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Marty’s Memories - An Island Tour by Marty Trower

This season, during the pandemic, I didn’t allow guests to stay in my bedroom suite upstairs. Actually, I haven’t allowed anyone in the house since February. It has been a scrambled messy place a lot of the time. Sometimes it’s a lot tidier and ordered but nobody sees it or cares either way. The clutter, I have come to realize, is not useful or interesting to anyone but me and I am tired of having it in the way. I am believing, finally, that all of this, the gathering up of memories, the laying out of them for scrutiny and resolution is a slowly meandering process that I have been, so far, too impatient to deal with it. In the midst of these revelations came our wedding day. It turned out to be one of those ‘typical Chebeague days’ that we all know and relish and feel forever. The air was warm, the breeze gentle, the islands bounced in the bay. Meaningful words and music permeated the small gathering overlooking Hamilton Beach. I floated above it all, it seems now, as I remember only fragments of sentences until feeling the strength of my husband’s hand in mine, anchoring us to our future. I do remember saying how I wished our parents could have been there. Later in the week, while driving the length and breadth of the island alone, I found myself imagining my parents coming back to Chebeague now, sitting in the car with me as I gave them an island tour, catching them up on the last thirty years they have missed. Our East End neighborhood would look and feel the same; many of the houses still owned and occupied by descendants of the same families; the hotel, painted yellow again, up and running (although not this summer); the golf course groomed and active

and the Stone Pier busy with cars parking and people lugging gear on and off the island. The tennis courts would be quietly alive with the steady ‘thock’ of velvety balls and random calls and grunts from players. My parents’ house on the North road would appear, spruced up and expanded, the land around it cleared further and abundant with vegetables and flowers; their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren might be gathering and enjoying meals and stories together there around the table. My mother would see the library she helped plan and have built and the community center and improved kitchen buzzing with purpose. They’d find the Island Market bigger and offering chowders and sandwiches, and coffee and pastries; and the grange (they were members) has turned into a fun thrift shop! The recreation center, the pool, the tennis court, the day care center and the huge, new elementary school would be a total shock to my parents. So would the location of the post office at the boatyard and the Niblic store.

My mother would be delighted with all the new places. My father would not like change and would worry about his taxes going up!

I hope I will always visit and enjoy memories, but I am ready to tidy up and put things in perspective. I think, for me, it was our wedding that brought clarity to the idea that now is the time and place to be. I plan on languishing longer in the present, but also gearing up for a hopeful future ahead right now. Chebeague is a place that allows you to do that.

The Foo t Doc t o r

The Foot Doctor, Dr. Rybka, is coming to Chebeague on Wednesday, October 14 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Call 829-6463 for an appointment.

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SEPTEMBER 2020 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR