t use digital radios; they will often lose the radio setting if the power goes out).

2. An alternative to leaving a radio on while you’re on vacation is to use a device that generates a simulation of the flickering lights of a TV at timed intervals. One resident in Royal South swears by this device.

3. A barking dog really does deter break-ins. Inquisitive neighbors (a polite euphemism) are also a good defense.

4. Consider installing an alarm system that will notify you by phone that something is wrong at your house. If you get such a message on your cell, call Canadian Lakes Safety (231-9728555) immediately. Depending on the situation, also call the Mecosta County Sheriff ’s Office (231-972-4811). Be prepared by having the Canadian Lakes Safety and Mecosta County Sheriff ’s Office in your cell phone’s contact list. You may also want to consider an alarm that makes a loud noise outside your house. Loud noises outside the house alert neighbors and frighten burglars. (Be sure Safety has a key to your house and directions on how to disable and then reset the alarm. This can be done by filling out a Resident Vacation Form that can be obtained at the CLPOC office or on the members website).

5. Yes, a person casing your neighborhood for break-ins looks like the guy who would never do such a thing: clean-cut, maybe dressed in a workman’s uniform with a fake logo, carrying inspection equipment to make himself look legit. If your home is seasonally vacant, be sure to tell your neighbors when you are having work done at your home. Instruct your neighbors to call Canadian Lakes Safety to report suspicious activity.

6. Burglars don’t mind taking the entire safe with them if they’re too impatient to figure out how to crack it. Bolt it down.

7. Never reveal your vacation or business trip plans on your Facebook page. Don’t assume nobody could figure out your address just because it’s not on your page.

8. No errand is too short to leave your garage door open. A burglar can invade your home and steal your valuables in a lot less time than it takes you to run the shortest errand. Unless it is apparent that you are home, you can count on Mobile Watch to report to Canadian Lakes Safety that your garage door is open.

9. Ignoring a knock or doorbell is a smart idea, but leaving the door unlocked, even when you’re home, isn’t.

Many burglars will try the door if nobody responds. If it opens, they’ll enter.

10. Never hesitate to notify Canadian Lakes Safety (231-972-8555) if you intend to be away for a few days. Safety will notify Mobile Watch of your absence so that they can be extra vigilant of your home while you’re away. Strongly consider filling out a Residential Vacation Form (Red Light) which may be obtained at the CLPOC office or the Canadian Lakes Website under Governing / Documents and Forms.

REFLECTIVE HOUSE NUMBER

SIGNS COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Mobile Watch and Canadian Lakes Safety are strong advocates of reflective house number signs. Many of our Canadian Lakes neighbors have them. Do you?

Mobile Watch volunteers love the reflective signs because it makes our job easier to identify should there be a need to report a red light, open garage doors, or suspicious person / vehicle(s).

Nothing could be worse than being in an emergency situation and calling for Canadian Lakes Safety, the police, fire department, or ambulance, only to have to wait as valuable minutes tick by while the responders search for your house address. A few minutes could mean the difference between a life and death tragedy or a successful outcome.

Signs are inexpensive and sixfoot metal posts are available at our local ACE Hardware and most home improvement stores. If you need help installing these signs, contact Canadian Lakes Safety (231-972-8555) or a Mobile Watch volunteer who will either install it for you or find someone who will. When installed, the signs should be near the road in front of your house and high enough so that plowed snow won’t obscure the numbers.

MOBILE WATCH NEEDS YOU!

Mobile Watch can’t fulfill its mission without continued community support and participation. While we have many volunteers, there are still areas that need additional patrollers. If you can help, please understand that the commitment is small. It only takes about an hour per week. If you are interested in becoming a patroller, even if only part time, please contact Roger Stobert, Mobile Watch Coordinator, at 231-288-0148 or at spankky@charter.net, or just call Canadian Lakes Safety at 231-972-8555.

Roger Stobert Volunteer Yard Waste Coordinator 231-288-0148

Canadian Lakes Yard Waste will be open Sunday, April 2, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will be OPEN every Wednesday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., April through November 28, 2021, weather permitting, except Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023.

As open burning of yard waste is not allowed in Canadian Lakes and to preclude the dumping of these wastes on neighboring lots and common areas, which is prohibited, Canadian Lakes Yard Waste was established to provide CLPOC members in good standing with a place to dispose of their residential yard waste.

Canadian Lakes Yard Waste is located on the south side of Pierce Road between 110th Ave. and Tullymore Dr.

To gain access you will need a 2023 CLPOC ID, vehicle sticker, or guest pass. Items allowed to be brought to Canadian Lakes Yard Waste include tree and shrub branches and limbs less than 4” in diameter and plant-based materials normally associated with residential yard maintenance such as grass clippings, leaves, and discarded mulch and plants.

The following are NOT allowed to be left at Canadian Lakes Yard Waste: garbage, including food scraps such as rinds, peels, cores, etc., fireplace or campfire ashes, and yard waste containers or plastic bags.

Also, do NOT deposit your yard waste outside (or inside) the gate when the site is not open.

When depositing your yard waste, please place it as far off the road and on top of or behind previously dumped waste. This helps to minimize the number of times that push backs are needed, thus minimizing operational costs.

If your vehicle sticker is easily visible, the attendant will give you a friendly wave when you enter, but they will stop you if he/she doesn’t see the sticker on your vehicle or if the sticker is not current.

The friendly attendants are all volunteers and are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Please drive slowly (<5mph) when entering and exiting the facility to prevent dangers to other users and to minimize the raising of dust.

We can always use additional substitute volunteers to fill our 2023 schedule. Should you have any questions related to Canadian Lakes Yard Waste, or should you want to volunteer to help at the site, please contact Roger Stobert, Yard Waste Coordinator, 231-288-0148 or spankky@charter.net.

Visit the Canadian Lakes Yard Waste page on our website for any of the above information: members. canadianlakes.org.