Full of Maple Grace

On March 25, 2018, Mainers all over the state traveled to family-owned farms to celebrate the 35^th anniversary of Maine Maple Sunday, a.k.a. Sugar Shack Sunday, and I was one of them. My only regret is that I waited thirty-five years to make the trip! Following the good advice of several friends, my husband and I left Bath at noon and traveled 30 minutes north to the Goranson Farm in Dresden. As soon as I glimpsed the maple trees at the side of the road and the sugar shack in the distance, I felt a rush of excitement. The Goranson Farm is owned and operated by Jan Goranson and Rob Johanson. Surrounded by beautiful fields, this gem of a farm was started by Jan’s mother and father, Geneva and Everett, in the 1960s. Today, it boasts state-of-the-art greenhouses, MOFGA certified organic vegetables, berries, meats and pure Maine maple syrup. And their sugar-shack tours draw a crowd! 

After finding a coveted parking space, we walked toward the farm and passed a row of maple trees sporting maple-sap buckets. I had to stop and take a picture. Then I aimed my camera at the open field to capture a panoramic view of tractors and farm equipment parked along the horizon. I had been anticipating the flavor of hot maple donuts, but I never expected the view to taste so good! This gray Sunday was beginning to glow. When I started to move again, I noticed the group of people walking in front of me, and I was struck by how they were dressed. Some were wearing heavy coats with warm woolen hats, and others were wearing light jackets or vests. Clearly, in the finicky month of March, there is only one rule: Wear boots! How I wish I was better at following rules! I looked down at my feet. In the land of big boots, I was wearing clog-like shoes, but I wouldn’t let a beginner’s mistake ruin my fun. In that moment, I discovered the true sweetness of Sugar Shack Sunday. I stepped in a muddy puddle and laughed out loud.

The line for the Sugar-Shack tour

On this sugar-high holiday, you’re allowed to indulge in hot maple donuts, cold maple sundaes, ginger cookies, and melt-in-your-mouth maple candy. And you're allowed to jump in puddles like a child. Who invented this Maine madness? I wanted to shout "Olé!" But then the sun went in, the wind kicked up, and we spotted the long line of people waiting to enter the sugar shack. It looked like a thirty-minute wait, and I uttered two little words, “Oh, no!” As we waited, an anonymous poem danced in my head: “Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can, seldom in a woman and never in a …” Joe said, “Let’s check out this greenhouse over here.” I felt disappointed as we left the line, but it was warm in the greenhouse, and it was refreshing to see those rows of young plants looking for the sun! All that green filled us with energy. And when we stepped outside, the line was shorter. A large group had just entered the shack, so we decided to try again. But this time I was fifth in line and feeling lucky! When we entered the shack, we found ourselves directly in front of a large wood-fired boiler and a metal bucket filled with hot maple syrup.

Rob Johanson at work

The man in charge turned around and introduced himself as Rob Johanson. The twinkle in his blue eyes reminded me of Paul Newman; then his clear and steady voice called for our attention. He started to explain how to make maple syrup, and his straight-forward delivery seemed to reach everyone. As I looked around the shack, I could see that little ones as young as three and four, and older ones as old as sixty and seventy were listening with their eyes and hearts wide open. It was a magical lesson - he even talked a little about the chemistry of sugars! As a newly retired teacher, I have to applaud Farmer Rob's ability to teach! Twenty minutes melted away, and then the doors opened, and we all departed feeling full of maple grace.

Out in the crisp air, we had two choices: Wait for the draft horses to return and go on a sleigh ride, or enter a greenhouse that was filled with live music and all kinds of maple delights. We chose the latter. In the sugar shack, Rob had recommended the free maple sundaes that his family would be serving next door. He assured us we wouldn’t be disappointed! He was right! At the greenhouse, Joe’s hat caught Jan Goranson’s eye. She shouted, “Hey, where did you get that United-Farmers-Market hat?” And Joe answered, “In Belfast!” And then we went over and explained that we lived in Bath, and usually shopped at the Bath Farmers Market, but as a Maine author I sometimes sold books at the Belfast market, which was the largest indoor farmers market in Maine. We chatted for a while about Maine’s bounty. Jan told us that she and her family sold their organic veggies, berries, and meat throughout the winter at three indoor markets: Bath, Brunswick and Portland. In the summer, they add Boothbay and Damariscotta. It’s no wonder Maine is a dining destination! Farmers here produce lots of good, fresh crops, and they have been farming for generations.

Jan's grandparents started their family's farming tradition in Aroostook County; in the 1960s her parents started growing high quality potatoes in Dresden. Today, Jan and Rob, along with their sons, Carl and Goran, are producing the best organic crops possible. They are also committed to solar energy, and for five seasons they’ve been using their draft horses in the field. All of that natural goodness was evident last Sunday. Goranson Farm was so naturally good that we didn’t want to leave. To sweeten our departure, Joe wanted to take a picture of me on a tractor. That was a first, and I have the photo to prove it. For one glorious Sunday afternoon in March, I felt like I was living a farmer’s dream! 

