why I keep coming here...

It's now quite early and I'm gearing up for my second cup of coffee.   
On this trip to Machias,Maine, it took more than a week to let down--  
before yesterday, I was exhausted all day long! Maybe it was that  
excursion to Jasper Beach yesterday that turned the tides (so to speak).

There was a fire in town yesterday-- one of those cigarette urns lit a  
bush which, in turn, lit the soffit of an old building. That spread to  
a wall and floor above. The adjacent office and kitchen of the local  
natural foods store was then--quickly-- on fire. The volunteer fire  
departments from four surrounding towns showed up. They arrested  
further fire but the store is a mess. This will take a long time and  
flocks of folks to deal with.

This reminds me that it's not the hit but the complex consequences  
that constitute the work and pain.

My sister and I called on the owner to express our condolences and  
lent a hand emptying freezers of meat into ice chests. She gave us ice  
cream which we ate with my sister's strawberry rhubarb pie later that  
night  supper was late again

Of course, you can imagine, I was touched by how so many townsfolk  
showed up to help-- we were only two of many plus there were all those  
firemen doing their manly best-- men are quite likeable when they  
muster their brawn to help. Of course, they love to do this kind of  
work together-- equipment, danger, special clothes, walkie-talkies.  
The newspaper lady was right there in the thick of it too-- looking  
like a painted bunting amidst the men in fire gear.

Anyway, the fire could have spread-- lots of wood buildings close  
together. That turnout and the gesture of ice cream reminds me why I  
am so happy in a place like this.

Mary
hands-on impresario
Tegel  Design +  Planning

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