Even Librarians Don't Know

This story has a Maine twist to it, but it's also about another state I love: New Mexico.

New Mexico is the only state in the country that has "USA" on its license plates. The reason being...there are many Americans who don't know New Mexico is a state. You think I'm kidding, but it's very true. I've witnessed it myself many times. In college, when I told people I was going to New Mexico for Christmas, I would get asked, "Do you have your passport?" I overheard a tourist at Old Town in Albuquerque say to a shop clerk, "I'm surprised how many people speak English in your country." This news story actually doesn't have anything to do with the fact that people don't know that New Mexico is a state, the story just reminded me how poor some people's understanding of geography is.

So here's the story from the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel papers:
By Kaitlin Schroeder Staff Writer

"Twice this month, books bound for the Farmington Public Library have taken a wrong turn and ended up in Farmington, N.M.

"Assistant director Jen Scott said patrons frequently request books from other libraries through an interlibrary loan.

"The Farmington Public Library in New Mexico was accidentally sent books — twice — meant for Farmington Public Library in Maine, so the New Mexico library sent them on to Maine with the notes shown here.

"On April 9, a package arrived at the library from the library in Farmington, N.M. In it was a book that had inadvertently been returned to the southwestern state.

"'The package was from Farmington Public Library to Farmington Public Library, which was kind of comical,' said Scott.

"Later in April, a different library lending the Farmington library material made the same mistake and sent its package to Farmington, N.M.

"Scott said she isn’t sure what states the senders lived in.

"She said she sent an email to the New Mexico library to thank them for returning the books, and the staff wrote back saying they couldn’t remember this ever happening before.

(photo linked from http://www.centralmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/388699_864803-library-note.jpg)

I love snow but...

A group of us were carpooling to Bangor this morning. We were just talking about how this semester has felt particularly long and grueling and were brainstorming the contributing factors. Just as we came up with the fact that "it's been such a long winter and even though it's spring on the calendar, it doesn't feel or look like spring at all," this started happening outside. Yep. That's snow coming down. April 25 and it's snowing. When we got to Bangor, we met up with some folks from Fort Kent  who told us they left home with 2" of snow on the ground. Welcome to Maine.

Easter Sunrise Service

I love the Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service! It's a 30-year tradition. The gathering is always in the same spot (a driveway of a family on Voter Hill....when the first family sold the house, the new owners inherited the privilege). Today started with clear but cold (22 degree) skies and a beautiful sunrise. Traditionally, there's a trumpeter for musical accompaniment and this year, we also had a bagpiper.

Each year, the local Christian congregations choose something for the service and lead it. It may be scripture, prayer, a relevant reading, music, etc. There is no 'overall' leader of the service. Each church will begin and lead their portion. "The pieces are unique but come together and make a truly moving ecumenical service." Just follow the program and the prayer and song magically happens.

There's the sun! Let the worship begin!

The opening song was presented by the "Easter Singers--an ecumenical chorus." That was new to me this year (I didn't make the last few years).

And after the service, we're all invited for light refreshments and fellowship inside the home of the family whose driveway we gather on. The family pretty much just lets the fellowship committee come in and take over the first floor of their home. By 8:00, everyone was gone and there was no sign that we had ever been there, due to a really good cleanup committee.

I met new people and chatted with some old friends. It was a glorious way to start Easter celebration!

...and then it snowed. As we were leaving around 7:45am, tiny snow flakes were starting to fall.