A note to readers of This Week in Lincolnville: it’s been a boring winter, weatherwise, leaving us housebound. The incredible political season with its 24-hour, round the clock cable coverage has us mesmerized. Bear with me here as we all prepare to caucus this coming weekend: The summer I was 16, my friend, Linda, and I crashed the Republican National Convention. Well, crashing it was our intention, but to be honest, we kind of hung out in hotel lobbies and mingled with the delegates. I think we had a plan to say we were the daughters of a delegate, but it didn’t even get that far. No one paid any attention to us. Still it was an adventure, riding the El into the city, wandering around the Loop, finding the big hotels. We knew the Convention was a big deal for our city and for our country and we wanted to get a look at it.

We actually were the daughters of loyal Republicans; in fact, I doubt you could have found more than a tiny handful of Democrats in our whole, lily-white WASP suburb, and if you did find them they’d never have admitted it. During an earlier election, either 1952 or 1956, I’d told another girl that naturally my parents were voting for Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson over the Republican Dwight Eisenhower, assuming they’d want our own governor to be president. When word of my comment got back to my mother, as word always did get back to your mother in those more innocent times, I got two quick lessons in what never to tell another person. First, your political inclinations, especially not your parents’ inclinations, and second, that my parents were forever Republicans. Adlai Stevenson indeed!

         I guess I grew up in a political household. Television was the new thing in the 1950s, and big events, political events could play all day long. According to Life magazine, "the week of March 12, 1951, will occupy a special place in history. . . people had suddenly gone indoors into living rooms, taverns, and clubrooms, auditoriums and back-offices. There, in eerie half-light, looking at millions of small frosty screens, people sat as if charmed. Never before had the attention of the nation been riveted so completely on a single matter." Known as the Kefauver hearings, investigating organized crime, they went on until 1960. Years later I realized that the really good-looking Special Consul I’d had a crush on as a little girl was actually Robert Kennedy, brother to the President of my late teens.

         The two parties’ National Conventions were always fascinating, and in our house, we watched them until late into the night. It would be years before their real meaning became clear, when I understood “platforms” and “party” and the differences in the two.

         Then came the 1968 Democratic Convention, (yes, another one held in Chicago). If you’re old enough to remember 1968 then you too probably can still conjur up the scenes of young people being beaten by police, by riots and turmoil throughout our country. And you remember Vietnam.

         That very word — Vietnam — will never be neutral for people of my generation, never just the name of an Asian country. I believe the Vietnam War era — 1965-1973 — marked the end of optimism in our country and of trust in our government. My own involvement was minimal; I lost no one close to me, knew only a handful of boys who even served, and as female, never had to worry about the draft. I was insulated and privileged from the horror in nearly every way. Except that I believed from the beginning that it was wrong, that in some inexplicable way, the government was lying to us.

It’s hard to imagine, from this perspective in 2016 and with most people too young to remember, how we Americans were impacted by Vietnam. It was also the start of the split between us – conservative-liberal, military-pacifist, Republican-Democrat, rich-poor, black-white, Christian-Muslim, gay-straight — all the awful ways we’ve found to separate ourselves from each other. Just as lying and deceit and manipulation in our personal relationships break down families, so did our government’s actions tear us apart as a nation. Is that too much of a stretch? And that brings us to today, a day I’ve been waiting for.

The word “revolution” is at last being spoken out loud.

Bernie Sanders, a most unlikely candidate for the Democrats, unabashedly calls for a political revolution. Donald Trump, an equally unlikely candidate, doesn’t use the word, but by his brash celebrity seems to be actually dismantling the Republican party, a revolution of sorts, isn’t it? Both are appealing to a large number of citizens who find themselves, at the least, dissatisfied with the status quo including  this Republican-by-birth-but-Democrat-by-choice. The turmoil on the right is being watched with a certain amount of glee by those of us on the left, even as our side is being challenged to go way beyond the status quo.

That status quo which puts money and power before people’s needs isn’t working for most of us anymore. The millionaires and billionaires don’t need more money. I don’t care how “hard they’ve worked for it”. Who works harder than the women cleaning offices at night, the aides in nursing homes, the farm laborers, the caretakers of the disabled? The lowest paying jobs in our society, many of them caring for our loved ones?

The old formula of cutting taxes so the wealthy can invest in more jobs – does anyone really believe that anymore? Lift regulations so business can provide more jobs? Believe that? Trickle down economics. Will your boat be lifted?

Did you know that an asthma inhaler that costs $100+ in this country costs under $5 in Taiwan? That an older local couple, both working and with medical insurance, must pay $4000 for a diagnostic procedure after insurance pays?

