I will try, once again, to create a chronicle of my life in Maine...and anywhere else fate has in store. It seems fitting that Easter-time is a fitting place to start since, for many of us, it commemorates a new beginning...the phenomenon of Christianity. Also, the month of April heralds the emergence of the spring season. Flowering buds burst forth displaying their colorful joy that the worst of winter has passed while exemplifying trust in that which is yet to come. Daylight hours remain chilly, here, with a brisk wind. However, the warmth of the sun is becoming more apparent encouraging me to venture outside without layers of insulative clothing. Walks on the beach are a somewhat different matter...still calling for wind pants, jackets, and gloves (a few times I've even needed to wear a knitted hat...I hate wearing hats).
Yesterday's walk on Wells Beach was spattered with sunshine as gray-bottomed wind clouds scudded across the sky. Then I spent time preparing church bulletins on the computer for my church's forthcoming Easter sunrise and Easter worship services. The one for the Maundy Thursday service is done and copied, ready for distribution at Thursday evening's service. The love my life, Ken, interrupted my efforts at 11:30 PM with a phone call that he had fallen asleep on the bus from Boston, where he works, missing the stop in Portsmouth (where his car was parked) and departed the bus in Dover. He wanted to let me know that the next bus back to Portsmouth would be at 2:30 AM, and that he'd be late arriving home...so, guess who made a trip to the Dover bus terminal, then to the Portsmouth transportation center to deliver him to his car so that he could get some sleep before leaving for work, this morning, at 9 AM.
My plans for today include starting to get my income tax forms completed, with a beach walk fitted in at some point.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Spring, summer and autumn slipped by without attention to this blog. Now that I have more time at my disposal future additions may become a more frequent reality.
The change of seasons spawned an active summer for the hospitality industry but with local activities slowing to a crawl tourists become involved elsewhere and, therefore, I join them. The major reward has been the the successful effort expended on behalf of marriage equality in the state. Maine became the first state in the Union to sanction marriage of same-sex couples by the vote of the people. Friend Larry came from Oregon to become involved while Ken and I enthusiastic-ally joined the time consuming effort.
December brought a change of pace, subtly, as we resumed our services serving 70-100 free meals, per week, to local area seniors alongside other Soup's On volunteers. I also took on coordinator responsibilities for my church's Santa's Toybox community outreach program where the public is invited to "shop" for free donated children's toys, games, books and clothing to give as Christmas gifts. Ken assisted in this project and we helped 40-50 area families prepare for a fuller Christmas than they otherwise would have.
Today, I'm winding down. The town's Christmas parade was held yesterday along State Route 1 that passes in front of the mobile home park's entrance drive thereby prohibiting access and egress. I watched the parade, camera in hand, then walked 1-1/2 miles (round trip) for exercise.
t)Saturday, December 15, 2012
Pray for Newtown (Connecticut)...20 children and 6 adults killed, yesterday, when a grammar school was assaulted by a disturbed 20-year old gunman!!
How do the parents of those lost young sons and daughters start the day? Without the excited clamor that accompanies the season of Christmas. With hastily wrapped gifts lovingly hidden from prying eyes and inquisitive touches of exploring fingers. Without the good morning hugs so impatiently pulled away from in favor of preparations for a new day. How do they carry on...or do they.
I try to place myself in their shoes, trying to experience which sources of comfort might be most effective. I cannot quite get to that point, never having experienced the loss of a young child. I can envision the experience of losing a young grand-niece or grand-nephew, but to translate that loss to a child of my own seems beyond my comprehension. Would my faith sustain me? Would that, along with my circle of caring family members, friends and acquaintances, lift me from what must be such a deep dark hole of despair? Might communication with others who have experienced similar horrific trauma help? I simply do not know, and all that I can do at this point is to lift my prayers for the well being of those parents.
But, I can join forces with those who will attempt to effect changes which will discourage, if not end, the continuance of similar atrocities. According to respected sources, two basic elements need to be addressed...gun control, along with increased education and counseling related to mental instability.
Relating to gun control, it seems plausible to agree that our congressional leaders so fear their loss of position due to the pressures of the National Rifle Association's deep campaign pockets that they will not seriously oppose the association's objections to the control of personal firearms. In that case, would it not be a challenge to the general constituency to override that fear with the fear of congressional position loss at the hands of the electorate in succeeding Novembers?
As to mental health, can we not add our support to the need for greater awareness and funding where needed, be it with school programs, private clinics, or other appropriate areas as suggested by proven trusted sources?
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