Finding Mary

(Photo taken by good friend Margie Mills--a co-worker of Mary Mixer. Mary

has been found repotting on the fly; smiling as usual!)

Hello again,

Mary Mixer has been a valued member of the Skillin's Greenhouses Family for over 30 years. Anyone--staff, customer, or visiter--who has spent any time at all at Skillin's at Falmouth has probably run across Mary Mixer who has held a variety of roles here at Skillin's.

The best role she has ever held here is simply being Mary--simply being passionate about plants and the people who love plants. Mary loves to help people and she is one hard worker with a wonderful smile and a huge heart in a not too tall body. At Skillin's Falmouth, she is easily the most asked for person for our customers who need some help or just "a lift". Mary is The Best.

Back in June 2006, Mary had another of those darned birthdays. It was a busy day here at Skillin's and only a few of us were able to gather for a short amount of time for a quick piece of cake and well wishes for one of our favorite co workers. At that gathering kind friend Dale Lincoln orated the following story about Finding Mary. It is a classic.

Mary moves fast; she often has a few things going at once and those white sneakers she wears are usually moving really fast. She moves so fast, there are often more than a few of us looking for Mary. "Where is Mary?"; "Have you seen Mary?" is often asked.

What follows is the Skillin's Classic (penned and originally orated by Dale Lincoln in a way that noone else could. Several of us were laughing so hard, the tears were just flowing down our cheeks--including Mary!):

FINDING MARY

A customer on Skillin’s Scene
Was listening to a tall man in green.
“Your plant needs help,
but we can fix’er,
Dale, go find Mary Mixer.”

(I went through the store asking employees about Mary’s where-a bouts.)

I wondered where Mary was at,
I last saw her giving love to a cat,
Sitting in the wedding room,
Wedged between a mop and a broom.

Mary has a lot of spunk,
She moves around like a scared chipmunk,
By aiming her boots in her special way,
She’s never in one place to stay.

A potting shed gal had this to say:
“Mary’s having a busy day
She always tries to do her best,
And may be under a little stress,
Before starting a mission she was over there
Giving a little twist to her hair.”

Marge said,” She’s around here somewhere,
She was out near the fish pond when I was there,
Talking to a plant, she does that you know,
Hearing her voice, seems to make some plants grow.”

I checked the wheelhouse, then in the trash bin,
If something’s lost, she’ll climb right in,
My missing pie plate, put her in there, (found it at home in the fridge.)
To find Mary you need to check everywhere.


I went upstairs, hoping to find her soon,
The time was getting along toward noon,
Mary was finally found that busy day,
In the break room eating a PB and J. (Sandwich)

When I told Mary of the customer’s need,
She put down her sandwich, went top speed,
Several minutes later, that mission done,
She finished her sandwich at quarter to one.

Time seems to pass quickly, through good times and “tears.”
Mary has worked at Skillins—nearly thirty years
After writing these words there is more to say.
The Skillin’s crew wish Mary A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.


BY Dale C. Lincoln
June 9, 2006

Special Request:

Could anyone who has had the good fortune of meeting Mary and being helped and cheered by her give her a hello note at skillins@maine.rr.com or by leaving a COMMENT at the COMMENT section following this post. I would love to show Mary how you all feel about her!

Thanks,

Mike Skillin