While I have been gone at college for the past several months, I have not been able to spend an extended period of time at my residence in Winterport, Maine. This little town, nestled alongside the Penobscot River, has been my home for nearly 11 years; I moved here right before third grade and have lived here ever since. The teachers, the shop owners and the people I see around once in a while have impacted my life so much.
When people drive through it is usually to get to Bangor to the north or Belfast in the south. However, if one stops and pokes around in a couple of the downtown shops, one can see that the shop owners work hard to make you feel right at home. In the spring and summer, I love the smell of lilacs blooming and taking over the sides of the road. I also love the sunshine on a nice day and seeing the many people and their dogs out for a jog. I enjoy seeing children playing outside on the Smith School playground or out having fun in their yards or riding their bikes. It brings me comfort to know that all of our society has not gotten gobbled up by technology. Every Saturday, my family and I enjoyed the On the Run muffins and cinnamon rolls that were baked early that morning.
One thing that I have admired about the people in Winterport is that they are resilient; they do not give up easily. One way that someone can test this is by living here during one of the winter months. Instead of fleeing to the south for the winter, the people in this town stick it out no matter how hard it is. They find joy from snowmobiles, plowing and other big "toys" that they own. They do not shy from a challenge and are not fazed by anything that may come their way.
The people in this town are hard workers. They get into the dirt, the grease, the oil or whatever environment and they find their passions and support their families. Some kids that I have seen grow up and go through the school systems in Winterport find their passions outside of the classroom. They work hard at mechanics, technology, art or some other outlet. I admire the way the people whom I have grown up with have found their passions and have worked hard to achieve their goals.
While I have been at college, there are so many things I have missed about being home again and I have missed seeing the people that make it my home. This past week, I have gotten to see some of the people I have known for years and have seen how God has worked in their ways to make their experiences so wonderful this past year. The people in Winterport, Maine might all go off in different directions but still come back and greet each other with hugs and good wishes. These are some of the things that I love and cherish about my childhood home; strength, passion, love and joy are all qualities I have come to love about the wonderful people I have met here.