Maine’s Fall Foliage Tour Season

From Acadia Magic.com

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran a fall special of foliage tours in the country. One of the featured places was Camden, Maine. In case you’re interested, the Hartstone Inn in Camden has a package for $202 called “Whatever Floats Your Boat.”  You must also pay for your room charge. You may sail along Penobscot Bay for a two-hour tour aboard the Schooner, Surprise, or take an eco tour on the Lively Lady Too lobster boat.

The day includes a picnic lunch of two lobster rolls, a fresh dill pickle, and “a Pine Tree State’s signature treat, the cream-filled chocolate whoopee pie.” After the sail the inn will serve you a five-course gourmet dinner for two with fresh seafood and dishes made of local ingredients. Multicourse breakfasts and spa treatments are also included.

Works for me. Sign me up. Do I get a discount for advertising the Hartstone Inn and their fall package here?

After reading this inviting story I decided to give you all the information you need to have or want to know regarding Maine’s fall foliage.

The best place on the internet to go to find all this information is www.mainefoliage.com.

Here you will find the latest foliage report as well as an email signup for future reports such as the following:

 

                              This was the conditions as of yesterday, Sept. 23.

This site will also tell you when and where to visit all the different sections of Maine to see the leaves at their fall foliage peak. If you wish to hike to see the foliage they suggest you go to: www.parksandlands.com.

If you would like to plan a fall foliage trip such as the Camden one above they suggest you go to www.visitmaine.com.

Did you ever wonder how and why the leaves turn colors in the fall? There is a wonderful video intended for children, but very informative for all ages, called “Maine’s Autumn Magic: How Leaves Reveal Their Fall Colors.” You can find it on the Maine foliage site or www.maine.gov/doc/foliage.

They also give you some samples of the beautiful Maine fall foliage. The photo above plus these two come from that site.

                                                                       Photo by Bob Atkins

 

 

 

                                                                      Photo from about.com

 

There is also a beautiful video of Acadia National Park done by a program called “Photo Trekker” This one is called Episode 104 and features the park with some wonderful fall pictures included. Enjoy. I wish I could see the foliage in person this year, but I look forward to seeing the foliage again in the future.

Thanks for listening.

 

Boatyard Dog Pictures

 

I finally managed to get these pictures from my Blackberry to my computer. They were taken in rainy weather between the shoulders of other watchers. Therefore, they are not of the best quality. The video I posted by David Dunkle is much better, but I promised pictures so here they are. As for the band video, I did get it onto my computer. However, there was no sound. Therefore, I cannot post it. Someday I may actually become a techie who can handle all this stuff.

 

As we see in the video, Otter, a Labrador mix, was the winner. He was the only dog that actually went into the water, one of the rules of the event. Many of the dogs were announced as rescue dogs. A People’s Choice Wagon was set up so viewers could vote for their favorite dog. I stated before that the dollar donation went to the humane society. In fact, proceeds went to local shelters.

Each dog received a goody bag. Otter will keep the “Pup Cup” trophy until the competition in 2013.

Here’s what I have for you.

The Portuguese Water Dogs who wanted no part of the water on the day of the event:

 

 

Pixel, a Chihuahua, who is a veteran competitor. Here she is in her pink tutu, going through the obstacle course and doing other tricks. The best trick she did was to steal the treats meant to bribe her into the water. Mama went into the water, but she didn’t.

 

 

Here’s Otter, our winner, the only dog who went into the water. The girls had a hard time getting that stick away from him, once he’d retrieved it in the water.

 

 

Hope you enjoyed them.

Along our Country Roads

 

Once in a while as I’m writing these blogs I come across something twice. Such is the case with Solon, Maine. I recently mentioned Solon as a National Blue Ribbon winner for Solon Elementary School in the “Exemplary High Achieving Category.” They received that honor as one of two schools in Maine, the other school being Hope Elementary School.

