Things that matter

I don't even know how to write about the past  weeks since I last wrote - and even before, since my last trip to Connecticut.  The overarching shadow over all has been stress:  stress at work, stress about taking on the treasurer role at the synagogue, stress about my daughter's life and stress about the plight of the world.

I think I may have been made gun shy about posting to (or at least about what I post to) this "blog"  during my last visit to Connecticut.  While I sat with friends one evening, personal "blogs" came to be the subject of some gentle mocking by friends.  Of course, I don't think the friends' intention was to mock me specifically - several didn't even know about this "blog" -  but nonetheless, the ribbing made me look and think with a more critical (and hesitant) eye at posting here.

I don't think I've been a poster of "I got up, and had this and this for breakfast, went to the grocery store, took a shower, ate lunch..." type posts - but on the other hand, what if I have on occasion?  Perhaps I need to remind myself that although I am pleased if/when any friends (or even others) read anything I've posted here, my main purpose for writing here is for myself (and perhaps, someday, for my children and grandchildren).  This so-called "blog" has never aimed to provide highfalutin spiritual, political or ideological commentary on the meaning of life nor is it based on the belief that anyone - even me - is interested in documenting a daily/hourly journal of my daily thoughts or activities.  

When I began here, I wanted to record what it felt like to uproot my life (yet again)  and move to a new place, and specifically THIS place - a  city of 7,500 on the coast of a largely uninhabited state (all of Maine has 1,500,000 residents; Queens, NY had more than that; even Connecticut - a much smaller state - had about 4,000,000 people), to own a house for the first time since 1977, to join a new Jewish community,  living with David, putting down roots - real roots - for the first time in my entire life, growing old here and facing whatever the rest of life brings.

If giving a sense of life here gives rise to smiles - well, good, can't we all laugh more?  For example, another example of a sequence of events from this week's Free Press calendar of events:

 •  Mutt Scrub in Boothbay Harbor, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Two Salty Dogs, 22 Mc-Kown St. DJ Meow Meow hosts a doggie talent show at 1 p.m. Doggie Musical Chairs at noon and 2 p.m. Dog washing, raffles, treats for humans and dogs, nail trimming and face painting. Donations go to Lincoln County Animal Shelter.
• "Unleashing God: Ezekiel and the Northern Lights," 3-4:30 p.m., Old Professor's Bookshop, 99 Main St., Belfast. The free presentation is given by the Old Professor himself.
• "Front Porch and Log Cabin: The Presidents' Homes and the Presidential Image," 2 p.m., Rockland Library. Architectural historian Esley Hamilton gives the free presentation.

Perhaps conveying some idea of what it feels like to live here - like this - walking Ella at just after sunrise, through thick Maine fog.

And always, if my eyes are open, finding beauty in small things - like the dawn sun on the water, turning it golden, a flock of ducks zigging through the glowing sea, another day beginning, breathing deep, and finding hope:

Peace.