Summers in Maine
Every summer we travel to Maine to spend over five weeks on a tiny island in the Casco Bay. My mother’s family is from here and we spend this time connecting with family and friends. I feel deeply connected to this place, my soul always sings when we arrive every summer and it is heartbreaking when we depart (despite the fact that I definitely would not enjoy winter here!). I enjoy watching my children form relationships here: connecting with the landscape, making friends with the islanders - old and young alike - and this place also becoming at part of their identity.
The special thing about this island is the tight knit community that we have here and how much we relish our time together every summer. There are many families who have had their houses here for 3-4 generations and everyone bears witnesses to the passage of time with our neighbours and their families. Births of children and grandchildren are celebrated and those who pass are honoured. There is joy in being feral here, the children run wild on the island (everyone keeps an eye on free roaming children) and the adults are free to express themselves in whatever kookie way they wish.
We enjoy being together with many social events during the summer including weekly Saturday Night Suppers with the entire island, bocce tournaments, silly 4th of July parades, traditional lobster bakes and trivia nights. But one of my favourite events is Market Day when we all gather in our 100 year old community building (known as the Casino) which is perched on an outcropping of rocks and bring out our art, crafts, products and creations that we have made. It is a bit of a celebration of everyone’s creativity, whether you are making sculptures from plastic waste found on the beach or creating homemade meatball sandwiches. There are also collaborations between young and old, children participating as much as the adults. Every year I bring a carry on suitcase full of ceramics, some of which are specifically made with this community in mind. It makes you feel even more connected with your community when you realise that your bowl is adorning someone’s first apartment and another piece is being given to a dear friend and them telling you every year how much they enjoy their morning cup of coffee out of the mug they bought from me the year before. So here is to celebrating community and the creativity that connects us together.