The Goranson Farm in Dresden, Maine

A Long Reach Welcome

When the interim director of Main Street Bath, Mari Eosco, sent me an email that opened with, “I have an idea,” I was curious; when I read that she was hoping to bring back the Welcome to Bath event that debuted in 2004, but had been dormant for seven years, I was interested; when she asked me to chair the event, I was flattered, but I paused because I felt like I was too new to take on such a role.  Later, when Mari told me that the Maine Maritime Museum had offered their premier space, Long Reach Hall, for the event, I was hooked.

The Mary E, a 1906  Bath-built ship, will be our Ambassador

It’s no secret that I love Bath. If my name rings a bell, you probably know I wrote a novel set in this shipbuilding city in Maine. But not everyone knows the story behind Daughters of Long Reach. To make that long story short, let me just say that the Maine Maritime Museum is one of my favorite museums on the planet, and I have been to many, including the Prado, the Louvre, the National Museum of American History, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Smithsonian. I have always loved visiting museums, and I believe the Maine Maritime Museum is a rare gem. For me, it holds a special allure because it connects me with my dad. When you enter the museum, one of the first exhibits you see has a ship’s engine and beside it there's a quote that begins "Hello, engine. I'm Jake Holman." (Steve McQueen's famous line in the motion picture The Sand Pebbles, 1966). I love that exhibit because my dad was a machinist mate in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and his job was to keep the engine humming. Further down the hall there's a tugboat exhibit, and that reminds me of another chapter in my dad's life! Clearly my affinity for ships and boats convinced me to chair an event at Long Reach Hall. Looking back, it was the right decision. How could it be wrong to volunteer for a community you have come to love?

John Ater warms up the crowd with trivia and a sense of humor

Well over one hundred guests walked through the doors of the Maine Maritime Museum on February 5, 2018, and they were greeted by long-time residents, city councilmen and Main Street Bath board members. They also enjoyed the knee-slapping humor of John Ater, a local comedian and house painter, who conducted a classic game of pub trivia while getting to know the participants. The questions ranged in difficulty from "What planet had the longest day?" to "What was the theme song to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? And somehow John made all the answers, right or wrong, seem funny.  Sometimes it takes a good comedian to build a strong community!

 Pretty paper! Treasure Island Toys &  Mustard Seed Books    

After breaking the ice and warming up the hall, John awarded a City of Bath sticker to table number two, and he told the nine winners to divide that sticker equally. I’m not sure, but I think that line received the biggest laugh! Leave it to a comedian to highlight the obvious. The game wasn’t about winning;  rather, it was about getting to know each other. With John's help, we accomplished that mission, and then the newcomers had a chance to turn the table and ask, not answer, some questions. At first, a hush came over the room. And then a new business owner mentioned their shop: “You know, there’s a sweet shop in town and Valentine’s Day is coming!” And that started the flow of information, like "Be Bath, Buy Back," the MSB program to encourage shoppers to buy locally, was underway. If you make four purchases at four different participating businesses, you can enter your stamped card to win Gift of Bath Certificates worth 25 or 75 dollars. And many local businesses will wrap gifts for free!

Participation is contagious, so the crowd gradually found its voice, and the facts continued to flow: Tickets were on sale for MSB's next event, “Front Street Feud," and the Chocolate Church Arts Center would be putting on a fund-raising gala, “Mud Boots and Black Tie,” in April. Sagadahoc Preservation, Inc. would sponsor their annual Historic House Tour on June 16^th, but before that there would be the city-wide garage sale in May, and then in a blink we jumped into summer, and the new director for Bath’s Heritage Days stood up and talked about that Fourth of July tradition. Finally, proving that Bath is always busy, the coordinator for Kindness Day raised her hand and told us that planning had already begun for that unique celebration in August! On that cheerful note, the entire hall seemed to sigh collectively.

The "Class of 2018" photo by Eric Wagner, a newcomer

At the end of the night, Bath’s City Manager counted about 50 newcomers still socializing at the back of Long Reach Hall. They were all wearing name tags that included the number of years (less than 5), months, or days that they had lived in Bath. Along with a darling little baby, there was a woman who was eleven-days-new to Bath, and a young couple who had moved to Bath only four months ago. There were single people and engaged people, and happy retirees who all seemed ready to say hello and share their stories. And thanks to two Bath residents, Aaron and Nate, the owners of Henry and Marty’s Restaurant and Flight Deck Brewing, respectively, everyone was feeling full of good food and good cheer when Eric Wagner shouted, “Smile!” and snapped the group's picture!

