Spring and the ground is ready. Ready for what, it depends, but one hears the sounds of tractors, lawn mowers, blowers, chippers, and chuggers filling the air. This, of course, is followed by the infamous sneeze factor and just possibly a few bird calls.
It is can be a joyous time, and bittersweet as well. Courage has brought us all through the tumult of winter, and courage will continue to see the ship through another season. Sometimes we say goodbye to old friends as they begin journeys of understanding in a better place.
One such friend, Floyd Flewelling, showed where a sense of humor and courage could take a person. Throughout the long process of adapting to dialysis when one’s dignity is impugned and every ache and pain seems excessive, he kept smiling and showing compassion for others. This simple gift makes the exuberance of new flowers so poignant. Always loving cookies, his sense of humor made a chore much more bearable. Thanks, Floyd.
Graduations and weddings now make up the calendar. Spring brings hope, and most of us are willing to put a couple of dollars on the chance to hit it big in the garden department. Whether the melons, squash, corn, tomatoes and peanuts reach the end of summer make it tempting wager. My dear dad would describe it as being “educational.”
And now the library meets a challenge. What is there to do at the library this summer? In addition to being a repository for the imagination, for building those reading skills that we all need, for offering a terrific wifi hotspot, a gallery space and an eye catching showcase of contemplative space, the library now offers a connection to state parks and historic sites, for free.
Patrons of the [Mark and Emily Turner Memorial] Library with an upgraded library card can now check out a park pass for any state park or historic site in this wonderful state of Maine. In addition to being able to check out books, periodicals, audiotapes and movies, and enjoy the roomy spaces, it will now be possible to visit reality.
This new pilot program is getting underway this spring. Take that powerful library card to the front desk. Get a vehicle park pass. It’s good for a day anywhere in the state. Go to the park, visit for the day. Learn history, identify shrubs, trees and bears. And become adept at the State of Maine Dance known as the Mosquito Jig. Come back burnt, bronzed, and born again and give the pass back for someone else to use.
Spring is a glorious time to bet on nature. It’s a time to remember joys of things past and start new dreams of joys to come.
Orpheus Allison is a photojournalist living in The County who graduated from UMPI and earned a master of liberal arts degree from the University of North Carolina. He began his journalism career at WAGM television later working in many different areas of the US. After 20 years of television he changed careers and taught in China and Korea.
