Maine Event: Day 14

I didn't sleep well last night so this is what it is. My friend Paula (from Rockland, Maine where we once went to a Lobster Festival in the before times) brought her friend Nan and paid us a visit. It was a real treat and on top of getting to connect with a person I hold dear to my heart, Paula also brought garden gifts in the form of Empire Apples, Tomatoes, and Rhubarb. The rhubarb is late because it made a second batch because July was so rainy!!?!! I've never heard of such a thing but I am thrilled. We sat in a park for a moment and a half - ate blueberry cake and talked about gardening, droughts, capitalism, housing speculation, 2nd homes & vacant neighbors, and artesian wells. My kind of lunch break.

We got take-out noodles from a Taiwanese restaurant hardly any restaurants are open past 7 or 8 pm except on the weekend. In this part of downtown Portland, there aren't too many cars on the street, and on a Monday at 7 pm there were hardly any people. Imagine yourself here and listen to the distinctive cry of the Herring gull (yes it sounds well different than the gulls in California) 

Then we went for a walk after dinner in a thunderstorm with lightning, beautiful clouds, and reflections on the brick surfaces. 

I love walking in the rain - it was about 73° and we were provided with a gorgeous lightning show. We missed the big downpour just and only had the wet streets and few giant drops and a drizzle here and there. A wonderful warm summer rain at night. What more could one ask for?
I have never felt so safe anywhere in the US as here. Portland has a surprising city feel and yet a very small number of people live here. I think I mentioned the population of San Francisco is 13 times larger than the size of Portland, Maine. Also, cars are mostly very polite to pedestrians - and it is almost like they get offended if you wave them on to go first.
Sending love, Tawnia