An 8 Week Trip Cross Country

By Stan Small

 


My wife, Pat & I took an 8 week cross country trip from September 10th – November 3rd to celebrate
our 30th anniversary.  Pat set up a blog entitled "Small Adventures" so anyone who wanted to could
follow our journey.

The blog can be visited at http://www.theadventuresofstanandpat.blogspot.com/

We covered 10,470 miles altogether.  It truly was an adventure & we still returned home best friends.
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“Unum Stories and Memories”

My First Day at Union Mutual

By Ann Waecker

So I finally made it! Got hired into the BEST place to work in Portland!

My first day happened to be the day of the quarterly meeting. They told me it would be
good for me to go to meet some folks. They didn't tell me what they'd be serving! Wine!
Beer! hors d'oevres! YESSS! I was gonna like working here!!

I think I'll come back tomorrow!

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The Spring Blizzard of 1982

By Pennie McVicker

At 3:00 PM on April 6, 1982, there was only 2" of snow from the Spring snow storm.  I was
5:00 coverage in Individual Disability Customer Services, so I stayed after everyone else left. 
By 5:00; however, the snow was up to 6"+.  I started my 6-month-old Mercury Capri, popped
the moon roof, and turned the radio on max-volume.  As I exited the car to clear away the
snow, I locked the door.  !#$!$!!  The security department contacted the Portland Fire
Department to find out how to unlock the car.  They told us the catalytic converter would
overheat, catch the carpeting on fire, and blow up the car.  What they didn't know was there
was a defect in the automatic choke.  It stayed on high idle until the pedal was pressed.  My
beautiful red Capri sat in the lower back parking lot running at high RPM until it ran out of gas
5 hours later.  The people on the plows were great.  They kept the snow from accumulating
around the car, thus keeping air flowing around the catalytic converter. 

That was the 1st and only time the monthly Individual Disability Pre-Authorized Checking (PAC)
draw was ever postponed.  I fielded clients' calls by myself all day 4/7.  I spent 2 nights sleeping
on 3 of those orange flat side chairs before I could get gas and find a locksmith to open my car.

We got 15-18" of snow that day; but the story of the storm was about the wind.  The HO-1 back
wing had not been build yet.  The security guards had to tunnel out the back door, because the
snow had blown a drift almost to the 2nd floor.  There was a long, wide drift across County Road
that blocked traffic from both directions.  Many people driving into or out of Portland were
stopped by that drift and made it up the hill to take shelter with us.  The beds in the Medical Dept.
were filled quickly, and the former lounge area and 1st floor conference rooms became sleeping
areas.  One woman who arrived with her own pillow and blanket stayed in a conference room for
almost 3 days before security asked her to leave.

After the storm, I never believed winter was over until we got past 4/7.  I moved that date to 4/15
after the Patriots Day storm in 2007.
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I think this is my most memorable experience

By Ruth Myer

 

My most harrowing snow experience happened somewhere in the mid-80’s. 

Snow was falling heavily all afternoon and Unum closed early. It was almost impossible to find 
our cars. I couldn’t find mine and, if I could, I couldn’t get it out. 

My co-worker, Linda Higgins, lived close to me and offered me a ride home in her truck. She 
didn’t want to drive alone. We lived almost to Standish off Route 25 about 15 miles from Unum. 

We left Gorham with 5 miles to go and the truck’s windshield wiper on the driver’s side broke 
from the heavy snow. The passenger wiper was still plowing though it was difficult to see. 
Everything was totally white. 

We had to keep going. So, Linda drove and I directed her – right or left. I kind of thought it was 
exciting but Linda was close to panic. After all, she was driving blind and at least I could see 
where we were going. We made it. We arrived at her house first and my husband came after me. 

I’m glad I live in Florida now!
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“Old Sayings/Phrases”  From Ann Waecker

Bill Wagner always said "if you want it bad, you'll get it bad".  I always remember that when I am trying too hard
to get something...it will be a bad result.

If I want it too badly, I will not be able to make an unemotional decision.

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