Article for FOSI Newsletter Fall 2009

Here is the text of an article I wrote for the FOSI Newsletter Fall 2009

What’s In a Name?

“Seguin”, what does it mean to you?

If you would have asked that to Brenda or I this time last year we would have said it means a somewhat desolate island off the coast of Maine where an important lighthouse sits. We also knew that we would be the keepers on that island during the summer of 2009 and that we were in for an adventure.

We were not disappointed!

During the summer of 2009 we learned much about the people of Maine, the livelihood of mid-coast, history of a nation, appreciation for the land and the surrounding sea and, most of all, we learned to appreciate each other. You might think that after forty years of being together there is no more to learn about each other.

Not so!

Brenda and I got right into the rhythm of the island. We had a lot of help from members of FOSI. Dave and Linda Power, Connie, Cyndy, Dee, Ethan, Duane, Ken, the Denker’s, and so many more. Much work was accomplished. We helped each other. We looked out for each other. We realized that there was nothing we couldn’t do.

We met many interesting people. Ninety three year old Mr. Sterling who spent time on Seguin in 1936 as a young coastguardsman. Seniors from the Maine Senior College there to learn more about lighthouses. Students aboard the schooner “Virginia”. Outward Bound folks. Select geology student from across the country that study the formations each year. The young girl that kept asking where Mount Washington was. Beverly Ramsey from North Carolina that spent the first year of her life on Seguin. The young mother from Orr’s Island who brought her kids out in a small skiff… and many more.

We learned what “Seguin” means to them and by doing so awakened us to a whole new understanding and appreciation for the place. Soon after we arrived, Boy Scout Troop #21from Bath spent a night or two on the island. One of their tasks was to hold a banner saying “This Place Matters” for promotion of The National Trust for Historic Places.

It really does. It matters a lot for a lot of people, in so many different ways. I believe you have to spend some time out there, meeting and greeting these folks to really understand what I am saying.

So, let’s get back to my question. What does it mean to you?

We realize that not many people, FOSI or otherwise, have had the opportunity to spend some real time on Seguin. We wonder how many of you understand the real importance of the island.

It’s not the land. It’s not the light. It’s not the sea. It’s not the flora and fauna. It’s not the spectacular scenery or the sounds of the surf.

It is all of this and more. It is the people that make Seguin special. It is the members of the Friends of Seguin. The people that realize and appreciate what they have. Each of you has their own talent and stories to share. You realize it is your challenge to be the stewards of the island so future generations can appreciate it. You realize the significance and what it means.

Each of you are the real Keepers of the Light.

From Brenda and me a heartfelt THANK YOU for the experience, the friendship, the knowledge and the reaffirmation of the human spirit. It is alive and well on Seguin!

For a complete accounting of our summer and a link to 385 pictures from our summer on Seguin visit the blog at “seguin2009.blogspot.com”

Sunday, September 20

I purposely waited a week or so before making my last blog entry. I wanted enough time to digest what we had accomplished the last few months. I can easily say that our time on Seguin was a life experience. Brenda and I enjoyed every minute, even the fog and rainy days.

As I have mentioned before, the people we met and friends we made were a significant part of our experience. Here are a few names that stand out. Dave and Linda Power, Cyndy, Dee, Connie, Captain Ethan, Duane, Dave and Tracy Percy, Postmaster Bob, Brent, the Denkers, Jim, Mr. Sterling, Lawrence, Ken, the owners of the Bath Sweet Shoppe, Jenny at CVS Pharmacy, all the FOSI folks at the annual meeting, many island guests, boat people, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Outward Bound folks, Roger’s Hardware associates, Schooner Virginia passengers and crew and many more. I almost did not want to name people because I will always leave someone out. Please don’t be offended if I did. Everyone we met was great. We had a lot of support from everyone!

While people make the difference, the location wasn’t bad either! We awoke every day to hear the surf pounding the rocky shore, the gulls laughing, the wind blowing and the spectacular Maine shoreline. We saw all types of boats, big and small, power and sail, old and new.

Today is our fortieth anniversary. I was blessed to share the time on Seguin with Brenda. We look forward to future adventures, a return to Maine and….who knows? Keep the light on for us!

Friday, September 4

This is our last post from the island. We leave for home tomorrow morning. We are both a little sad and a little glad. Brenda and I have enjoyed our time here but it is time to go home, see the family and return to a routine. At least for a while. We will be riding a motorcycle on Skyline Drive within a month and off to Florida for a few months this winter, and then, who knows? This is our idea of semi-retirement. I will continue working as a deputy sheriff and operating my security/consulting business and Brenda will go back to work at Tony’s Pizza on the Ocean City boardwalk.

I will actively review and pursue caretaking jobs that appeal to us in the future. Caretaking agrees with us and is a great way to see the world, meet people, make friends and live life. In fact that is our motto. “Live Life”. A simple philosophy to glean the most from our time here. Enjoy family, have fun, grow friends and simply live life. This was the first time in forty years that Brenda and I have spent every hour of every day together. It was said that we would either grow closer together or further apart during this time and I believe that is true. For us, we have definitely grown closer together. We both know each other better. Some things good, some not so good. But that is marriage and our time on Seguin has nurtured ours.