A Facebook friend of mine brought Solon to my attention again when she shared these two videos on the Meeting House in Solon. Most small towns in Maine have their historical society. After all, many towns In Maine are over 200 years old. Solon has their society too, and their committee got together to restore their pride and joy, the Meeting House.

As I watched the videos I was struck by the dedication of the historical society and the immense talent, artistic and otherwise, of the people of the town who made the restoration possible. It’s no wonder that the children of this town are high achievers. When you look at the outside of this building, you have no idea what you’ll see when you enter its doors. It’s not your typical historical venue.

As I understand it, our old Rockland High School on Lincoln Street, which is now up for sale, is on the endangered historical site list. I suggest that those who would attempt to restore this old building, look at the videos from Solon. Although the high school is much bigger, the spirit and dedication of the citizens of Solon are to be admired. They are a good example for the rest of us.

We who were brought up along the ocean are sometimes snobbish about our “rockbound coast.” We forget that there are many more beautiful places in Maine. The next time you visit Maine, pick any country road and take a ride. You’ll soon see what I mean. One day I plan to take the country road that leads to Solon and view this beautiful Meeting House for myself. Enjoy the videos.

By the way, if you are interested in learning about more country roads in Maine, buy this book, by Donna Gold, available on Amazon.

 

Information about Solon:

Solon is a small town located in central Maine on Route 201, a Federal Scenic Byway from Solon to the Canadian border. The population is 940.

Solon is about one hour north of Augusta, the state capital, and one hour west of Bangor. It was incorporated as the Town of Solon on February 23, 1809. In 2009 they celebrated their 200^th birthday.

The Kennebec River runs along the western border. It used to be famous for its log drives but now is a recreational paradise--fishing, canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting. The area has many recreational opportunities and is only 45 minutes from Sugarloaf Mountain, a popular Maine skiing area.

Thanks for listening. (Sorry, go by the titles on each video. Part 1 comes second.)

 

 

 

 

Thomaston Library News

Submitted by Jocelyn Callaghan, 354-2453

Ms. Carroll’s third grade visits the library,

photo by Joanna Hynd

 

RAFFLE TO BENEFIT CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING

The Thomaston Public Library will be holding a raffle to benefit children’s programming in October. Tickets will be available starting September 14^th until noon on October 26^th. Prices will be $2 per ticket or $10 for 6 tickets. Thanks to our local businesses, we will be raffling many fantastic items such as gift certificates to the strand theater, a one year subscription to down east magazine, certificates for a four person round trip on the Mohegan boat line and many more! For a full list of prizes being raffled, please inquire where you purchase your tickets. Tickets will be available at: the Thomaston Public Library, Highland Café, Garden Island Laundromat & Tanning, and the Grasshopper Shop. The drawing will be held at the library during the Harvest Festival contra dance on Saturday October 27^th at 7pm. Winners must present their ticket stub to collect prizes. Prizes will be drawn in order of value starting with the highest.

Visit Rockland

By Land or by Sea

 

I came across these two Rockland items today which I thought I would share with you. The first item comes from my friend, Algie Mazzeo, via Facebook. Rockland is often featured in one travel magazine or another. You come across our favorite place quite often this way and it is always a surprise and a delight to see your hometown being featured in a national magazine. The lobster festival is now an international event and this article comes from Motor Home Magazine.

 

 

 

The article was called “Experience the Maine Lobster Festival by RV,” by Bobbie Hasselbring, May 28, 2012. The story describes a motor home trip from Boston and up along the Maine coast. When they get to Rockland they describe the festival, the lobster dinners, and all the activities.

Hasselbring mentions that the festival is an all-volunteer event, boasting the largest lobster cooker in the world, cooking more than 20,000 pounds of lobster.

“It’s the best lobster we’ve ever tasted…the shells are soft and the meat is especially sweet. Visiting Maine is the only way to experience this summer treat.”

