At this point it might have been 12 years ago when I first discovered the Downeast part of Maine. This region of the state is literally down east from everything else. You jump onto Route 1 and head east to the Canadian border. Due to Covid, even though I stayed at an inn directly across from Canada, I was unable to visit our northern neighbor. I had hoped that maybe they would lift the restrictions for New Englanders at least so that we could get a taste of Canadian island life. 

Despite this setback, I enjoyed my downtime in the area exploring roads, lakes, and bays. Being in this unique area without traffic lights for at least 60 miles and minimal traffic was a bit weird yet peaceful. In the mornings even the water was still and utterly quiet. For the first time, I saw seals in their natural habitat. 

Enjoy the pictures and if you get a chance go explore this beautiful country.

This past month has been quite a whirlwind, one filled with several professional and personal challenges and opportunities. Looking back as I fast approach my upcoming birthday and some respite, I am thankful for the values that my grandparents instilled in me at a young age. Granted this doesn't mean I don't make mistakes or even question some of my actions occasionally, but for the most part I have always been guided and followed that simple adage of treating others how you want to be treated. 

It's not just the golden rule, but knowing that each human being is of the same worth and value. Frustration builds when I see others are not keeping with this value. They might say that they care about the everyday person, but actions are clearer than words. Even the avid church goer who speeds down the road and recklessly swerves around a troop of kids playing on their way to service, is not immune to this judgement. A proud man who boasts about being a great parent, but than sits on the couch to watch television and ignores his children has no right to criticize another. Or perhaps the politician that says they love all people, but than stokes racism by disingenuous remarks. 

Life is already difficult enough that when we don't hold true to our values, to inherent self worth and good in all people that more problems arise. We need to level the playing field so that there is no disenfranchised areas of the country or for that matter the world. As long as we politicize what it means to be a good person, we as a society are missing the point.

The greatest generation, those that fought during World War II, did so to preserve values that they felt a nation should have, maintain, and endure over time. There was no question on whether it was right to intercede when it became clear that millions of people had already been impacted an ocean away. Meanwhile at home, the values that many held close to their hearts, had not been translated across all areas, regions, and peoples. Only after veterans returned from the war, working in unison on a common causes, did some change come about. 

Now some 70 years later we are still dealing with those changes, pushing forward to finish the work that was started. While we are in an election year, dealing with COVID-19, and an array of other issues, the idea of human decency and doing the right thing should be the focus point. We should be looking out for one another, helping when we can, and doing the little things necessary to preserve life and that "pursuit of happiness," many of us hold dear. Let's look past the politics and truly think about and embrace those qualities that are universal and should be shared by all.

Talk about relentless . . . my deer friend from late spring made an appearance over the weekend. I was shocked because not only did she follow me from out of New Hampshire but she insisted I meet her family too.

While running on some quiet roads outside Baltimore I thought it would be like any other run. Boom! Who bolts out of the woods and stops roadside? That's right that sweet doe. Thankfully her sister appeared on the scene and beckoned they continue on, but even so she paused long enough to watch me run on down the road.

Fast forward a few days later and I'm on the same road. This time she was lurking within the trees waiting to catch a glimpse of her "man." I think she made sure to eat along the road side, hopeful that we would cross paths. She wasn't alone though with her sisters and a younger brother.

None of them were interested in meeting me and bolted deeper in the woods. She on the other hand watched me carefully and even stepped out from under the foliage.

I was taken a back and carried on my run. Twenty minutes later I cut onto an adjacent side road and who was back at the road side? I know . . . crazy right? This time she wanted to be play coy. She stepped out on the curve and watched me from a distance. Then when I was within 30 or so feet, she cut back into the woods, crossed a small stream, and then watched me run by.

I thought that was the end of our encounters but wouldn't I be surprised a few miles later to run into her grandmother who was feeding on a few bushes. I think grandma was sizing me up, debating whether I not I was worth the effort. I didn't stay long enough for us to have an in depth conversation, but I do know I'm locking my doors at night now.

