Sun, 04/14/2024 - 2:15pm

Ed O’Brien

The dooryard flower bed with its first blooms. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The first lettuce seedlings hit the garden. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The dooryard flower bed with its first blooms. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The first lettuce seedlings hit the garden. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The transformation is always dramatic, as the dead world of winter turns to spring. This week, in spite of all the gray rainy days, it felt like the corner had been turned and the season had shifted.

A little story about this time of year. Growing up, my mom had a friend, Hoppy. She lived in a very old house just over the Northport line on Atlantic Highway, where she kept incredible gardens. I would later spend many hours in my early teen years weeding those gardens for her, as she stood over me and smoked, teaching me to distinguish the plants from the weeds.

Hoppy and her husband Bob — quite a character that he was — were kind of like another set of surrogate grandparents to us kids. And it was Hoppy who, gifted my younger brother with Boogie Bear when he was just a toddler.

As far as I can remember, I never had a special stuffed animal or blanket, but my brother had Boogie. A small teddy bear, with a shiny brown nose, he soon obtained his own orange hand knit hat and sweater, and was a frequent companion to my little brother.

I had assumed upon his birth that having a little brother would mean I would have someone to pick on, as this is the natural order of siblings, right? But I found myself really fond of the little boy he grew into, and we spent a lot of time together. Maybe I felt I had the responsibility to mold him as I saw fit. If that was the case, I failed.

So Boogie Bear. This time of year in the early 1980s meant it was time to search for “Boogie’s Signs of Spring”. We would grab a basket and set Boogie in it, snug in his hat and sweater, and set out into the muddy environs around Sleepy Hollow, and search for signs that the winter was over. Bluets from the cow pasture (ducking under the electric fence), pussy willows along the side of the road, a blooming forsythia branch….

Maybe, if we went out a bit early, a pine cone, or a bird feather, or a blade of grass that was still a bit green would count. When you are seven and three you aren’t too picky.

When Boogie’s basket was full, we would bring our treasures to show our mother, likely wet and covered in mud. I would assume, though, she had to have been pleased that I had gotten my brother out of her hair for an hour or two.

Although, I also remember how a friend, who had no little brother of his own, and I convinced my little brother to roll around in the mud pit at the pasture gate. My father was not impressed, and we had to bathe the muck encrusted toddler, feeling completely put-upon, as in our eyes, my brother was the one to dive into the mud of his own volition. We just told him to do it, and laughed while he did.

I didn’t realize, until I started writing about this, how much those excursions affected me, as I walk the same places 40 years later, still looking for signs of spring. I note every small change in the early part of the season, waiting for the point where it all bursts forth.

Hoppy is long gone, with Point Lookout standing where her home and gardens once sprawled. My toddler brother is a grown man who walks with his own little girl around the environs of their home, likely pointing out the signs of spring to her. He has also become quite the gardener, with a huge variety of fruit trees and berry bushes. Boogie would be pleased.

Congratulations

Camden Hills senior Jaden Johnson of Lincolnville is the recipient of the 2024 Maine Principal’s Award. Way to go Jaden, and highly deserved! Though, in my head she will always be the little girl running around with her little sister and my kids. Time can sure get away from you…

Okay that’s what I got Lincolnville. Enjoy April vacation, kids and parents. Whether you are headed to some place that isn’t here, or just sticking around Lincolnville, I hope you have fun. Even if you’re stuck at work. Find some signs of spring, be nice, and reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com

CALENDAR

Monday, April 15

Patriot’s Day, Town Office closed

Tuesday, April 16

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

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

Wednesday, April 17

Library open 2-5 p.m.

Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, 6:30 p.m. Town Office

Thursday April 18

Town and School Budget Public Hearing, Budget Committee, 6 p.m. Town Office

Friday April 19