Musings in Maine

I think one of the reasons that Bill and I enjoy traveling, and specifically camping; is the same reason why we invite “strangers” into our home (via Airbnb)~~ we really enjoy meeting different, interesting people because it re-affirms our belief that 90% of the time, folks all over the world are basically kind and decent.

On this East Coast Adventure we met a young couple from PA on an anniversary trip in VT who encouraged us to ride the alpine slide; an “older than us” Maine couple in a local VT diner walked us out to our van to give us their Maine atlas with special markings of the places that we should not miss; a McDonald’s manager in VT invited us to park overnight in their parking lot (FREE);  a free-spirited motorcyclist from NY chatted with us at a NH Dunkin Donuts about his daughter’s favorite vacation spot, Bar Harbor;  a camping “neighbor” took time to walk back over to our campsite after our conversation to suggest we not miss Cape Cod and Provincetown;  a Bar Harbor local sharing my park bench struck up a conversation about his wife’s Music Therapy work (a WMU grad); and even a Comfort Inn manager allowed us to park overnight in their lot on a late evening.

I really hate that the American media has made us so afraid of one another—violence, evil, and hate are elevated and increase our fear that something bad will happen to us, at another’s hands.  Instead of believing the fear mongers, I am concentrating on the “Fear Not’s” from Scripture.  I am choosing to see the ordinary kindnesses of others.  I am continuing to engage in conversations with “new friends”.   Join me, won’t you?