Have any of you had this happen to you before?

Last June was difficult for a variety of reasons but one reason being I was not in Northern New England to enjoy lupine season. I vowed when the 2020 season arrived I would make it a point to get out and explore.

A few weeks ago in central Maine I came across my favorite flowering plant and today in the White Mountains of New Hampshire lupine was out for all to see. I am going to share a collection of photos from my trip. If this doesn't give you ideas for a story, I don't know what would. 

The moral of this week's blog - get outside and explore.  

In the craziness and upheaval that 2020 has become, I decided this morning I needed to revisit my past in order to get more perspective and peace of mind.

Sure I wasn’t marching in a city protest or writing an op piece for a local paper, but instead focusing on the greatest change, that from within. That’s where things begin right? One must be centered and clear in order to grow and be a true instrument of love.

To that end, I headed into the woods, up a trail I have not hiked since my late teens. I have to admit I didn’t expect this hike to become an laborious task but in some ways it was that and more. The first part of the trail was littered with loose rocks and mud.

True to what we are dealing with at present, we have to walk through this muck and grime, in order to leave behind those failings and tasks that define our very being. For some that is easier said than others.

Once clear of the mud, the terrain lightened up briefly before a steep incline of rocks, boulders, and roots. To continue moving forward, these obstacles had to be overcome. More often than not, in the past, even a slight obstacle could deter some from moving forward. I had my hiking stick, so with some careful navigation I protected my ankles from rolling and safely navigated the path.

In some regard this part of the path was easier than the mud. It was far less dirty and aside from the occasional root to trip me up, metaphorically and physically I was able to maintain a steady pace.

Then the raw, uncovered roots appeared. This reminder not of Bilbo Baggins and Mirkwood Forest, but of our warts and scabs that have been uncovered, this was not the most beautiful part of the trail. It was downright creepy and uncomfortable. You could safely hike through the lined path of death but still had to face those skeletons and shadows.

Once through the real progress was made. The path opened up and was even level. I gained the most ground on this section. It was as though I had come up through the mud, scaled the tricky rock portions, reflected on those times I had been closed off and ignored the past.

Of course the hike wasn’t done, far from it. Like any journey, especially now with there being clear sides on what is right and what is wrong, the toughest part was yet to come. The wide open trail branched off. To the left was a narrow path that went upward. There were rock faces, more roots, and steep grades in wait.

I imagined some would give up at this portion of the hike. It was far easier to stay on the level grade and continue on the merry path in the opposite direction. Some don’t want real change, an ever lasting one that means we all move forward. It’s safer to say you looked at the past and that’s enough - sort of like a band aid, an illusionary effort to mask the hardest part of the journey.

Not to mention, some aren’t ready to take those final steps, no matter the outcome.

I took the steep incline. I had come too far to not continue the task. Funny enough, I had never gone this way before. I recalled years earlier, I had taken the flatter route, the safe way to the top. Not this time. I had my support system, my trusty hiking stick, a good set of shoes, and balance to scale these roots and rocks.

As I trudged upwards, slowly I might add, because anything done right should be done right the first time around. Come on now, you don’t want to rush and fall, only to be stuck in the very spot you want to overcome. So I looked for the safest path among these many pitfalls and made for the top.

Eventually, even though the path got steeper and more difficult, I could see the blue sky opening up above the tree line. My pace quickened even as I found myself with my hands balancing my steps on the rock face.

Then I made it to the view I had sought out to find. There was the lake, the mountains, mother nature at her finest. The path I took while perhaps not as “safe” as years earlier, was better for the soul and conscience.

I took everything in and realized that while I made the journey up others had to do the same. They all will in time. In fact, after I took a few photos to remember this moment, I turned around and headed back.

Unlike Sisyphus, I didn’t follow the same route down the mountain. No, I had learned how to navigate the trail in a way that was safer and quicker, with a new understanding that this was just the beginning. Others had come before me and paved a new path only now clear from above.

The rocks and roots were no longer obstacles. I had come off the mountain top and knew there was much more that could be accomplished with time and perspective.

Finally, as I took those final steps down to the parking lot below, I saw the mud and grime I had passed through before. From the safety of my new trail, I knew I didn’t have to go that way again and neither do any of us after we make this climb of equality and love.

I don't know what has happened to society's values. I really don't. Everyone has an opinion, whether right or wrong, and I don't think you need me sharing my two cents on what's streaming the news this May weekend between the protests and the outcry over events in Minneapolis. However, I do think these major news stories are tipping points to a shift in values that we continue to see in daily life. 

There is a larger contingency of people who are not considerate anymore. That's the bottom line. Maybe they weren't forty years ago either, but really in my lifetime, I can tell you there is a breakdown in values that has run rampant especially over the last 15 years. I can't put my finger on whether this is a socioeconomic issue or some other shift, but from where I have visited, lived, and worked this breakdown is across society and cultures. Perhaps it's the ever codependency on technology; I don't know.

On the front line in public and private education, I have watched my students and their parents change over these last twenty years. Every year it has gotten more difficult with less teaching of material and more time on the counseling side of education. I find this concerning. Generally speaking, there are fewer people who take others into account. They hide behind the veil of social media. They play the victim when it serves and they cry foul if their proverbial picket fence is threatened. Few want to take responsibility for their actions and feel justified when challenged. I'm talking about this across the board in populations and family systems.

Knowing this, I pine for the values of my grandparents who were members of the Greatest Generation. As shown in this age of COVID-19, I don't think people are equipped with the same ability to adapt and cope with changes now, as they were during a world war or Great Depression. Between the toilet paper hording, canned good snatching, and more recently protesting social distancing and what stores/restaurants should be opened is eye opening.

I don't assume to be an expert on these issues, but why has it been so hard to help each other and to do the right thing? Maybe that is the greater issue - we are debating on what is the right thing. We are talking about livelihoods and families that are at risk, so it's difficult to put every person and family in the same box. It's a giant grey area. 

Still, COVID-19 aside and that drama that we continue to play out, these issues were undercover but lurking prior to these past few months. 

For me, I was reminded of this while out and about this morning. Returning from a run, I was dropping a friend off when we spotted a family in the middle of the park and ride parking running their gums. That's me trying to sound like an author.

The people were oblivious. For whatever reason this family was congregating among three parking spots. The oldest, most likely the grandfather or father to someone in the group, was a  grey bearded man. He felt it was necessary to lean back with his buttocks firmly on the hood of my friend's car. He was using the hood as his personal seat.  

I watched this older man hold court for his children and grandchildren. Instead of apologizing, this man passed the buck and said something like, "I didn't know the car had an owner." Seriously, why would the well cared car be in the middle of a parking lot with current tags and inspection if there was no owner? We didn't engage in further conversation as there was no point. The old timer didn't care and neither did the rest of his entourage.

Likewise, I can tell you stories about residents in the quiet apartment building that feel that midnight is a good time to hook a guitar up to an amp or the people in the busy grocery store parking lot who decide it makes perfect sense to park between two spots as opposed to taking one. There are dog walkers who let their faithful friends run leash-less in an urban park because the dog has to be able to run or they allow the dog to defecate on a neighbor's lawn without the intention to remove the waste. Sure some might say, I'm nitpicking. Really, I'm not though. I'm pointing out these little things add up. 

While last week Ziggy Marley was singing in my head, the fact remains that despite those who do the right thing, even when no one is looking, there is a larger group of people who don't seem to care. For that, I'm hoping they'll wake up and realize the world isn't just their oyster but it is a shared one meant for all to experience and love.

