Today is Cinco de Mayo. Even in Maine. I believe there are commemorations in Augusta and Portland, at least. Apparently Maine like states in the west and southwest, now brings in Mexican farmworkers to work in the blueberry fields and other crops. And some of the workers have elected to stay in Maine. Not many yet. But I recall when Georgia was 52% African-American and 47.55 white and .5% "other." Now Georgia has a significant Hispanic population. From what I can tell, housing and food are less expensive in Maine; depending on the town, property tax can be higher; gas is high; fuel oil is high (a lot (a lot!) of people still use wood stoves here; Lowe's and Home Depot sell a lot of log splitters - do-it-yourself log splitting! And even people who use fuel oil or propane, often have a wood stove as a backup. We've considered it, but if we did that, it would probably be a pellet stove.) At any rate, I look forward to seeing more and more diversity in Maine!
Today is also the day the city is picking up yard waste, meaning pruned branches and leaves (which must be bagged). We've had such lousy weather - seemingly every other day rain - and I unusually busy, so that I did not get to as much in our yard as last year. I did cut back the forsythia, the beach rose, and the hydrangea. But not the already overgrown bush/trees at the back of the property.
I did not win the local library's poetry contest; I did not even receive an honorable mention. Oh well. I admit I did not work hard at the poem I submitted this year; I like it very much, but I do not think it "fit" the library's "topic" in the way that they likely wished entries to do. The results were announced and the winning poems read while I was out of town - on my trip to Connecticut.
The trip was good - also a whirlwind during which it seemed I ate too many meals in too many restaurants. But my CT scan results were good - that's 4 years! 365 days (now down to 335?) to reach that important 5 year milestone. A co-worker in my group - the 1 person in the group who has been there longer than I - announced her (early) retirement. Good for her; a little stressful for those of us remaining, as there is already too much work. Hopefully they'll replace her quickly.
My daughter's been struggling through the ups and downs of a new job in a far-away place - the Philippines. It's always hard to learn life lessons, even in the best of circumstances, but far from family and friends, in challenging circumstances and in the midst of work that one feels is important - even harder.
My ex and his partner are off on a 3+ week jaunt through (mostly) Italy, although I understand an incorrectly purchased ticket serendipitously took them on a short visit to Switzerland. The email and Facebook postings suggest a good time is being had, which both of them really really deserve.
I am drawn more and more into the inner workings of the local synagogue, as I have been asked to agree to be the new treasurer. I turned down the request the first time I was asked, but when I was asked again, I finally agreed - on a short-term basis only, making it clear that 2 years is all I will commit to. The annual meeting at which I will be nominated and, presumably, elected, has yet to happen, but already I am drawn in to multiple meetings and some synagogue politics. What is it about we human beings? I know they say "2 Jews, 3 opinions" but I think it is human nature. Sometime ago, NPR's website ran a column inviting people to post Six Word Philosophies - saying in 6 words, your philosophy toward life. I quoted Rodney King (do you remember Rodney King? How quickly we do forget!): "Can't we all just get along?"
My car is unhappy. I don't know exactly what ails it, but I've had it a long time and I sense that something is bothering it. (When the engine is warm, it ... runs unevenly; I guess that's as specific as I can be.) This troubles me because I am flying to Atlanta on Thursday (for my younger grandson's 3rd birthday on Friday), and that means a 90 mile drive to the Portland airport (and, of course, a 90 mile drive home next Monday evening). Worrying about the car has put a damper on my anticipation for the visit to my son, daughter-in-law and grandsons. I was able to get non-stop flights, which is great - after a 1-1/2 hour or more drive, it's not fun to look forward to an airport layover, running with luggage to get to another gate, etc. If I can solve the car problem, I know I'll have a wonderful visit.
Last week was my first week in a 6-week T'ai Chi course through a local community organization and my first week in a 6-week beginner ukulele course at the Bay City Chamber Music building in Rockport, the same course/teacher that David finished not long ago. He's now taking intermediate ukulele a different night. I liked both classes. I found the T'ai Chi more physically demanding than I recall it having been in Connecticut. But that's good.
David's permanent part-time job was finally made full-time. That's good for several reasons - money, earning vacation - but also physically demanding. By this time last year, David was working full-time as a seasonal employee, but Lowe's also had a permanent part-time person so there were 2 people doing the job he's now doing by himself. Supposedly they have made an offer to someone for a seasonal job. Meanwhile, it's taking a lot out of him.
So that's what's going on. Otherwise on my mind:
- my co-worker's retirement - making me feel how close and far away my own is;
- CT scan results and a dear friend's brother's cancer diagnosis
- snipping and snapping among coreligionists - being a Jew, what an "interfaith" couple means when neither person has "faith";
- a hail storm yesterday and Ella cowering in a tiny space between the couch and the radiator;
- racism in America, how Sterling was left undisturbed for decades and now there's so much self-righteousness;
- governmental intrusion, Guantanamo, what a disappointment Obama is;'
- reading "Junkyard Planet" - being reminded that in the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra, we have yet to begin to touch "reduce";
- aging - how you can reach your seventh decade without feeling "old," as if "old" is a soccer ball you keep kicking out in front of you as you move through life - I'm not "old" yet, not yet, not yet...
- a gaggle of teenage girls on the street this morning, chattering away, waiting for the bus - probably 15 year olds - me thinking how they will be my age in 2065! And I'll be dust.
Peace.
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