Columns by Terri Simon

In a few days, Valentine’s Day will be here. Swimming in a sea of red and pink, we’ll greet the day with smiles on our faces and love in our hearts. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, bouquets of roses, jewelry, bottles of champagne, sentimental greeting cards ... the tokens of love will abound. The words “I love you” will come easily. And at the end of the day, we’ll reflect and smile and realize memories have been made.

I liked Gene Solon the minute I met him. I’m not sure what it was about him, but I knew the interview would be a fun one. He had a smile that made you smile back. He talked to me like he’d know me all his life. We were instant buddies.

Most of Ladd’s precious Catholic church was demolished a week ago, with the final collapse of the bell tower happening just this past Wednesday morning. For parishioners of St. Benedict’s family, it was a sad experience, as many watched their sacred church home tumble to the ground. For others, the process was just too painful to watch.

The temperature outside had dropped considerably, and as I wondered around the house the other night, I thought about adjusting the thermostat to offset the chill. I was cold, even though the thermostat said the temperature inside was adequate. I was torn between my cold hands and nose and sending more $$$ up the chimney. Frugality won again, and I put on another sweatshirt and wrapped a down-filled throw around me.