Other places to visit in Rockland and the area are also mentioned: the Farnsworth, the Wyeth Museum, the Olson House, and the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland. Docent at the Lighthouse Museum, Marla Rogers, is mentioned. She lived at the Owls Head Lighthouse as a child and will spin tales for you about the hardships the families at Maine’s lighthouses faced. The RVers then visit the Owls Head Lighthouse.

The article gives most of its space to the Festival as well as describing our beautiful Maine coast along the way. After the RVers left Rockland, they headed for Acadia National Park.

 

 

 

The second item I’d like to share with you is this picture of the Victory Chimes, taken by Cindy Hanson MacPherson on July 12, 2012 as it passed the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse during the Windjammer Parade. Cindy was aboard the Heron out of Rockport. I found this picture on the Rockland, Maine History Facebook Page.

It is so wonderful to see the VC once again plying the waters of Penobscot Bay after many years in other waters and in use as other venues we won’t mention here. My own trip aboard her, as the only Maine, and even the only Rockland, Maine visitor aboard her, was one of my fondest memories, even though we had a bunch of fog that week.

If you have stories from national magazines featuring stories about our area, I would love to see them.

Governor LePage on Education in Maine

Maine governor, Paul LePage caused a stir this summer when he outlined a remedial plan for Maine students which he will introduce to the legislature in the next session. In this video from online’s Huffington Post, the governor proposes his plan, “ABC,” Accountability, Best Practices, and School Choice.”

LePage’s statement which caused the most stir at a July press conference was, “I don’t care where you go in this country. If you come from Maine you’re looked down upon.” He continued, “Twenty years ago if you came from Maine, they couldn’t wait to get you into their school.”

He now believes that local school districts should pay for their graduates’ remedial courses in college. That would make it a double dip deal with parents being taxed for education twice, once in high school and once when their kids go to college. Aren’t college loans high enough without adding this burden to students and their parents?

It has been my experience, as a former teacher and supporter of our educational leaders, that every governor will take a stand on how to fix public education at some time during their administration. Politics always includes education in its platform whether it’s on the state or national level. You can count on education coming to the forefront in every upcoming election. I will not get involved in politics here especially since I cannot even remotely affect the outcome of any election in Maine, as I don’t live there.
 

However, I think he’s doing a disservice to Maine by belittling its residents in this way. If Maine wants to attract business to the state, this isn’t the way to do it.

 

Maine, in fact, is not the only state in trouble with the level of its students’ accomplishments. The New York Post reported that eight out of ten high school grads in 2011 were unable to do college work and were required to take remedial courses.

 

I don’t know for sure that the education level of our Maine students is really that low, but I do remember that in the 60s, when I was teaching, that any student coming to you from the South was automatically looked down upon. Maybe that wasn’t fair, but education in the South at that time was going through a racist turmoil. Has the resurgence of business prominence in the South now shifted education problems to the North where the economic woes are now larger than the rest of the country?

 If so, please tell me why the southern people I ran into in the publishing industry here in Georgia couldn’t spell. I was forever correcting their grammar and spelling. Some of that may be the fault of technology, but that’s another story.

  

During the above press conference, LePage cited a Harvard study that places Maine 40^th out of 41 participating states on its rate of improvement on standardized tests between 1992 and 2011.

Senator Justin Alfond, D, of Portland, a member of the Legislature’s Education Committee, says LePage is telling only half the story. He cited Maine’s high national ranking for fourth grade math test scores and eighth grade reading and writing test scores.

  

As for standardized tests, there has always been an ongoing debate as to how accurate they are in determining a student’s capability in a specific subject.

 In a recent story by David Dunkle in the Courier, he discussed the fact that Rockland grammar schools are on report, so to speak, as far as the reading and math levels of its students. He suggests, and rightfully so I think, that we be concerned about other subjects besides reading and math. What happens to history, geography, and science? When’s the last time your student brought home an assignment that had to do with geography?

  

To be fair I must note that I’ve heard through the grapevine that the student population has declined in the Thomaston-Rockland area because parents move to towns with a better education system such as Camden. Is it now to be “Rockland by the dummies and Camden by the mensa society?”

