On Saturday, as I rested my back after chipping the ice from under the garage door, my cell phone rang a familiar tune. I didn’t answer, as I recognized the caller as Ms. Pigette, the lovely icon holding up a mailbox on Route 27. I know it was rude, but I needed a cup of hot coffee to face her usual rant.

And I was right. I started to apologize but she cut me off. “Did you see that X$$D&**MZ! on TV,” she snarled.

“Which one? There are many on TV, especially late at night,” I replied. “You know--HIM.”

Then she went off in a rant that ate up about four minutes of my phone’s battery life. “You know. HIM. He tried to bully her, and she stood up and called him out. And she did it on national TV. Good for her,” said Ms. P.

By now, I understood Ms. P was referring to the short battle of words last Friday between Maine Gov. Janet Mills and POTUS. Unless you were buried under a snowbank like my brother in upstate New York, you probably have seen the exchange as it has been replayed on TV and social media. If not, I encourage you to look for it.

The exchange was in the White House during a luncheon of the National Governors Association. POTUS was rambling on about his executive order banning transgender students from participating in women’s sporting events. He said most sports governing bodies obey his order but mentioned that Maine was not.

According to NPR, the Maine Principals' Association, which governs school sports in the state, said it would continue to allow trans girls to compete because the federal action conflicts with state law. The MPA says just four transgender girls compete in women's sports.

POTUS stood at a lecture and looked around the room. He asked if Maine's governor was in attendance. Gov. Mills spoke up. “I’m here.”

“Are you not going to comply with it?” POTUS asked.

She shot right back. “I’m complying with state and federal laws.”

POTUS seemed caught off guard by her retort and fumbled his response. “I — well. We are the federal law. You’d better do it. You better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t. We are the federal law.” He again threatened the state’s federal funding and said Maine residents largely agree with him.

“We’re going to follow the law,” said the governor.

“You’d better comply,” Trump warned. “Otherwise, you’re not getting any federal funding.”

The governor snapped back: “We’ll see you in court.”

“Good, I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one,” POTUS said. “And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”

POTUS kept his word as later in the day, the feds started investigating Maine’s failure to comply with his order. FYI: Maine schools receive between $250 and $300 million from the feds.

At that point, Ms. P paused her rant as she waved a one-fingered salute to the driver of a Honda that splashed her.  “I don’t know the law, but (Senator) Angus King said once Congress appropriates money, the president has no right to withhold it,” she said. “Maybe,” I said. "But that is the question the two sides will argue in federal court. I don’t know how it will turn out. But I know we watched a tough 71-year-old Maine grandmother stand up to the most powerful man in the world."

“Well, Buster,” said Ms. P, the most powerful man in the world just ran head first into a buzz saw. Strong Maine women don’t knuckle under to bullies.”

OK, OK,” I said, cutting into her screed that became decidedly profane. “Don’t lecture me about strong Maine women. I was married to one for 54 years, God rest her soul. I know that once a Maine woman takes a stand, she is ready for a fight. And, if you pick the wrong side, you are in for it. Governor Mills may be a grandmother of a certain age, but she was a prosecutor, attorney general, and a darn tough pol.”

“OK, old Marine,” said Ms. P. "I knew your late bride and she was strong. You know, I do find it curious that for all the swaggering, smarmy elected officials in Washington, D.C., the one who publically stood up to POTUS was a Maine grandmother.

The old saying says: As Maine goes, so goes the nation. I wonder if that is still true,” she said clicking off ther phone after saluting another motorist who found a puddle and baptized her again.

Yes, dear readers (and my old pal Ruth Zardo,) everything is just fine.