For all us flat landers who have migrated to the world waters, it’s a special privilege we share, given that, in many cases, our arrival at the ocean’s edge has been a life-changing experience. I speak from the personal experience of growing up in a small central Pennsylvania coal mining area and then teaching in a large New Jersey public school. The transition to the coast of Maine has been a true gift. We are so grateful to have started our family here, raised two lovely young ladies and managed to enjoy a very special life for almost 50 years. As a kid growing up I could never have imagined such a special place. We are very fortunate.

I guess, going back far enough, we all came from somewhere else, with the exception of the indigenous folk who populated these parts. My guess is that they had a significant appreciation for the beauty and resources too. I have often joked with my family that one is not native to the area unless you lived here before you were born. Not too many can say that!

Another person who I believe to be deeply connected to the area and the proximity to the ocean is Cheryl Blaydon. She has lived here for quite some time but also lived near and traveled on oceans in many parts of the world, including, but not exclusively, St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. But Cheryl grew up in New York State southwest of Albany where oceans were about as plentiful as in my part of Pennsylvania! Her time in St. Croix ended abruptly when Hurricane Hugo blew through in September 1989 with wind speeds in excess of 200 mph.

But Cheryl gathered herself and moved on. She had sailed many oceans and visited much of Europe, with particular interest in the Tuscany region of Italy. Between Italy and Maine, Cheryl managed to put together new projects and interests. She began to write and paint almost simultaneously with a treasure trove of experiences and an artistic eye. Cheryl has written five books with another on the way sometime late summer. The noted Maine author Gerry Boyle wrote of one book, “a lovely story told with charm and grace.” Her books can be ordered online, through Amazon, and at Sherman’s bookstore in the Harbor.

Cheryl also paints. Her work has been shown throughout Maine and also in area shops. It’s interesting to see how interrelated her paintings are with her writing. It seems like a very comfortable fit with each skill supporting the other. Her writing creates imagery and her painting encourages words. An interesting interplay to say the least. I found it quite fascinating to see her painting in progress at her studio while gaining an appreciation for her writing. Maine and Italy certainly have been good resources. What’s kind of cool is how she enhances her books with paintings which adds an interesting dimension. Cheryl writes and paints daily at her home studio in East Boothbay.

Note: Golden Globe solo sailing racer Kirsten Neuschafer has been stuck in the Doldrums, aka “Inter Tropical Convergence Zone,” for a while. After 211 days at sea, Kirsten is less than 3,000 nm from the finish line in France. She needs wind!