Maddy Faulkingham is off to a new adventure. She has begun an accelerated three and a half year program at Ross University of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts. Her childhood fascination and love for animals is more real. It is an ambitious undertaking but Maddy is no stranger to challenges, and this is a dream come true, which is a big motivator.

I popped over to casa Faulkingham in Boothbay for a quick visit with Maddy and family the day before she left for school. Preparations were clearly in the air. It is a big step for everyone including Grandma and Grandpa Reed whom I have known since the late 70s at Lakeview Motel with the Bernath family. Grandma Bobbi worked the front desk and I did odd jobs around the property, eventually filling in at the bar in the greenhouse restaurant.

Connie, Maddy’s mom, helped us with childcare when she was in high school and we lived in the Harbor on Sherman Street. She was a big help back then showing good “mothering” qualities which certainly would be helpful when she became a parent raising her own children. 

I suspect Maddy’s interest in animal care may have been an apple fallen not far from mom’s tree. As a child Maddy had specific care protocols for her bevy of stuffed critters.     

Over the years Maddy has shown a willingness to persevere and work hard. In high school she participated in a variety of sports, i.e., field hockey, tennis, cross country and ultimately as part of the girls state championship basketball team, despite playing with a broken finger injury that later required surgery and screws! She showed me the X-rays. Ugh!

Maddy worked with Dr. Dean Domeyer at Boothbay Animal Hospital for a couple years while in high school and occasionally slipped next door to perform at the Boothbay Playhouse. She continued to work at the vet office during her college years at Wheaton in Massachusetts, and also while working her summer job at Linekin Bay Resort where she worked as a server, restaurant front person, wedding staffer and “whatever needed to be done” person. Maddy has always kept pretty busy developing her strength for organization and detail, which should be a very distinct attribute for vet school.

One of the other more personal reasons I wanted to visit Maddy and family at their home may seem a little silly. But I am not a stranger to silly. Maddy has a mini labradoodle pup named Remi. As it turns out, Remi is a litter sister to our mini labradoodle Leica. I was pretty excited to see Leica’s sister. Both our pups came from a litter cared for by Alan Farmer and his wife in Farmington. Remi was not a disappointment. There was no mistaking sisterhood. She was velcroed to Maddy just as Leica is to my wife. Never far away and ever vigilant. Both dogs are jumpers, love to play with their toys, and barked at new arrivals. But, clearly, Maddy adores Remi. I suspect it was not easy for them to part company.  

Maddy’s parents will visit her soon during what is called the “White coat” ceremony which is part of a formal process for new students, officially welcoming them to the school and their doctor goal. It should be a pretty significant trip for mom and dad, especially since Maddy’s visits home will be less frequent.  

Good luck Maddy. I’m sure all your friends in the community will be sending support and good wishes. We all will be anxious to hear from you and eventually have your help looking after our furry friends.