Summer has appeared in central New Hampshire. You might find that odd because only a few weeks ago I was posting pictures with snow. I don't know what's going on but it was 85 here yesterday. Granted it will be in the 70s today, but for us that's summer weather. The joke among the natives is that we have a day or two of spring and then summer shows up. 

Knowing we have this warmer weather and Memorial Day weekend just means out of state residents will appears in droves to the Lakes Region. Who cares that there are still stay at home orders in our state and well Massachusetts. My area is inundated with Massachusetts plates for better or worse. I have noticed this on the last few weekends but it's more apparent this morning. 

Not to be political but more observational, the issue isn't so much about out of state people coming to their second homes. The issue is that they leave their homes to go out and buy groceries, go to restaurants, use gas stations, the marinas, etc. If these people were actually just hanging out at home it wouldn't be such a big deal. But the issue is that it's not just a couple or a family. Case in point, I was running on a side street near Winnisquam this morning and one house had an full driveway of Mass cars and more on the street. There were maybe 6 vehicles. 

Sure in New Hampshire we have our state motto of "Live free or die," but I feel like in a way these people coming up are not being good citizens. I kept thinking about this during my run because plague aside it seems that people don't care. They do whatever they want regardless of consequences. 

I was going to rant about the increase of trash on my new running trail, but with warmer weather, more people are using it, and well people don't care. 

There was a diatribe ready to spew out that I felt around mile nine of my run. Funny enough it was replaced by a song I learned and performance in elementary school. Cue Ziggy Marley and his song "Give a Little Love." 

Sometimes songs put life in the best perspective and frame the perfect picture. Here are some of the lyrics written by Albert Louis Hammond. Enjoy the message and have a great weekend! 

We got to give a little love, have a little hope
Make this world a little better
Whoa, oh, oh
Oh, oh, whoa
Livin in this crazy world
So caught up in the confusion
Nothin is makin sense
For me and you
Maybe we can find a way
There's got be a solution
How to make a brighter day
What do we do
We got to give a little love, have a little hope
Make this world a little better
Try a little more, harder than before
Let's do what we can do together
Oh, whoa, oh
We can really make it better, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, la, la, la
Only if we try
Got the words on our minds
Got the troubles on our shoulders
Sometimes it seems so much
What we go through
Maybe if we take the time
Time to understand each other
You can learn to make it right
What do we do
We got to give a little love, have a little hope
Make this world a little better
Try a little more, harder than before
Let's do what we can do together
Oh, whoa, whoa
We can really make it better, yeah

Song lyrics taken from Lyric Find.

Rumor has it something like twelve plus books are on the way from Amazon. Some have already arrived while others like the Anne of Green Gables series and William Shakespeare's complete works will be here in the next week. I might of mentioned it in a previous post, but I'm yearning to read some older books. 

This isn't a knock on contemporary authors at all. Being one, I will be the first to say pick up my books and other authors from this century. Still, for myself I want to revisit those books that I might have read as a teenager or always meant to read but hadn't the chance. Some of this might also be due to my teaching math. In Italy I taught all of the seventh and eighth grade subjects so I had some literature to brighten up my work day. Now, in the trenches of sixth grade through Pre-Calculus it's math-focused daily. 

Between the new books, I purchased a new writing processor/program. It might sound odd but that's one reason why I haven't written anything new in the last 18 months. When I say new, I mean new book to be published. I preferred Microsoft Word the 2007 edition. My computer in Italy had it (I know there's a theme here). The computer died when I got back and I wasn't able to get my old version of Word that I preferred to use.

Last school year, I attempted using Microsoft 365 and Google Docs. While there are some benefits to both, neither met what I was looking for. I want a writing program that's entirely on my computer that I can save on a flash drive. I don't want it in some cloud. Yes, writers are finicky. I would agree with that assessment. 

Fast forward to today and Word Perfect has arrived, the 2016 edition, because it was cheaper. Now, now there's nothing wrong with being frugal. I did plenty of research last weekend and this was the program I have decided is going to work best for me needs. 