 

True you need to know your math these days and you also need to know how to read. You won’t get far in this world without either one. But are we sacrificing other subjects so that we can “up” our scores in math and reading so we can get more money for education in our schools? Yes you need reading to study history or any other subject. You need math to pursue geography and other sciences. But how far should we go to ensure we get a well-rounded student who can function as a good citizen in our society?
 

So should we stand behind Governor LePage as he supposedly tries to “tell it like it is;” or do we trust the people who really know what’s happening in our schools; the people who were educated to teach our children; the people who take money out of their own pockets for their students’ needs; the people who are dedicated to their profession, to their students, and to their communities…namely the “Teacher.”
 

I will close with a recent article in the Courier under “Education Briefs.” The article lists the Dean’s List for UMaine-Machias, my alma mater. When I attended the school it was called Washington State Teachers College. These days UMM concentrates on environmental subjects. On this Dean’s List I see nine students from Rockland; one from Cushing; one from Lincolnville; one from Rockport; one from South Thomaston; and one from Tenants Harbor. In that same article, Michael Norman of South Thomaston, presumably educated at Rockland District High School; was named to the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology. He studies computer science-information technology at that school.

 

 

RIT is an out-of-state school that did indeed accept a Maine student. I’m sure there are others. It would appear then that someone is doing something right when it comes to education in Maine and especially in Knox County. We need to recognize those Maine students who have excelled in their chosen fields. We also need to recognize the people who helped them get there. That’s my view for what it’s worth.
 

In the News Today, September 10, Courier Gazette online: Hope Elementary School just received a National Blue Ribbon School honor for being one of 269 schools in the nation recognized as being in the “Exemplary High Achieving Category.” Hope was one of two schools in Maine, the other being Solon Elementary School in central Maine.

 

 

Thanks for listening.

"...And the Band Plays On"

25 Years of Mid Coast Community Band

 

 

Midcoast Community Band is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year. This video was taken by cousin Mary Sue Weeks in Warren this August. If you haven’t attended a concert by this dedicated community band, you are missing out on some terrific music.

Formed in 1986, Midcoast Community Band (MCCB) has entertained at many events in the area. They perform mostly in the summer but also have a Christmas Concert.

 

Many of the members are professionals. Some are music teachers, while some participate in other bands. It’s a family affair as many members of the same family have belonged from time to time, including mine. Brother Harlan and his wife, Kay Sylvester have played saxophone. Kay still plays with the band. Their daughters, Brenda and Bette also have played. Brenda still does when she gets the chance on home visits. Great-nephews, Matthew, Jake and Brian Sylvester have played, as well as niece Kim Tavares Ruddy.

The venues for MCCB have included parades as well as festivals like the Lobster Festival and Union Fair. When the director of the band, Jo Anne Parker, gets a phone call from someone wanting the band’s participation at their event, she gathers the band members up; selects a program; and sets up rehearsals. She’s very proud that her members are able to perform any music she throws at them.

 

What makes this band unique and at the same time challenging for Jo Anne is that the membership is always changing. While some members remain year after year, Jo Anne is always looking to the future and recruits young people whenever she can. Some of the youngsters come from the music teachers in the group as well as from area schools. When the band shows up for an event, Jo Anne never knows for sure who will be there. Many times she has to adjust the program accordingly so that the audience will always get a superb performance. I’ve never heard a bad concert yet and I’ve seen many of them over the years.

This year MCCB celebrates its 25^th anniversary with a book about their history called “…And the Band Plays On.” Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used for the upkeep of their flatbed which is used in parades. Along with money gained from passing the hat at concerts, book sales will greatly help the organization. Please pick up a copy from any band member and help support this terrific group of musicians in our midst, Midcoast Community Band. May they have many more years of success.

Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors

Show Report

 

The Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show, by all appearances, was a big success despite some rainy weather occasionally. I had planned to bring you my own video and photos via my Blackberry, but, unfortunately, I’ve had technical glitches I can’t seem to handle. Therefore, I bring you David Dunkle’s video on the day of the Boat Yard Dog competition, which is on You Tube and appeared in the Village Soup online. He did a much better job than I.

