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Visiting
a 93 year old in Maine
as governor declares his "day"
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
AUG. 30, 2002 -- It was a lark of a trip, quickly arranged, something
done on the spur of the moment, and therefore, also costly. Yet
it proved to be quite fun and refreshing.
For 40 years, we have read The Christian Science Monitor,
that esteemed newspaper printed out of Boston. Its inside page on
Fridays has an article from Maine by John Gould, perhaps the best
essayist in America today.
John's been writing these columns for more than 60 years, and we've
been reading his columns (and his books) 40 years.
A few years back, on a trip to the Northeast, we arranged a flight
into Portland, Me. to meet him. We didn't stay long, but since have
corresponded first by letter, and lately by e-mail.
Oh, we didn't add: John is 93 now, but still turning out those
delightful columns about not only Maine, but of wonderful characters
and glimpses of history and foibles of people in all sorts of predicaments.
You always enjoy John's essays, and usually end up chuckling.
And the especially good part: you can go back to them collected
in book form, and the comments are just as fresh and pleasing years
after he wrote them.
So we flew to Boston (horrible airport -- fly away from it if you
can) and took a car to Portland, spent the night, and motored the
next day to Rockland, Maine. John and his wife Dorothy live in a
sparkling retirement home there, where a large group of friends
and neighbors gathered for "John Gould Day."
The governor had proclaimed it. The Speaker of the House presented
the proclamation, and many other notables, friends and simply long-time
readers got up to speak. We didn't say anything, but guess we may
have come as far as anyone to the event.
John and Dorothy sat quietly as stories were paraded about them.
When after about an hour and half, John was handed the microphone,
he said no, that "Dottie should speak first," citing all
her help through their 60 years of marriage. The Gould children,
John Jr. and Kathryn, were leading the show.
Later John spoke briefly, then spent about 30 minutes autographing
books. We knew he was a Braves' fan, and took along a cap for him.
A few days later came his e-mail: "The cap didn't work. The
Braves lost the next two," he noted. I think he didn't have
the cap exactly adjusted on his head then, since later the Braves
were back to winning. By the way, John's favorite player is Chipper
Jones, who came through nicely recently.
So soon we were headed back to Portland, Boston and home. Being
where we were, of course, we checked out a few lobsters, and found
them wonderful.
Though it's usually cooler this time of year in the Northeast,
the thermometer hit 100 degrees when we were gassing up in Boston.
No cool weather there.
For the most recent John Gould column, visit the Christian Science
Monitor web site, at www.csmonitor.com.
Search under "John Gould," and enjoy a flavor of his writing.
It was a delightful quick trip to Maine to enjoy "John Gould
Day", regardless of the weather.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
About going downhill
"It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward
dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs
with surprising strides."
-- Novelist George Sand
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