Sunday in Maine

Today was a trifecta of celebrations: Juneteenth, Father's Day and Ellen's and my 17th wedding anniversary! I would say that we managed to celebrate all three. We went to church at the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Rockland with Jim and Mary. The regular pastor was away, so the service was led by a layman, who also happens to be running for office in the Maine senate. He was articulate and also succinct. He devoted part of the service to the observance of Juneteenth through readings and the singing of one of the earliest of the songs of slavery; We are Climbing Jacob's Ladder. The dominant theme was fathers, and he emphasized especially the reality that our own fathers were flawed, and that those seeking to be good fathers are also flawed and that our faith gives us the insight and courage to face up to that reality and to keep striving to achieve "fatherhood." After church, we went to Phil McKean's home in Cushing, where we found Phil, his daughter, Susannah, and his grandson, Samuel, who is 20 years old, and whom I had never met before. A very fine young man who I enjoyed talking with. During our lunch together, (which, when they realized it was our anniversary, became a celebratory lunch), Susannah's husband, Paul, "zoomed" in from London, and also her brother, Tom, my godson, who was in Corsica, and for a bit of time, her daughter, Chloe and her boyfriend, James (not sure where they were). Sort of amazing! We enjoyed "impossible burgers," quinoa salad and cold salmon. It was very cold, raw and windy outside (in the 40's and raining) so we stayed inside and also postponed an earlier plan to have an anniversary supper at Claws, a nice seafood place in Rockland which has all-outdoor dining. I think we'll try that Monday night. This evening we had a nice supper with Jim and Mary (inside!), played a game of Scrabble, which Ellen won (much to her surprise), and then watched Episode One of Season 8 of Endeavor on PBS. One of our favorite programs, and that's true for Jim and Mary too. So - a satisfactory day all around!

The U-U Church in Rockland

Susannah McKean Nicklin talking with her brother, Tom, on Zoom

Tom McKean, all the way from Corsica!

Susannah and Phil McKean

Paul Nicklin, Susannah's Husband

Samuel Nicklin

Part of a memorial garden Phil is crea†ing for his wife, Deborah, who died in late April. One of the things we did today was share ideas for the music that will be part of the memorial service for Deborah in September.******************

Another section of the memorial garden.