 

I received an email just before I came home for vacation from the Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors (MBHH) folks asking for volunteers. As I wouldn’t be home for the festival to volunteer I thought, why not? The lady I spoke to on the phone was Stacey Palmer, who had a dog in the show named Duff. She said, “He doesn’t like water, so I don’t know if he’ll swim or not.” As it happened, Duff was fine paddling around in a boat with Stacey, which you’ll see on the tape, but he was having no part of going into that cold water down at the Landing.

As part of the rewards for my volunteer work, I received a volunteer tee shirt, a subscription to the magazine, and two tickets to the show. As I already have a subscription, I gave the one they offered to my brother, Ted. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it as much as I do. I gave my extra ticket to my friend, Bobby Zimmerman, who was itching to get into the show to see all the boats. I used my ticket to go see the dogs compete.

I volunteered on Saturday for four hours with a very nice lady, whose name I can’t remember, unfortunately. She was a dedicated volunteer as she was there for the entire show. We sat in the “Will Call” shed checking in people who were given complimentary tickets by the vendors at the Landing. The most I did was look up a few people in a book and give out day stickers to put on their clothing.

My partner and I could have sold the shed we were in, which was erected by another vendor for the show, several times. Many perspective carpenters and do-it-yourselfers came in and admired the shed. We directed them all to the vendor who built them. I hope we gave him some business.

The next day, Sunday, which was the last day of the show, I came down to watch the Boat Yard Dogs perform on a rainy misty day. There was a great story, also in the Village Soup online, but here are the highlights. I must first of all thank the two men who picked me up off the ground after I fell backward from the wall at the Landing. I was late in coming and while trying to get a vantage point from which to take pictures, I fell right off the darn wall. I was fine, just shaken up. I decided to try to find another spot out on the wharf instead.

The dog show benefits the humane society in the area by giving a donation of $1 to the society for the dog you pick as your favorite in the show. Most of the dogs in the show were in fact rescue dogs.

All dogs and owners were asked to go through a routine which consisted of a small obstacle course on the wharf; do a trick or two with a hula hoop; get in and out of a boat docked at the wharf with their owner; and either the dog or owner or both had to get into the water at some point. Bribes for the judges were encouraged and each owner did coax the judge’s boat into the wharf so they could do just that. Some of the bribes were tee shirts, lobsters, and other gift bag stuff.

The only dog who actually went into the water to fetch a stick was Otter, who was handled by two adorable girls. In fact, they had trouble getting him out of the water. Otter is a Labrador, a natural fetcher.

One dog actually had been rescued from the New Orleans area I believe. The announcer said he acquainted water with swamps and the alligators within. Naturally he would not want to enter into any water, swamp or not.

I found it ironic, however, that two Portuguese water dogs in the show did not want to be water dogs on that particular day. Guess who won the whole shebang? Yep, Otter. He deserved the honor along with his two girl handlers.

Two things I have added to my Maine wish list are two things I saw while wandering around the show on Sunday.  One is the beautiful posters of some of the major lighthouses in Maine done by Alan Claude. You will see them on the video. Someday I would like to have the Rockland Breakwater, the Marshall Point Light, and the Pemaquid Point lighthouse posters. The other thing is a “Tide Clock” by Alan Winick. The device, when set properly, will tell you when the tide will be low or high. They are very unique. My office is loaded with Maine pictures and other “Maine stuff” and these things will be a welcome addition to any future office I might have. I have both their business cards in a safe place for that reason.

I would like to thank the volunteer who drove me back up to my brother’s truck via a golf cart. My poor bad legs had about had it by that time and the ride sure was appreciated.

So that’s the report of the Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show for this year.

Thanks for listening.

Kendall Merriam

South End Poet

 

This is the first entry in the new guest blog by Kendall Merriam. Kendall writes short stories as well as poetry. Look for more of his work here in the coming months.

