Showing off for the guests

Tue, 08/29/2023 - 5:30pm

Ed O’Brien

One of Andy I. O’Brien’s daily beach photos. His summer project has been to ride his bike down and get a photo every day. (Photo by Andy I. O’Brien)

Don Heald in the front row at the Grange this spring. He could not stop talking about how thrilled he was to take in one more bean supper at the old Grange. (Photo by Tracee O’Brien)

Larry Di Giovanne and his grandson, Zac. (Photo by Meg Conley)

One of Andy I. O’Brien’s daily beach photos. His summer project has been to ride his bike down and get a photo every day. (Photo by Andy I. O’Brien)

Don Heald in the front row at the Grange this spring. He could not stop talking about how thrilled he was to take in one more bean supper at the old Grange. (Photo by Tracee O’Brien)

Larry Di Giovanne and his grandson, Zac. (Photo by Meg Conley)

One of the realities of living in Midcoast Maine is you can probably expect company in the summer. People will want to come to see you; old friends, relatives, friends of friends who are passing through. And I think probably most of us love this.

We get the opportunity to share this beautiful place, to bask in the compliments of guests- generally praising something we have zero control over: the natural beauty of our environment.

There are a number of places in this state that I only visited because someone from away heard it was not to be missed. I generally only eat lobster because a guest just had to get some while they were here.

I grew up with this old farmhouse being regularly taken over by relatives; tents in the backyard, sleeping bags in the screen porch. People I might only see once a year, bringing stories from far off places, coolers full of their local delicacies. Lots of picnics at Ducktrap, the summer we rented a cottage on Norton’s Pond with a bunch of cousins I had never met.

This was a frequent occurrence in my convoluted family, with new family members being discovered with astonishing regularity. In fact just this summer brought a newly-discovered cousin to the supper table downstairs, bearing tales of a largely unknown branch of the extended family.

This is the time of year when our young people head off to college, spreading their wings and exploring the world beyond this little place on their own. But most will be back soon, on breaks, and often bringing their own guests.

As a teenager, I remember feeling vaguely embarrassed of this old farm, with its barnyard full of squawking fowl of various species, the dairy cow, the dusty old pony. But after arriving at my little private liberal arts college in Southern Massachusetts, where so many of my new classmates had grown up in similar affluent suburbs, I began to realize that where and how I grew up was actually pretty darn cool.

So as well as aunts and uncles and cousins, there were a number of young people rotating through this old house all summer: new friends, girlfriends, ex-girlfriends… as three young men showed off this amazing place where we grew up, and our quirky- and suddenly incredibly hip- parents.

I recognize that the time is not far off when my own children will spread their wings and- hopefully- leave this little place. I want them to know that Lincolnville will be waiting for them when they want to come back. I hope they bring their own visitors. That would be neat.

Two Great Men

Lincolnville recently lost two very good men.

Larry Di Giovanne, my next door neighbor for all those years we lived on Slab City Road. Larry was a Vietnam Veteran, and well respected police officer in New Jersey before moving up to Maine 25 years ago. But I suspect it was his role as husband, father, and grandfather which brought him the most satisfaction. A kind, quiet man, and the perfect foil for his more outgoing wife and daughter. He will be missed.

And Don “Dukey” Heald. Don had been a Lincolnville fixture for nearly 90 years. On his farm up on Belfast Road, playing clarinet in the Lincolnville Town Band, faithfully attending Sunday morning services at the Lincolnville UCC. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Don at the Grange supper and Strawberry Festival earlier this year. He loved this town so much.

So this week my wife and I will attempt to get the kids back on something resembling a normal schedule in anticipation for the first day of school at LCS, and Camden Hills Regional High on September 5. I extend my most sincere best wishes to all the parents who are facing this difficult task. Best of luck. And to the rest of Lincolnville and beyond, be kind, do good. Reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

CALENDAR

Monday, August 28

Select Board, 6p.m., Town Office

Tuesday, August 29

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

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

Lakes and Ponds Committee, 7p.m., Town Office

Wednesday, August 30

Library open 2-5p.m.

Thursday, August 31

Athletic Infrastructure Committee, 5p.m., Town Office

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