Mon, 09/30/2024 - 6:14pm

Ed O’Brien

A fine looking Lincolnville bobcat, its image captured by Corelyn’s trail cam. (Photo by Corelyn Senn)

The road goes ever on. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

A fine looking Lincolnville bobcat, its image captured by Corelyn’s trail cam. (Photo by Corelyn Senn)

The road goes ever on. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

My youngest son turns 13 today. I will take my daughter on our first college tours next weekend. My wife and I celebrated 19 years of marriage last week. My 50th birthday approaches in a few short months.

And yet my days of climbing trees, sledding in the fields of north Lincolnville, arguing about our favorite Star Wars characters on the LCS playground do not seem so long ago. Those days lasted forever.

Maybe it is human nature that time appears to move faster as you get older and I am far from the first to observe this. So I am trying to figure out ways of slowing things down. After all, it is just a matter of perspective.

Who knows if this can be successful, but maybe if I try to practice what a preach and slow down my brain, allowing myself to be more present in the moment, I can combat to perception that time is rushing by?

Autumn on the coast of Maine seems like the appropriate time to try this. As the leaves turn and fall, as we prepare for winter, it is such a sensory experience. I have been trying to get more steps in (again, 50 is approaching), and I find walking with my little dog is the perfect time to allow myself to just appreciate the moment, and take in all the sensory information. The sounds of the leaves, of acorns falling in the trees; the way the cool breezes feel, and the downright chilly mornings and evenings; how the light just seems different, and all the colors that Fall brings.

I will try to be mentally present for my family, even while allowing my teenagers to continue to expand out into their own worlds. And if this means spending a good chunk of a Sunday traveling to Augusta to go to Spirit Halloween with three adolescents plus the bonus girlfriend, so be it. It was fun, and I’ve almost got my costume together.

The wood still needs to be stacked into the woodshed, but my older brother said he’d come up to help, and I’m taking him up on it. Stacking wood, very mindful.

Time moves ever forward, but I’m betting that if I stay focused on the present, it might not go so fast.

Whale’s Tooth

The Whale’s Tooth Pub recently announced that they have put the business up for sale and will be closing on October 14. In a post on social media, Chris and Marie Nickerson thanked the community for its support over the years, and that they will be focusing on spending time with family who are out of state.

For their final weeks, the Tooth will be welcoming the community with discounted food and drinks Tuesday through Sunday. Stop by and say hello and farewell, the community will miss its year round restaurant on the Beach.

Yard Signs

I shouldn’t have to mention this, but those yard signs I have mentioned previously, if they aren’t yours, don’t touch them. I don’t care how much you detest that candidate-you-hate, and how they will clearly single handedly destroy America, hands off other people’s property.

I bring this up thanks to a post on the Lincolnville Bulletin Board e-mail group, where a resident observed a passer by pull up political signs in front of their house. Not only is this extremely un-neighborly, but it is illegal, punishable by fines and even jail time.

If you must, whisper “idiot” to yourself when you drive by, or better yet, smile and wave at your neighbor with terrible political views, and vote for the person you prefer, on November 5. If you can’t wait, request a mail in ballot, and vote now. Encourage others to register and to vote, volunteer for the candidate you like. Be a democracy nerd, not a petty vandal.

Enjoy the first week in October, Lincolnville. Take the time to slow down, and appreciate the moment you are in. Reach out to me if there is something you would like me to add to the column, I am generally happy to report on anything that involves Lincolnville, at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

CALENDAR

Monday, September 30

Lincolnville Historical Society Museum open, 1-4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

Tuesday, October 1

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Wednesday, October 2

Lincolnville Historical Society Museum open, 1-4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

Library open 2-5 p.m.

Friday, October 4

Lincolnville Historical Society Museum open, 1-4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road