 

THE TRAIN

 

For Elzbieta

 

When she appeared in the doorway, he waved, instinctively.  She was so striking that he could not restrain himself.  She was striking even though it had been six days since the invasion from the East and it looked like she had not been able to fix herself or whatever women call their magic in all that time.

     His wave intrigued her so she came slowly across the cattle car floor and asked in a low voice, “Do I know you?”

     “No, but I was hoping to remedy that situation” having no idea what her reaction would be.

     She laughed briefly, “Men never change no matter the situation. Do you have a plush seat for me?”

“Certainly”, he replied, and raked a small bunch of hay beside him into a depressingly inadequate seat.

     She sat down with aplomb as if she was riding in a queen’s carriage and asked him his name.

“Jakub”.

     “I’m Elzbieta”.  There seemed to be no need for last names.

     “You are an officer, “she continued, “What branch?”

“Oh, just an engineer.”

     “Are you going to run the train after our Russian brothers get tired”, she said with a small ironic smile.

     “Oh, no, I was an engineer with the water works in Warsaw.  My uncles all call me the King of the Sewers.”

     “An important job, needed to put out fires. There have been lots of fires in Warsaw.”

     “Yes, lots of fires. I am afraid it will be a long time before everything is put right. And what about you, are you a nurse or a doctor? You must be, all in white and gray.”

     “I’m afraid I am all gray now, yes, I was a nurse’s in a children’s hospital, also in Warsaw. I barely know how I got out. I was told to go to help the children going East but there seem to be none on this train.”

     “”You are married?”

     “Oh, no, I was taking care of my parents, their sole support. I’m told their building was hit directly.  I tried to go there but the doctor in charge refused to let me leave the hospital and a neighbor brought news that they were dead.”

     “My wife and son were living in our apartment when a bomb hit the house next door and it caught fire. They were so afraid of the fire spreading, that they ran out into the street and a fighter came down the street and strafed them. I found their bodies and buried them as best I could but then was ordered East by my commanding officer, so here I am.”

     “And now we only have each other.” She answered with a slight wry smile.

     They talked on, swaying with the movement of the train until she finally went to sleep with her head against his shoulder. Late at night, the train stopped for a “piss” break as their captors called it. The men automatically stayed on the door side and the women went to the other side of the train

     He got back on the train and felt a moment of panic, fearing she would not come back to his car.  But suddenly there she was, with her sweater off even though it was chilly. Her nurse’s uniform was short-sleeved. She sat on his right side this time.

     She asked, “Were you wounded? I noticed that your right sleeve is cut open.”

     “Oh no, I caught it on a door, a steel door. I fear I do not meet regulations.  Perhaps wherever we are going I will get a new one” both knowing that would not be likely.

     As she sat beside him he could feel the warmth of her bare arm against his where his uniform was torn. It seemed more intimate than any sexual act could be and he nearly fainted from anxiety and tiredness, for he knew he would not be able to be with her long.

     They did not talk much, they didn’t need to.

     Suddenly she whispered to him, “I saw you limping slightly, would you like me to massage your ankle, as a nurse I am trained for such things.”

“Alright”.

     She unlaced  his boot and slid it off his sore foot then slipped off his sock and began expertly kneading his foot and ankle, in a medically appropriate way which in this instance was also the most sensuous act of his short life.

     Suddenly, the train shuddered to a halt.  There were cries from the guards, “Officers Out!”

     He hurriedly slipped on his sock and his boot, which she laced up for him. He could see she was crying in the darkness.

     As the doors of the cars at the head of the train were being opened, he took his wedding ring and said, “Give me your hand” and slipped it on her thumb where it fit snugly. “This may buy you a meal somewhere, I no longer have need of it.”

     Then in return, she pressed something into the palm of his hand. It was her nursing pin, “When you want to think of me, just prick yourself with this,” she said, almost sobbing now.

