Dear Sun Spots: We are currently inundated with TV commercials advertising reverse mortgages. There must be some negative aspects to the homeowners reverse mortgage they advertise. Please give me some problems that may arise for two seniors in their 80s who may be close to death, or nursing home possibilities. What’s their profit and what’s the downside and disadvantage to acquiring some financing. – No Name, Rumford.

Answer: Sun Spots spoke with Gerry Rioux, owner of the Home Mortgage Loan Company, 393 Center St., Auburn. He noted that many seniors take advantage of a reverse mortgage to avoid going to a nursing home. Typically, seniors will not receive state aid for nursing home care if they own a home with a lot of equity. They use the money from a reverse mortgage for in-home care and are able to stay in their own homes and avoid the stress of moving to a nursing home. Beyond this, the situation can be complicated and we recommend calling Gerry directly for more information at 777-4527.

AARP also urges you to consider the impact of a reverse mortgage on your heirs. Although there will be no recourse for the heirs, there may be less equity left for them. They have a wealth of information on reverse mortgages available. For a free consumer guide booklet, call 1-800-209-8085.

Dear Sun Spots: My retirement project is to record and preserve one small facet of Maine’s rich manufacturing history. I am trying to document Maine companies that manufactured gasoline engines from 1900 to 1930. There is a fair amount of information available for a few of the companies and virtually nothing available for others. I would greatly appreciate it if any of your readers have Maine manufactured gasoline engines they would allow me to photograph or old literature or references of any kind that I could copy. I would also welcome oral accounts about Maine manufactured gasoline engines or manufacturing operations. There were many foundries in the Lewiston, Auburn, Mechanic Falls and Rumford areas during this period that possessed the technical capability to manufacture these engines. However, I have yet to find a reference that indicates any of them actually did manufacture them. One of your readers may remember hearing about or have evidence confirming the existence of such an operation. Thanks. Please call Hugh at (207) 374-5840. – Hugh, Blue Hill.

Dear Sun Spots: Would you please print a burial poem I believe I saw in your column some time ago? I believe it started with “Do not weep for me I am not there.” Thanks. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Sun Spots located the following poem, “Do not stand at my grave and weep” which we believe is what you are looking for. According to www.poetrylibrary.org.uk, the poem was written at least 50 years ago by an unknown author. It has been attributed to Mary Elizabeth Frye and others claim it as a Navajo burial prayer.

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there. I did not die.

• For C.M.F., No Town, Sun Spots inquiry Thursday, Oct. 9, requesting a shoulderette pattern, my grandmother used to make these in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. I don’t have her pattern, but I do have one from 1982 that I’ve used several times. Any worsted-weight yarn works, and the shrug body can be done in garter stick instead of Irish Moss. (Sun Spots will mail you the pattern). – Judy Sawyer, Turner.

Dear Sun Spots: In regards to the person looking for a someone who does blown-in insulation (No Name, Wilton, Friday, Oct. 10) contact John Lavigne at 595-1424. He is out of Harpswell but travels the state. We just had our house insulated and we already feel the difference. – No Name, Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: Are there any consignment shops that take men’s suits (brand new, never worn) or if anybody is interested they are size 36 and 32 or 34 (not sure). I may be reached at 824-2635. – No Name, No Town.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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