While here we have enjoyed excellent health. We haven’t even had a cold. Allergies did not bother us. No poison ivy. Nothing, and we thank God for that! As a matter of fact I’m sure we have both lost some weight and built muscle. We are leaving Seguin healthier than we arrived.

One huge positive aspect of being the Seguin caretakers has been the people we met and the friends we made. I am not going to name them all. It would take too long. Every one of them has been open and giving, supportive and caring and have welcomed us into their world. We plan to visit here again and will make it a point to stop and say hello.

The weather today is great, just like it has been for the past week. Dennis and I went to the cove to play around a while, the girls cleaned the house and began packing things up. Some visitors showed up and Brenda entertained them while Dennis and I replaced the broken pane of glass in the cellar window. I cleaned the riding mower, returned all tools to the shop, etc, etc.

Final packing after dinner and off to bed. Our last night on Seguin.

Thursday, September 3

What a beautiful way to wake up. The early morning blows your mind. Even before you open your eyes you smell the air as the soft south breeze wafts in the window. The clanging of the clapper from the bell buoy on Mile Ledge gently assaults your ears as it dances to the rhythm of the ocean swell. Your taste buds tell you there is salt in the air and you can smell the crispness of fall which is right around the corner.

Imagine this with the woman you love laying next to you. Life is good!

Summer is over in Maine. For the last week we have had fantastic weather. Cool comfortable days and chilly nights with the moon waxing. It will be full tomorrow.

We had about twenty visitors today. Ethan brought out a couple of groups and the others were boaters passing by. One couple in a large sailboat will spend the night in the cove. While Brenda was busy with visitors, Margie took care of the museum and prepared food for all. Dennis spent the entire day weed whacking and I cut the grass at the lighthouse and at the cove. This will be our final mowing for the year and the place looks good.

We had a delicious meatloaf dinner and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

Wednesday, September 2

Up and at ‘em early this morning. We had a bunch of bins to take in today. Laundry and other stuff that can be put in the truck in preparation for our departure. We also put the kayak, the George Foreman grill, paddles, etc in Ethan’s boat when he arrived at 0700.

After loading all the stuff and securing the kayak on the roof of the truck cap we headed to the laundromat in Bath. While the clothes were washing we went to McDonalds for breakfast and stopped at Rommel’s Ace Hardware to get weed eater parts. Then into the FOSI office to see Connie.

All summer long I have been planning a trip to the Maine Maritime Museum and the Bath Iron Works (BIW). So, at 1230 we were at the museum and got on the trolley to BIW. This is where the Arleigh Burke class destroyers are built. It is quite an operation. They are working on ways to streamline the building process and be more cost efficient. BIW is impressive and I hope they are successful in securing their next military contract.

Off to lunch at the Starlight in Bath. This is a small place run by women in downtown Bath. It was OK, nothing special. We went back to the Maritime Museum to look around and headed back to Fort Popham. Cyndy Carney met us there and we loaded up the new (used) stove she had procured. Lobsterman Richard was along to give us a hand offloading the stove on the island. Getting the stove off the boat was not too bad. Ethan, Richard and Dennis got it up the steps and on the tram. I got the donkey engine going And up the hill she went.

The old stove was removed and the new one installed. This was not a plug and play installation. The stove plug is not accessible as someone built a cabinet around it. Instead we left the plug alone and changed the other end where it connects to the stove. At first the stove would not work, but after some fiddling around we got it to come on. The girls successfully prepared dinner but it again stopped working soon after. Some more jiggling got it going again. Not sure about this one.

A big thanks to Ethan and Richard for their help both removing and installing the stoves. Last I saw of the old stove was with Ethan taking it away with the boat.

Tuesday, September 1

Quiet, peaceful, serene. That’s what it is like early in the morning. The birds don’t start squawking until sun up. The wind is calm and so is the sea. No clouds and the stars are shining bright. We saw the moon set from our bed at 0230 this morning. A nice cool wisp of sea air filters in through the window. This is an experience to remember. The lack of auditory stimulation is deafening, almost surreal. These are the mornings we are experiencing now.

After breakfast we walked the South trail. Mosquitoes are still in abundance. The rocks at the south end are quite rugged and the view is fantastic. The only thing that detracts is the abundance of seagull droppings that smell.

Dennis and I framed and hung some more pictures and a mirror. Brenda was busy with some visitors. We are getting some stuff ready for our trip ashore tomorrow. The more we can take now, the less we will have to deal with on Saturday.

After dinner we watched a movie and made it an early night. Tomorrow is an early day.

Monday, August 31

A nice cool day. Brenda and Margie finished the puzzle they were working on and then they weeded the garden. Dennis and I installed all the first floor window grates in preparation for the off season. We also replaced and glazed the glass that broke.

Dennis finally had success in logging on to his company website and he spent a few hours at work. I got a call from the Coast Guard in the morning saying they were coming out later in the day. They showed up about 1400 and spent some time replacing a pc board, however that did not fix the problem and they will have to come out again. It was neat watching the helicopter fly in and out.

We are slowly moving things down the hill in preparation for our departure. Ethan will take some of our stuff on Wednesday and arrangements have been made to leave Seguin on Saturday morning.