Kaleidoscope

Life is richer and more beautiful the more varied and diverse it gets. We are discovering that life here Downeast is much more than lobster boats and beautiful views. This tiny region, for example, is home to the third largest Mexican population in Maine. They came for the blueberry harvest, and many found a permanent home here.

I have attended a library knitting group, where some very intelligent and wonderful people meet to do handwork and discuss whatever topics are of interest. We were interviewed for the Bangor Daily News! I will be back- friend-potential definitely exists there.

Last night we attended an annual meeting of Mano en Mano, a vibrant community that is comprised both of folks who work with the farm workers and immigrants to help them settle and thrive, and also  of the settlers themselves who come from Latino regions as well as the Penobscot and Mi'kMaq populations who have been here all along. At the meeting we met residents from across the economic spectrum; there were babies, parents, fishermen, young folks, retired people who have settled here, and many more whom we didn't get to meet. We are still getting to know the area and haven't committed to working with Mano en Mano, but we left feeling encouraged that such diversity exists here, and that the community works together.

We were also invited afterwards to the home of a local couple who settled in Milbridge after lifetime careers in Washington, DC. We toured their beautiful house, we were there before sunset so could soak up the incredible views of Narraguagus Bay, and formed the building blocks of friendship as they told us of the vibrant community in this region.

Tomorrow we will attend and hopefully perform at an Open Mic at the Steuben Library. We have no idea what to expect but as Woody Allen said, "90% of life is showing up."