That we’re one of only a few “developed” countries that doesn’t give new parents leave (often paid leave) to spend time together with their newborn? We say a high school diploma isn’t enough for success, even minimal success, then plunge our young people into debt for decades just to get qualified enough to support themselves.

And finally, the immigration/refugee/asylum seekers issue. Do we really believe that our country and our hearts aren’t big enough to make room for these often desperate and suffering people? That our country and economy can’t benefit from the skill and education many of them bring to us? Are we really as mean-spirited as some of our so-called “leaders” appear to be?

I’ve said for a long time that I want to live to see a woman President. But after many conversations with family and friends, I realize that what I want even more is to see a socialist become President, unlikely as that is.

         This week-end the two political parties hold their caucuses to indicate preference for their Presidential candidate. First up, on Saturday, March 5 Lincolnville Republicans meet at the Belfast High School, 98 Waldo Avenue at 9 a.m., along with voters from all other Waldo County towns. Only registered Republicans can participate; unenrolled voters can register as Republicans at the town office before Saturday, or can register one hour before the start, i.e. 8 a.m. on. There is no absentee voting for the Republican Caucus. The vote opens at 9 a.m., presidential speeches and other speakers follow with the caucus closing at noon.

         This Friday, March 4 at 11 a.m., Jessica Day will once again be leading Music Together for families with children, age newborn to five; bring your child and sing, move shake and explore musical instruments together with Jess. As Librarian Sheila Polson says “It has been wonderful to watch all the moms and dads and little ones singing, dancing and having fun together at these programs and we look forward to seeing everyone again this Friday!” This series is sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank.

         Deanna Bonner-Ganter, the recently retired curator of photography, art and archives at the Maine State Museum, will present “Kosti Ruohomaa, Legendary Photographer of Maine” this Wednesday, March 2, 7 p.m. at the library. Ruohomma, was a Finnish-American photographer whose work was published in national magazines, including "Life" and "National Geographic," in the 1940s and '50s. Deanna curated the exhibition “The Passionate Photographer: Kosti Ruohomaa’s Maine in Magazine Photojournalism,” that is now on display at the Maine State Museum. She’s also written “Kosti Ruohomaa: The Photographer Poet”  published by Down East. There is no charge for the program. 

         In another note from the Library, on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, 4-6 p.m., any and all are invited to bring their favorite knitting, crocheting or sewing project to work on while sitting and chatting with others at the library. The tea kettle will be on and volunteers will be there to help with patterns and stitches. The Library will still be open during those hours for reading, Internet and computer use and to check out books.

         Simon van der Ven, writes from his pottery studio in Lincolnville Center, that with winter passing, it’s time for a  sale! “At the beginning of 2015 I decided to switch my focus from product to project intending to spend my energy and studio time making art that I didn't already know how to make. One year turned into a second, and the projects are well underway. I like what's happening.” And I like what he says. The best thing to liven up your life is change your way of thinking, whether you’re an artist or a potter, a gardener or, I imagine, an accountant.      

         Sim goes on to say, “I'm hosting an OPEN STUDIO, March 4 and 5, which includes a HUGE SALE. Most items in the gallery will be marked down 10 to 50%! I'll be open from 10 to 4 each day. If you've been thinking about owning a van der Ven original for some time now, or want to add to your collection, this is a particularly good time to act.  Free cookies!” As for the van der Ven original, one of the most beautiful things I own is a vase Sim made. I enjoy looking at it as much now as when I first got it….

         And then, just to see how diverse we are here in this little town, Emilia and Jed at 3 Bug Farm are now accepting seedling orders for spring planting. Their order form includes many varieties of greens, onions, herbs, flowers, tomatoes, peppers. I brought home a wonderful selection of healthy little plants last spring, and all did really well. 3 Bug is on Hope Road, just past the Moody Mountain Road intersection.

         Maine artists, age 50 and older are invited to enter the June 9-12 Festival of Art held in Belfast. Entry deadline is March 31, 2016; contact Juliane Dow,or at 338-8033.

Around Town

          Sympathy to the family of Lawrence Wade, lifetime Ducktrap resident, who passed away last week.

          Did you get married at United Christian Church? With an eye to a June celebration of such marriages, a list is being compiled of couples who were married there, both living and deceased. Contact me, Diane.

          Finally, the Lincolnville Historical Society is trying to determine the cabin site of our first settlers, Nathan and Lydia Knight. Can anyone show us?? Again, contact me.