Dear Anonymous,
She woke up later on as I was leaving town and I happened to have clothing that fit her. She is a larger size woman and her eyes lit up when I was (we were) able to hand her a denim jacket and shirts and shorts that fit. (thank you Dear Anonymous...talk about timing!)
Her smile was extra large and her voice full of gravel and gratitude. And a hot coffee to look forward to. And a fresh bottle of water.
I have two windows in my bedroom. A bedroom that is dry. I have no one that threatens me in that space. A bathroom close by. I am counting these blessings. Counting. Counting. Counting.
I also understand she may not want these things that I count as blessings. Nor the responsibilities or stresses related to these 'blessings'. I hold that too.
But the gift this morning of her full face smile. That voice with deep treads. A flower in the street garden. Thank you.
Our Lady of Victories
A giant amazonian woman in armor, wielding both a weapon and an olive branch. On a deeply personal note only, she lent me great fortitude this morning. And that reaction too, I will need to examine.
Our Lady of Victories
At Work On Water At Work On Land
At Work On Water At Work On Land
Memory from June 21st, 2011 - with Stu Jones
The candle was still lit. Police Station. Portland, Maine.
The candle was still lit. Police Station. Portland, Maine.
Resmaa Menakem on the embodied experience of race. So grateful to encounter his words...
Resmaa Menakem on the embodied experience of race. So grateful to encounter his words. He had me when he asks about diversity. What are we building diversity from. And that question was worth agonizing over and an answer worth owning.
https://onbeing.org/programs/resmaa-menakem-notice-the-rage-notice-the-silence/
Monument Square. Portland, Maine.
The world a bit wonky and not squared.
The world a bit wonky and not squared.
A man pours gas over himself behind a convenience store and lights himself up...
A man pours gas over himself behind a convenience store and lights himself up and goes off like a Roman Candle. So much damage they cannot identify his fingerprints. And it is barely a news item. I am sitting with that.
I am sitting with this. And now I know why this morning a frantic man, a homeless man, being thrown out of another convenience store who says he witnessed the man buying the gas in his little gas can, was crazed and self congratulatory that he wasn’t absolutely losing it.
Please take care of one another.
https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/13/police-man-burned-outside-portland-convenience-store-set-himself-on-fire/
Next steps were uncertain. But they always were...
Next steps were uncertain. But they always were. Even when they were disguised with the arrogance of my certainty.
Commercial Street. Sunday morning...
Commercial Street. Sunday morning. I know nothing about this or how it may have happened but it sure provided the metaphor.
None of us. Bulletproof.
Here's the opportunity to buy direct from the boat. You will know who harvested them. You will know his boat.
A message from Stu Jones:
I have lobsters if anyone is interested.
Message me 776-0034.
Here's the opportunity to buy direct from the boat. You will know who harvested them. You will know his boat. You'll never feel the same the next time you look out in the harbor and recognize the Ann Elizabeth.
Portland, Maine.
Our City by the Sea. The moon and venus remaining socially distant.
Our City by the Sea. The moon and venus remaining socially distant.
Star. Match. Company.
Star. Match. Company.
The space required to do the work that has to get done.
The space required to do the work that has to get done.
Why commercial boats need access to waterfront property.
Why commercial boats need access to waterfront property.
Net Wranglers
Net Wranglers
Pas de deux ala Coast of Maine.
Dreaming of June. Portland Harbor. Mist. Lobsterboats. Seagulls. I can hear the foghorn and the diesel engines. The flap of the cormorants wings. The shrill whistle of a circling osprey. January dreaming.
Becky's Diner. Portland, Maine. A port in all of our storms....
Becky’s Diner is where you’re apt to see the working waterfront fueling up on good food and companionship even at 4 AM. Becky Rand, owner, is a stalwart and generous hearted supporter of Portland Maine’s Working Waterfront. And we are as grateful for her for that as we are for her muffins.
Ferry Terminal Broadcasting Dawn
Dawn delivers and the terminal receives.
At the Desert between fish dumps and the rest of the world.
At the Desert between fish dumps and the rest of the world.