Between the new reading material, Word Perfect, and well a new large white board in my loft with a pad of sticky notes, it appears I'm ready to get some writing done. I'll keep you posted one way or another. 

I would say this morning was a shocker, but I find that being from New Hampshire means early May is always hit or miss. While in the Washington DC area and other southern parts of the USA, it's usually in the 60s or 70s with flowers in full bloom and people smiling about, in northern New England we are flipping a coin trying to figure out if it's still winter or our one day of spring has arrived.

The nice thing about snowy, cold, and windy Saturday mornings is that many are quick to stay in bed. This meant a quiet running wonderland if you will for me. There was no hum of fishing boats on the lakes or cyclists doing their best Tour de France imitations. Even those early morning dog walkers were leery to leave the safety of home. For me this was all a good thing. 

I debated on visiting my deer friend, wondering if she was game for another conversation. No, that encounter will have to wait for another day. I'm too consumed right now figuring out the best way to deal with a feisty oriole. This bloated bird has decided that words are unnecessary and defecating on my car daily is the way to go after I took away the bird feed and cut down part of the rhododendron his family was residing in for countless generations. Yeah, I know this sounds like an intervention for Jerry or Maury. 

While I am sure I have more adventures and random tales to share, I have to take a look at google maps for a 90 minute drive north. For some reason I decided a 1992 World Book Encyclopedia edition with 17 books  is the next mission before I can sit down and write a substantial story again. Till next week . . .
​

Perhaps the titles says everything. I have a new crush or dare I write there is a new crush on me? This isn't some fan of my books or a secret admirer, nope this is a girl I ran into while running this morning. As I parked my car at the town park, there she was in the distance. Always friendly, I waved. She turned her head and looked curiously at me.

I told her she didn't have to leave, but maybe in hindsight I shouldn't have been so inviting. Starting my warm up I watched this long legged creature mimic my path. She stayed far enough away to practice good social distancing, but she made sure I could still see her.

I turned onto the dirt road towards the lake and boom she bolted from the trees directly in front of me, maybe twenty feet between us. She even stopped mid stride, tilted her head and nodded.

"What are you doing?"

She slowed her pace and waited for me to catch up. At this point, I thought she might just head back into the woods, but no my deer friend kept a close eye on me with every step I took. She must be a fan of the Police.

I wasn't sure what to do. She had a skip to her walk and I swear she smiled as we continued to exchange glances. Like most of her kind, I figured she would disappear at once but not this atypical girl.

I walked onward.

"It's okay you can go back. I'll just walk for a bit."

She didn't like my words. Perhaps she fumed or she was disappointed, all I know is she ran across the dirt road and over the fence into the adjacent woods.

I thought that was the end of our exchange, but she stopped yet again. She kept looking at me.

I have to admit, I felt a bit apprehensive at this point. I wasn't sure what her intentions were. Turning around, I decided to go back to the main road.

She would have none of it. She hastened her approach through the trees.

"Stay! I have to go and run. You stay!"

She lowered her head. I didn't look back to see whether there were any fresh tears on her face.
Independent and true to her spirit, she didn't want me to forget her, that much was clear. Her long legs jumped over the fence and she ran across my path one more time before returning to the forest.

I shortened my stride and decided it was time to run. I didn't need her as a running companion despite the potential banter and companionship.

Over the next hour I ran along the lake without incident. Despite the light rain and the warmer weather, it felt like any other run, save the thoughts of this sweet deer who crossed my path. Feeling more confident that I would be solo for the remainder of the run, I cut onto another dirt road.

It was less than two minutes when I stumbled across her and one of her girlfriends. I imagine she had been busy sharing her version of the story of our fateful meeting. While her friend rushed for the trees, she was hesitant. I watched her follow for several strides only to stop in a small clearing where she would have a direct view of my path.

We exchanged one final look as I disappeared on the windy road. 

Leaving her behind, I wondered where did all the men go? During this quarantine period were they separated too?