My Missouri cousin, whom we visited every summer, was an only child, like me. We were born three days apart. His name was Jay, and mine was Kay. I loved visiting them. His mom was, “Oh, let the kids go play, they’ll be OK.” My mom was a total watchdog and I couldn’t make a […]
Meetinghouse
Jan Ryder, Portland: With power and precision, doctor fought cancer alongside us
When my first husband was diagnosed with cancer, I entered a world I never knew. In order to fight alongside him, I had a lot to learn. I was a fish out of water. You never gasp at air as much as when you feel your loved one is sinking and you don’t know how […]
Carolynn Floryan, Yarmouth: Banjo’s big adventure on the ice
I have a river dog, actually a Royal River dog, Banjo (rescued from Georgia). He is orange with a “pedigree” tail – fluffy like a collie’s, but it curls beyond 360 degrees 99 percent of the time. It’s a happy tail. We live by the river where the fresh water mingles with the salt water. […]
Carole Cochran, Boothbay Harbor: The wrong dress, the right boy
It was supposed to be the best weekend ever. I was 16, in love with my first boyfriend, and was to travel on a train from Baltimore to Virginia to see him. Peter had invited me to visit him at his boarding school in Virginia, for a weekend of football games and a dinner dance. […]
J. Lauren Sangster, Portland: It’s not easy to get back in the water
Mike and I were very different personalities. We had varied shared interests, along with our individual ones. We learned how each of us needed to move through the relationship, and over time adjusted how we interacted. He trusted my opinion on decorating our home. I trusted his on which wine goes with what meal. We […]
C.J. Orser, Saco: Glad to be together as they weather a whole new challenge
For my sister, “Let’s go” used to be defined by coaxing her two sons to get out of bed, ready for school and in the car before being late. However, at the ages of 80 and 82, she and her husband have drastically turned to a whole new chapter. My sister and her loving husband […]
Cheryl A. Stringer, New Gloucester: BYO red hot dogs on ‘budget tours’ of Prince Edward Island
For more than a decade, starting in the mid ’80s, members of my family made trips to Prince Edward Island. My brother-in-law John, for whom PEI is akin to paradise, often took the lead in planning these excursions. We had limited funds, so we pooled our resources to get the most out of our vacations. […]
J. Lauren Sangster, Portland: ‘Let’s go home,’ and savoring the peace and joy that follow
There was no stopping me as I burned the candle at both ends before my “let’s go have fun” mojo disappeared a few years ago. I’ve rediscovered the mojo, but it feels radically altered, with little desire to participate in many of my old activities. Gone are the days of regular, elaborate dinners with wine, […]
Joe Beardsley, Poland: From a man of many words, two that have made a difference
Professionals often have opportunities to attend out-of-town meetings. I attended one just after I moved to a new church. The timing is never convenient. However, I found the setting both comfortable and comforting. We were hosted by a famed author-speaker (whose name the reader would recognize). He had not only best-sellers to his credit but […]
Kate Cone, Waterville: Reaping ample rewards for finding the courage to fly again
My first plane trip was to Japan in 1959. I was 5 years old. Dad had received his orders – three years stationed at Tachikawa Air Force Base. We were so many and so young, we had a group passport picture: My harried mother stood clutching my baby brother Tom, four kids under the age […]