January, 2008
The Burning Tree excitement, it was short but intense!
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(cont) . . .
All well and good, but missing the experience of making the annual "tree choice" either out in the woods or on the corner parking lot where trees are sold would leave a void in our holiday fun. And, don't forget the quiet, daily ritual of watering the tree, cleaning up the spills underneath,and the fragrance of a real tree. Missing these would be a serious loss for purists like us. . . not to mention the ritual of finding lights that work in the bottom of the decoration box, then carefully hanging them on the tree in an attempt to make it look as beautiful as the one in the December Martha Stewart Magazine, Living. All part of the tradition, challenge and joy of the holidays.
So here we are: the holidays are at an end, the tree is taken down, the decorations put away, and the new year begun. But wait. What to do with the real tree that ends up in the backyard…..crying for attention?
For years, we simply ignored the remains that were left out back, behind the garage until it just got ridiculous, and eventually the tree would be thrown in the brush pile waiting for spring cleanup. How boring! Then a new approach to the problem came into our lives and this is something only a true Mainer can appreciate.
Our friend Peter turned us on to what has now become the annual torching of the tree. It’s fun, cathartic. and memorable. Best done at night for the full effect.
With plenty of room in the backyard, we placed the tree away from the house where there are no overhanging trees. Because we had plenty of snow we planted the tree in the snow pile and grabbed our propane torch. With much anticipation and excitement, the torch was placed at the bottom of the tree and lit. Within a second the tree that had been watered and tended to for weeks went up in flames with the top of the fire reaching over 40 feet high.
The entire act lasted no more than three minutes, leaving only a smoldering trunk. The heat was intense, the fragrance strong and the moment a new holiday memory. It was a blast. The photo at the left shows the tree engulfed at its peak.
So if you're tempted by the convenience of the artificial tree, think about all the fun that you’ll be missing out on. Not only do we have this new tradition to look forward to, but we bought a local tree and supported a tree farmer because even the appeal of the artificial tree just could not win us over when we had this to look forward to.
Winter, 2007
Makin' it in Maine
This week’s "Oh, Really" offers a brief lesson in economics, Maine-style.
The deal here in Maine is that everyone has three jobs. People from away think that it’s cute and clever that Mainers are always so busy with their three jobs. Those from away are also intrigued by the endless amount of homemade craft items that are for sale on front lawns along the roadside, which in actuality represents a job. They are also amused that their neighbor, the Ford mechanic who works full-time at the local dealership, spends most weekends repairing everyone’s lawn mowers, which also represents a job.
Then there is the waitress everyone knows that works the evening shift at the local lobster pound but is also a school teacher and has another job making Christmas wreaths in November at night. These profiles are the backbone of the Maine economy: the real story of real Mainers working hard just to keep the home fires going, food on the table, and the car on the road.
If this seems a bit complicated, I've simplified it for you. Here is the Mainer’s way of understanding the job scene: Job 1 is where one makes a few extra bucks by doing odd jobs;
Job 2 loses a few bucks that are made from Job 1 because it is usually a hobby;
Job 3 is The REAL job where Mainers make the reliable paycheck, sometimes with benefits, because the company they work for knows how to run a business and shows a profit.
With all this work activity, and commerce going on, the forty hour work week among the culture of true Mainers is a rarity. Odd jobs, hobbies, and the "Real Job" add up to a lot of time each week that exceeds the national average by a long shot! So . . the next time you buy one of those whirlie-gigs from the guy in Livermore Falls, you should ask him if the time he put into producing the gadgets is job 1, 2 or 3. His answer just might surprise you.
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