ACROSS THE Common, the smoky, spicy aroma of barbecue chicken is wafting. The town looks good, all dressed in green and bedecked with flowers. At a yard on Main Street, a woman is sunbathing. The ladies at the library are busy with their books and record keeping. Two little girls are selling lemonade out of a pitcher in a red wagon. They wave at the traffic going to fast to stop for a glass. There’s a free supper at one of the churches. A warning has been posted that they are going to blow up part of Lover’s Lane next week to make the dirt lane wider and safer. (Faster.)

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May 16, in the morning, it was pleasant to see people gathering for the Norwich graduation. Reverend Wick crossed the road carrying his robes in a plastic casing, a woman in Army greens rounded the corner of the armory enroute to the Hill, men who board nearby--usually dressed casually and shouldering bags of school materials-- were dressed in their best blues and shiny shoes for the short walk. Family members were gathered, standing around on lawns, waiting for the long awaited moment. Everywhere, cars and vans were being packed with belongings. In the afternoon, we saw an SUV with out-of-state plates, driving south on Route 12, towing a small trailer. Farewell! Fare well.

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Our Berlin Pond Road correspondent said their cat rang the doorbell the other morning at 3 a.m. He wasn’t even supposed to be outside since it can be dangerous up there at night but, as his human mother said, “Come spring, he likes to travel. He won’t go out in winter.” It seems the cat was dropped off at a farm in Hancock one wintertime. As he wandered the barnyard, a bit of his fur became stuck to a cistern. His rescuer, a little girl, used warm water to free him. “He’s a lucky cat,” she said. Now living happily ever after on the Berlin Pond Road, the middle aged, all black cat has learned to climb the railing beside the steps and ring the doorbell. Then he climbs up to wait on the brace of the porch roof until his human opens the door for him.

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Doreen Allen, one of the town’s bankers, presented a workshop the other day about budgeting. It was not well attended, which could be because so many people have so little money that budgeting is irrelevant. It must also be irrelevant for those with plenty. Or maybe they were at the mall. To being the budgeting process, Ms. Allen said, keep track of every single expense, every day for a week or more. The purpose is to look for money leaks in order to plug the holes. Today’s expenses: lunch $2.75; propane delivered $67.24 if the bill is paid quickly, otherwise $65.19; milk and ice cream bar $3 something. Is ice cream a leak or a necessity?

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This Saturday, I am attending my grandnephew’s fourth birthday party. As part of the celebration, he, eight friends, and his two-year-old sister, will be making individual pizzas. I rather dread that scene--the noise and excitement level, you know. Sunday, I’m bringing a chocolate-on-chocolate cake shaped like a 50 for one son’s birthday and a six egg yellow cake with jelly between the layers and frosted with fluffy white frosting for the other son.

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Hello to all the loyal readers who live in Pennsylvania. We heard through the grapevine that you miss the column when it doesn’t appear. Please send us some news.