Albert Greenleaf does not go lobstering. I don't know if he ever did, even though he grew up on the western shore of Barters Island. He could go to the waters of the Sheepscot River easier than he could go to town.

Albert did go to Germany in the service, though. He speaks German. If you say “guten tag” to him as he is walking to the fire station he will reply accurately and precisely in German. Maybe going to Germany had something to do with why he didn't go lobstering. I'm not sure.

Albert (I call him Bert) told me that he went to school on Barters Island, just across from where Kimballtown Road intersects West Side Road, next to the Baptist Church. He said that the year he advanced from 4th grade to 5th grade, he moved over a row in the classroom. I assume that went on until he attended school in Boothbay.

Albert, as most people in the area know, is an electrician. Recently he had some surgery to replace a two wired pacemaker with a three wired one — perhaps the upgrade has a ground wire.

He seems to be doing quite well. Albert said he has a device at home that allows him to get his new pacemaker checked out over the phone. I asked him what happens if he dials a wrong number.

In true Albert Greenleaf form he responded, “Once I called and got a woman over in Bath and she hung up on me. I guess she didn't like the sound of my heartbeat. But I called her right back.”