A Cup of Hope

The bright lights of December have dimmed. My front door looks a little sad without its merry wreath and evergreen swag, and I’m recovering from the worst cold I’ve had in a decade, but the good news is I’ve been drinking lots of tea, and I’ve had time to think, which in the whirl of a fast-paced life is a rare gift. The Big Cold took me down on New Year’s Eve. I tried to rally in time for a neighborhood party; I even showered and put on my favorite holiday clothes, but I couldn’t get my voice over a whisper, so I made the tough call. My New Year’s Eve plans were officially cancelled. I was afraid Joe would be disappointed, but he gave me a smile and quickly moved to plan B. We could sit on the couch next to a cozy gas stove and rent a movie. We scrolled through the new releases. I thought about some light-hearted comedies, or a sweet romance, but Joe was decisive. We would welcome 2018 with Dunkirk. I didn’t have the strength to argue. I thought about seeing this film when it was still in theaters, but decided against it because I knew it would be tough to watch. Like Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk would be a loud and violent film that would haunt me for months if not forever. I was right about the horror of Dunkirk, but I had also forgotten its great lesson, its glimmer of hope. Many of the British, French, Belgian and Dutch soldiers who were stranded on that French beach in May, 1940, were successfully evacuated by civilian boats who answered the call for “All available boats.” The selfless act of those boat captains and their crews saved 330,000 lives. 

On December 31, 2017, I realized that I was familiar with the term “All available boats” because that was the call sent out on September 11, 2001 across New York Harbor. In fact, I had read a book by the same name. All Available Boats (Spencer Books/New York 2002) passed quickly out of print, but I found it in Maine’s library system a few years ago, and I later purchased a used copy online to keep. It is an unusual account of 9/11 because it describes the evacuation of Manhattan Island rather than the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The book, edited by Mike Magee, M.D., is divided into two parts: interviews with the boat captains who answered the call, and their passengers who were fleeing the carnage. The vivid photos show ferries, tugboats, Coast Guard vessels, water taxis, municipal tankers, fireboats, and even a retired FDNY fireboat that had been lovingly restored. The crews of these boats worked without rest until 300,000 people were evacuated from lower Manhattan, almost as many as the number of troops rescued from Dunkirk.

Sea smoke surrounds a Portland tugboat 1/1/18 - Steve Yenco  

One tugboat captain reported that about 20 tugs rescued 400 people from Battery Park City over a period of four hours on the first day of their week-long mission. I feel the warmth of a summer sun in that fact. Men and women are capable of enormous good. As a high school teacher, it always worried me when students told me they didn’t like history; they never watched the news or read newspapers, and they would rather read science fiction or fantasy rather than historical fiction. If I have learned anything, it’s that history really does repeat itself, especially if we don’t pay attention to it! Dr. Magee, a husband and father of four, was completing a fellowship in Humanities at the World Medical Association in New York City, when he witnessed the horrific events of 9/11. I have to believe that he was there on purpose because his collection of emotionally-charged stories and photos shed light on one of our nation’s darkest hours. His view brings us hope.

A frozen boat in Harpswell - Benjamin Williamson

While I was home with that incredibly horrible cold, I filled the quiet hours of the day by reading or watching good stories. For example, I finally watched Frozen, the ninth highest grossing movie of all time.  On one of the coldest nights in recent Maine history, I bought that animated film, and its music helped to keep my spirit alive. Days later, I was still humming, “Let it Go!” Beyond entertaining us, the story of Anna and her sister, Elsa, also shows us the importance of courage under fire, or ice. Anna’s love for her sister, not Kristoff’s love for Anna, saves the kingdom. And that politically correct ending suggests that animated films are not for children only!

Two weeks of cough suppressants, daily doses of Flonase, and countless tissues, ended last night when I watched the eighth and final episode of the first season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Here’s how social media can sometimes save a tortured soul! Just as I was running out of old episodes of everything I had ever watched, a friend with excellent taste, posted about a great new show on Amazon Prime! Thank you, Carolyn! Next week I hope to invite a few of the Wednesday-morning-coffee ladies over to watch the first two episodes because some of them don’t subscribe to the Amazon network, and no one should miss this gem! Rachel Brosnahan plays Miriam (Midge) Maisel, a young Jewish housewife residing on the upper west side of Manhattan in 1958. Midge has a perfect life until her husband decides to leave her. Struggling to reinvent herself, Midge begins to perform stand-up comedy in a shabby club, and she’s amazing! This show is flashy with great music and fabulous clothes, and it gives hope to women, and men, who need a new dream to pursue. I want to share this funny show with my coffee-time friends because they never fail to fill me up with hope every Wednesday morning, especially the comedians in the group. Truth be told, there are a lot of comedic spirits in and around Bath that keep me laughing. That’s probably why I’m feeling better today than yesterday! My Irish grandmother used to say, “Laughter is the best medicine!” She grew up in Brooklyn with Fanny Brice, one of the first female comedians to become a star. Edna and Fanny were good friends, and they witnessed first hand the healing power of comedy. I think my grandmother and Fanny Brice would both agree that we need a Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in our world right now!

Mike Magee, M.D., closed All Available Boats, with a photo of twenty tugboats crisscrossing New York Harbor, and the words, “Hope survives, in part, on the knowledge that pain, insecurity, and deeply imbedded fear carry with them sparkling moments of insight and redemption. It is easier to hope in company with others showing the way.”