Dear Editor:

A friend whose name is Faith, for some unknown reason, has gradually lost her ability to pronounce words over the past three years. This makes her fearful to travel, since her speech is completely garbled. But recently she bravely drove to Southport to visit homeopathic doctor Lynne Walker at the home of Lynne’s and Janet’s mother, Grace Tellefsen. Here, in Faith’s words, is what happened when she left my Southport home for her first medical appointment:

"I got to the bridge and knew I had done something wrong, so I pulled to the side of the road to figure it out. A woman named Alice came out of her house to ask if she could help. I explained that I was unable to speak and showed her the address. She had no idea where 166 was, although we were on Hendricks Hill Road, and she did not know who Grace was either. I asked her to call the General Store because I knew Grace’s daughter Janet worked there. Janet told her I had the wrong road number. Alice then got into her car and led me there ... How nice is that?

"After my treatment, I bought a chrysanthemum for Alice and took it back to her to thank her for helping me. She gave me a huge hug!

"Then I went into Boothbay Harbor to walk and window shop. There was a restaurant called Capers near where I parked. I went in and asked if they had lobster rolls. They didn't, but an employee, Shane, gave me a card of someone who did, Shannon's Unshelled, and he told me how to get there. Naturally, I got lost on the way, but I took out Google Maps on my phone, put the address in, and it got me there. It is amazing what technology is able to do, when you can't talk. I think it was the best lobster roll I have ever had! On the way back to my car, I stopped at Capers to thank Shane, and he came out and gave me, both a hug and a kiss!

"It is amazing how many hugs you get when you can't talk."

Sue Katzev

Southport