     As the door opened, she kissed his bearded cheek. Then he stood and moved away from her. He paused at the door looked at her and smiled. The Russian guard said, “Out!” and rapped on his sore ankle with his club and he was gone.

(There is no date on this clipping which was sent to me by my mother years ago. Ted and I believe it was in the 80s when he went to Washington to report on the political news for our area at that time. Eastern Airlines was in existence until 1991, so that would be about right.)

 

‘Thank you for your patience’

Air travel is for the birds.

Oh, I know that it is safer than land travel, statistic-wise, and it is fast. But efficient, it isn’t.

When making preparations a couple of weeks ago to fly to the nation’s capital, the horror stories began surfacing from friends. There were stories of lost luggage, delayed flights, missed connections. One friend said he traveled to Florida in March. He hasn’t recovered his luggage yet.

Forever the optimist, I said nothing could be as bad as what people were saying. So it was with some trepidation that I departed on a Sunday morning from Portland Jetport via Continental Airways.

The Sunday morning flight took off exactly on time and landed exactly on time. When I walked through the terminal door, there was my luggage on the turntable. What was all that ballyhoo? This was great service and efficient transportation. Could it have been that it was a Sunday, and the aircraft was only half full?

The return trip was something else. I was scheduled to leave Washington at 5:40 p.m. Friday. Heavy traffic had to be expected. Everyone in the world, it seemed, wanted to leave Washington on Friday afternoon. My flight was to have connected in Boston with Delta, and then on to Portland. There was an hour in Boston to make the connection from the Continental flight. No problem. That was what I was assured by the ticket agent.

Arriving an hour early for the 5:40 fight, it appeared that everything was normal. But then the people started arriving. They jammed into the terminal. Many had to stand as there were not enough seats. It was announced that not only would the flight be slightly delayed (He said 15 minutes. It ended up being 80 minutes), but the flight had been overbooked. Anyone willing to give up a seat could receive a free round-trip ticket anywhere in the U.S. on a standby basis. There were a few takers.

Finally the aircraft was made ready for boarding. But the air conditioner was not working. It was hot. People were sweaty and testy. Three people were wandering up and down the aisle looking for their seat assignments. They had been assigned seats that did not exist. By then flight attendants began checking tickets.

My Boston connection was for 8 p.m. Good luck, said my seatmates. We arrived in Boston at 8:35. The man at the Continental desk was apologetic. He wrote me a ticket on an Eastern Express flight that was to leave at 9:30. No guarantee of a seat, he said. If they didn’t have room I was to come back and he would hire a cab to drive me to Portland. By this time family members were already at Portland waiting for my flight.

What about my luggage? The Continental man said that since I had been booked on Delta, it was automatically sent to them. He said I could try to retrieve it, but I might miss the Eastern flight. I gambled. It then became a race against time with me running up and down stairs between Eastern and the Continental baggage claim area. With less than three minutes to flight time I got my suitcase. Rush to Eastern. Give them my bag. Get in line for boarding.

It was with a great sigh of relief when I settled into the seat of the small aircraft for the 32-minute flight to Portland. As we taxied to the end of the runway and began acceleration toward takeoff, the aircraft was suddenly shut down. It was an aborted takeoff. The pilot explained there was another plane overhead in our flight pattern. Another taxi trip around Logan. The flight may have been only 32 minutes, but it took 20 minutes to get off the ground.

Finally, we landed at Portland after a very smooth flight. All that was left was to greet the family, pick up the luggage and head home. But there was no suitcase. The baggage claim guy guaranteed it would be delivered to my door the next day. I said deliver it to Knox County Airport and I would pick it up It happened exactly that way. Except there was a rather large rip through the side of my rather cheap suitcase. Bring it back and the airline would have it repaired, I was told. It is now somewhere between here and the repairman.

One of the most irritating aspects about the whole episode was that at every turn, the captains of the aircrafts kept saying, “Thank you for your patience.” Even the lost baggage claim form had the same words, “Thank you for your patience.”

Thank you for your patience.