A New Journey – thank you Grandpa

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Grandpa Sam loved blueberries. Not just any blueberry, though they’d do in a pinch. He loved the blueberries he picked himself. I would call from the West Coast during picking season, and more often than not I’d get Grandma on the phone, because he was out foraging, or sitting on the porch sorting through his bucketful of tangy blue treasure.
Grandpa Sam loved hunting. Nothing he ever took went to waste. He waited ages to have his name come up for a chance at a moose, and sure enough, last year was his lucky year. When he brought it home, my teenage daughter was happy for him, but said she just couldn’t eat it. I chuckled when she asked for seconds of Grandpa’s stew. She assumed it was beef, and wondered how he made it taste so good. He just watched her with a sparkle in his eye and a little grin. Special recipe.
Grandpa Sam loved making maple syrup. Camp was all set up for the tapping and the boiling, he spent years learning the secrets of making the most amazing stuff. I never got to go with him, because he had to stop when Grandma couldn’t be left alone for all that time…but he used to send some every year to California, and my kids would cherish every sweet drop as if it was liquid gold.
These were just some of the things that Grandpa Sam loved about Maine, and why, when he had the chance, he packed up Grandma and brought her to Moosehead Lake more than thirty years ago. The family, we shook our heads. Why so far? Why Maine? We’d visited in the summer, and knew that it was beautiful and all, but we didn’t quite get it back then.
I get it now.
Because, more than anything listed above, Grandpa Sam loved his community. That’s what it was really all about. He loved being able to make a difference in the lives of others. Knowing his neighbors. Sharing what he had for the simple reason of lifting someone else up when they were down. Quietly lending a hand. Being a part of what makes Maine so special.
Side by side for all those years, Sam and my mother Sandy had helped together. And when Sam passed in late July, the community stepped in. They visited her the hospital, not caring if she remembered who they were (Alzheimer’s is a harsh beast) just smiling, keeping her company, and giving her comfort. I was there as much as I could be, every other day, but I always knew that if I couldn’t be there – someone would be. There was so much love for my parents in that little community. I am forever grateful.
At his Celebration of Life last week, they sang all of his favorite hymns. They talked about his service, his impact, his kindness, and of course, his talent for making maple syrup.
If you recall from my previous blog, A Journey Home, my intention in moving to Maine was to be closer to my aging parents. We had a wonderful year. With Sam gone, and my mother moved to Mass and closer to my sisters, people wonder if I am going to leave. The answer is no.
I don’t need to write about my journey home anymore, because I have found it. Time to shine a light on all the things that make Maine such a unique and amazing place to be. Thank you Grandpa Sam, for loving my Mom, and leading me here.

Rebecca Twiss

About Rebecca Twiss

Rebecca Twiss is a recent addition to Maine, from Away. Born and raised in New England, she has lived from coast to coast, returning to her roots and family 25 years later. A single mom, she works as a personal and small business consultant out of Newport. Her passion is connecting with people through writing and inspirational speaking.