I was standing at the kitchen sink last week, helping to clean up some dishes from the evening meal, when I looked up from my basin full of pans to see all sorts of flashing lights at the end of the driveway. I thought it a bit peculiar. I had not ever seen that particular array of lights before and hoped there hadn’t been an accident. I grabbed a jacket to take a walk down to see what was going on and, by the time I got back to the window, the lights were gone! False alarm I hoped. Sort of put it out of my mind.

A few days later, on our way home from somewhere, just about dusk, we came to the top of the hill by the Methodist Church on Southport and there, at the foot of the hill, where the Cross Road intersects with Hendricks Hill Road, opposite Ebenecook Road that leads to the Hodgdon Yacht facility, were the same lights I had seen out the kitchen window several nights before. And, also, at the controls of a bucket truck, battery drill in hand, was Gerry Gamage assembling the bracket for a tribute banner honoring local folk who had served in the military from Southport Island. It was almost dark. My first sighting of this scene had been in full darkness, which, I guess, is what made it so noticeable.

We turned into Ebenecook Road and rolled down the window to hail Gerry and inquire about this region-wide project. Gerry said it was his 50th banner which put him halfway to the total number of banners created. As one can see on many poles along the Southport loop, banners are appearing with regularity. They will be up throughout the summer.

This is not the only time I have bumped into Gerry Gamage as he busied himself about the island. 

Back in 1976, shortly after I arrived in Maine, I was house sitting for Mary Harward and Elisabeth Kiehn, the “Pink Ladies” as they were known, at the top of Nickerson Road across the cove from Robinson’s Wharf and the Gut. I had come to know them through Alfred Huskins and Kathleen Rollins who lived near The Pink Cottages along Dogfish Head Road. Mary and Liz needed someone to keep an eye on their house and their longhaired white cat, which was prone to hairballs and knotted up fur.     

One night, or should I say wee hour of the morning, I heard quite a racket out on the road next to the house. I rustled around and looked out the window to see a Southport town truck plowing out the road during a blizzard. My old F-150 Ford “twin I-beam” pickup was parked in the driveway, somewhat obstructing proper snow removal. “Betty Ford” I called her. Brought it up from Pennsylvania. She wasn’t feeling the joy of a significant Maine winter, back when there was one! I went out to check with the plow driver and it turned out to be Gerry Gamage when he worked for the Southport Public Works. It was going to be a long night so I asked if he would care for a cup of hot “Joe,” which he accepted. And we’ve been friends ever since!

Gerry puts in some long days, and nights. I’m not exactly sure how he does it but grateful that he does. Thanks G-man. How about a cup of “Joe?”