OK, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is time for some shameless self promotion. Not one of my strong suits. It’s genetic. I come from a long line of “not about me” people. But there comes a time when, if nobody else is “putting it out there,” may as well give it the old college try.

It has been about eight years since we have printed new notecards. In that time, personal handwritten correspondence has dwindled. That was part of why we decided not to launch into anything too complicated or expensive. Interestingly, during the COVID era, this trend to less letter writing has reversed. Seems that, with more people staying home, perhaps with more time to spare, handwritten greetings have been on the uptick. I also have to wonder if the amount of screen time has become a bit tiresome. That part of it certainly found me willing to abstain. I have resisted the computer kicking and screaming, to little avail. It is how we conduct almost everything now, like it or not. I wish it weren't so, but to some extent, there are few options. A nice card in the mail can be refreshing.

I write a lot of personal notes, always have. Our mother, daughter of a longtime school teacher, wrote every day, to someone. We all, in our family, have collections of her letters which are just wonderful. She was a good supporter of my work and used lots of our cards. She enjoyed showing others photographs of where we live in Maine. She loved it here.

So, this year we have decided to take the plunge, again, and publish a new set of notecards. Only this time, as it turns out, the photographic images on the cards are more “generic” Maine subjects. We are gambling that there may be a broader market. This is not to say that Boothbay-specific subjects are less appealing. In fact, all the new cards are scenes from the area, they just don't say so.

The new cards vary in subject, as can be seen by my shameless photo with this week’s column. The big wave was made from Mrs. Cowan's property on Southport. The fall scene with skiff is Barrett's Park. The “boardwalk” is the Salt Marsh on Southport. Captain Sproul's work station is an all time favorite. I have known Craig since Cutter II and Monhegan.

One of our first postcards showed him hauling over in Linekin Bay. The buoy in rippled water showed up one morning from the Footbridge. The wooden oars and weathered skiff called to me from Cape Newagen town dock. Lupine are everywhere and the pile of rocks was found at sunset on Spruce Point.

So there you have it. I am sufficiently shamed. Here's to hoping that people will continue to seek alternatives to emails, chats, blogs, Zooms, etc., and enjoy note writing by hand. We shall see. Individual and boxed cards will be available in area shops and stores, and from us. Write on!