Dogs. We love our dogs. There is something wonderful about our slobbery canine friends, be they the big happy golden retriever riding in the passenger seat of the pick up on a ride to the dump- sorry, transfer station- or the little pampered ball of fluff wagging its little tail as its master returns home.

My earliest memories involve our dogs. Freckles and Killdeer, the basset couple. Cubby, the wild mass of black fur with timber wolf ancestry. J.D and Bajelki. 

J.D. came to us from a visit to veterinarian George Holmes, he had been hit by a car and had a broken back leg, and Dr. Holmes knew his owners wouldn’t be back for him. A black lab mix, J.D. had it rough prior to coming to Sleepy Hollow, and for the rest of his life, he would get extremely upset any time voices were raised. His life partner Bajelki was a pure white Samoyed, a breed my younger brother had fallen in love with, and convinced my parents to obtain. The yin and yang of dogs.

Despite both of us growing up with dogs, my own family are rather late dog owners. For most of my adult life, I have had cats.

Cats are much more low maintenance compared to dogs, and I used to describe them as cranky roommates who don’t contribute to the rent, but at least poop in a box.

In the late spring of 2000, I had returned to Sleepy Hollow after spending the better part of a year teaching English in Taiwan. One of the last unneutered barn cats had a litter of kittens, which I took to civilizing, in the bedroom in the barn el (now my kitchen), so that they might be given away. Anyone who has dealt with barn kittens understands that they need to be exposed to humans if they are going to have any chance of being anything more than a semi-feral little murder machine. I stand by my theory that cats are at their hearts wild animals, and that they are domesticated only by choice.

Of this litter of kittens, one black and white female was particularly sociable, and was christened Winifred- Fred. Fred came with me to my first and second apartments in Rockland, and was joined by her more skittish brother (cousin? Barn cat genealogy could be a whole doctoral thesis), Augustus, AKA Gus.

My wife still talks about her introduction to Fred, who apparently was quite put out by another female in her territory. They eventually made peace, and Fred and Gus joined us in our joint apartment in downtown Damariscotta, a location selected due to its midway point between my work in Rockland, her work in Augusta, and USM, where Tracee was finishing up her degree.

And Tracee had warmed to the idea of being a cat owner, so Gus and Fred were joined by little Oliver, who was, until the end of his life, Tracee’s cat.

We went from Damariscotta to the little place on Levenseller in Searsmont, to our house on Slab City, and finally back to a freshly renovated Sleepy Hollow. Marriage and three children happened. Gus and then dear Fred passed. We cemented a relationship with PAWS in Camden, and came home with Tig and Noah, who had lived together before ending up at the shelter, and Tracee couldn’t bear to separate them. 

Somewhere along the way we ended up with Emma, a rare female ginger cat owned by my older brother, who was relocating overseas. Emma is a hunter, and was quickly dubbed “Emma the Warrior Princess” by our youngest. Oliver passed, followed by Tig and Noah, who were both older cats when they came to us.

Tracee started paying more attention to PAWS’ facebook page. It was here, in the months before the Pandemic, that a big fluffy boy named Conrad caught her eye. A mix of God-knows-what, Conrad came home to Sleepy Hollow in August of 2019.

Conrad is the epitome of good boys. Aside from his tendency to bark at invisible intruders occasionally, he is gentle and loves everyone. But he was a bit lonely, and Emma, as our last remaining cat had little patience for this big drooly mutt. So Tracee spotted a kitten on the PAWS website, with a brindle coat matching Conrad. Lyla and Conrad became fast friends, and even Emma tolerates her.

And then, at the height of the Pandemic, Tracee saw a little pup on the website who seemed to be having some difficulty being adopted. Unfortunately named “Thumbellina”, she was a young rescue with three prior failed adoptions.

Social Workers that we are, of course we had to meet her. This little misfit found a place here at Sleepy Hollow. I insisted on rechristening her Belladonna Anise- like her namesake plants, she is pretty and sweet, but also a bit toxic. I said Conrad loves everyone, but he shares a special bond with Tracee. Bella hates most, tolerates her immediate family, and quickly formed a special bond with me. So it goes.

And here we are, a family of three kids, two cats, and two dogs. And this is not to mention the downstairs family of Ma, Fritz the elderly white golden, and tomcats Peter and Benjamin. The chickens do not count. Chickens are livestock, not pets.

And when life gets tough, I look to Conrad- or even Bella- and try to be more like the dog. To just be in the moment, and appreciate that romp in the snow, that belly rub, that tasty treat- and find contentment.

Losses:

This week I learned that two great women of Lincolnville have passed. Peg Miller and Janet Plausse. Peg’s roots go back generations in this town, while Janet came here with her family in the 1970s.; both loved this town and gave so much of themselves to it. My love goes out to their families.

And it got me thinking about who carries on the torch. Small towns tend to have their heart in the elders. Those of us busy raising children and working those jobs often have little energy for keeping up with the things that make this such an amazing place. The people who keep the Bayshore Baptist and Center UCC running and contributing to our spiritual life. Who sit on town boards, run the library and historical society. Even a venerable institution like the Lincolnville Volunteer Fire Department is dependent on the elders who keep the young firefighters inspired and volunteering year after year.

They need the rest of us to step up in our time, and continue the tradition. Lincolnville is more than the place where you lay your head at night. A recent concern about a potential new development in town gave me inspiration, as townspeople who may not have thought so much about their municipality previously got involved, and took action.

Take inspiration from the lives well lived of Janet and Peg, and find a way to get involved in our town.

Middle School Basketball:

It has been quite a year for Lincolnville’s basketball teams, and this week they will both be in their division playoffs. Both teams stand undefeated this year. Wednesday the 7th, the girls will be at LCS at 3:45 p.m. Should they be victorious, the championship will be at 9 a.m. at Wiscasset Elementary on Saturday the 10th. The boys will have their playoff game at LCS on the 5th at 5 p.m. 

If you can be there, cheer on these hard playing youngsters from Lincolnville. 

That’s all I got for you this week. Snuggle a dog or a cat- or even your “pet” chicken, if you are one of those people- and try to be in the moment. Reach out to me at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Monday, February 5

School Committee, 6 p.m.LCS

Tuesday, February 6

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

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

Wednesday, February 7

Library open 2-5 p.m. 

Thursday, February 8

Conservation Committee, 4 p.m. Town Office

Friday, February 9

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

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Saturday, February 10

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Sunday, February 11

United Christian Church, 9:30 a.m. Worship, 18 Searsmont Road

Bayshore Baptist Church, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 11:00 a.m. worship, 2648 Atlantic Highway