Maine's beauty - writing to friends

Letter to Gail and Don September 10, 2017
As both you and Don know, we are fortunate to share Maine's beauty:

Edward Hopper painting- "The Long Leg"

"Maine is a gorgeous state adorned with bounteous natural beauty."

When Dick and I were engaged to be married, he couldn't wait to take me from Baltimore, to see the beauty of Maine. 

Our first "Maine date" was dinner in the quaint Town of Ogunquit, 

where we enjoyed a sunset dinner in the beauty of Perkins Cove.  

Every time we came to visit Dick's family, during his Navy years,

we marveled at the state's natural beauty as though being here was the "first time" we'd ever seen the stunning scenery.  Fall was our favorite time because the brilliant foliage colors can't be matched anywhere else.

This was an especially striking experience for us, after we lived in the Philippines.

I recall staying at Kennebunk Beach with Dick's sister, after we returned to the US,

when I would borrow her bicycle to ride all over the community for the purpose

of immersion into the beauty of the area. When we lived in Sanford, the road

north, going out of town, winding through the series of lakes formed by the ice ages, as they lead into into New Hampshire, was hypnotizing because there was never a time when it looked the same. In fact, the beauty evolved and changed.

Bicycle anniversary card, received from friends who were visiting Maine, brought a meaningful coincidence to this blog.

Those series of small lakes offer tempting views, scenes peeking through trees, while traveling into the foothills of the White Mountains. The scenes are storybook quality, every curve in the road unfolds another page of artistic beauty.  

Nevertheless, expansive beauty, viewed as far as the eyes can see, in almost every direction, comes at a weather price with lots of storms.  It's also a money price. Indeed, winter's are long, causing fuel and road maintenance to consume personal and municipal budgets.  

A research project funded by Foundation grants, reported about Maine's economy; it was determined through focus groups and surveys that people live in Maine because of the natural beauty.  

It's evident that the economy is heavily dependent on tourism, but the state's

workforce issues are putting a strain on the small businesses where hiring is 

problematic due to lack of workforce.  Tourism is a difficult "year around" employment situation, so young people do not stay to develop careers in Maine, but chose to  live where employment opportunities provide more upward mobility.

We enjoy sharing Maine's beauty with all of our friends and we welcome all to enjoy the state's hospitality. In fact, we expect guests at any time which is precisely why our two guest rooms are always prepared.

Obviously, Maryland is also a beautiful state, especially along the shores of

the stunning Chesapeake Bay.  We are all blessed to live in a beautiful

country and I pray we can continue to appreciate our wonderful friends and

the earth we have inherited. 

Yesterday, Dick and I were at Mass in Brunswick, when we noticed that a gentleman who was always seated with his wife had been sitting alone.  

Indeed, we sadly learned how his wife unexpectedly died. He cried as he told us the story about how she died at home just one day after they had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

This is a sad reminder about how we must treasure our transient time in God's creation.

Moreover, we went to a benefit event at Bowdoin College after Mass, where we made a donation to help with hurricane relief efforts in Houston and other places where weather related trauma are impacting the populations.  

Reality of the back to back experiences has caused us to pause and

give thanks for our family, friends and for the natural beauty that surrounds us.

God has loaned us Maine's natural beauty. Therefore, we share the wonder with other visitors and treasure the time we have to enjoy the immersion of nature around us. 

Thankfully, we have shared this with you, and Don and with our families and friends.

Thank you.