Soapbox Derby: Holiday Wish List

What is your holiday wish list for the Bangor metro region?

Scott K Fish

One Christmas, 40 years ago, my girlfriend gave me a wrapped, odd-shaped present. After tearing away the gift wrap, I was holding a glossy, black ceramic horse, thinking, What does this black ceramic horse have to do with me? What am I missing? My girlfriend was staring at me for my reaction to her Christmas gift. I was staring at the horse. Panicking. And then feeling deep sadness. The black ceramic horse had nothing to do with me. It was so off-the-mark I couldn’t even fake a polite smile. Neither did the earth save me by opening and swallowing me.
Since that Christmas I’ve perhaps gone overboard in matching gifts to receivers. Add to my gift phobia the task of coming up with a holiday wish list for you and everyone else in the Bangor metro region—is it any wonder I write fearing the sound of ceramic horse hooves!
But I have a solution. My holiday wish for you comes with, and in, a Yankee Swap-style gift box with four compartments. True to form, every item in my gift box is a heartfelt wish/gift. But in true Yankee Swap tradition, feel free to keep the gifts you like and pass on the others to someone else in the Bangor metro region.

Holiday Wish the First: That you listen/relisten to great American roots music, and that you introduce American roots music to your children/grandchildren. Fight against video-driven music! Compartment No. 1 in my gift box has this starter pack of some long-standing favorite CDs.
• Duke Ellington: In a Mellotone (RCA)
• John Coltrane: A Love Supreme (Impulse)
• Louis Armstrong: Satchmo at Symphony Hall (Verve)
• Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (Sony)
• Hank Williams: 20 of Hank Williams’ Greatest Hits (Mercury Nashville)
• Muddy Waters: His Best: 1947 to 1955 (Chess)

Holiday Wish the Second: That you understand how our government works, and understand your responsibilities/rights in making it work. My gift box in Compartment 2 has three great books to help you.
• Back to the Republic, by Harry Atwood Fuller
• The Federalist Papers: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay make the case for ratifying the U.S. Constitution
• The Anti-Federalist Papers: Patrick Henry and other great Americans argue against ratifying the U.S. Constitution.

Holiday Wish the Third: Good health. Jazz drummer Mel Lewis told me 23 years ago, “When you have your health you have everything.” Mel was right.
Compartment No. 3 has my quick, healthy, fresh-food recipes prepared without a microwave. Eating well is neither expensive nor time-consuming.

Holiday Wish the Fourth: Know God. Although I’m a stumbler, often a failure in knowing God, I believe it’s why we’re all here. Where we are on our spiritual path matters less, I believe, than that we’re on the path.
Compartment No. 4 has classic tales written by fellow spiritual journeymen who’ve come and gone.

• Pilgrim’s Progress: John Bunyan
• The Seven-Story Mountain: Thomas Merton
• Chronicles of Wasted Time: Malcolm Muggeridge
• The Cloud of Unknowing: Anonymous 14th-century monk

Enjoy! See you next year.

Scott K Fish is owner/editor of the political web forum www.asmainegoes.com.

Sean Faircloth

My holiday wish is that . . .

… there is another song in 2009 as good as “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz.

… we watch after our neighbors in cold weather—and we finally listen to what Jimmy Carter told us 30 years ago and really develop alternative energy.

… we continue to support the efforts of UMaine and people like Habib Dagher to create a base for high-paying jobs.

… we create a memorial to Republican senator William Pitt Fessenden who practiced law in Bangor and was a “Profile in Courage” during Andrew Johnson’s impeachment.

… we all become as active and engaged as Margaret Baillie. When people one-third her age are bulging from chips, lolling on the couch, Margaret is changing the world day-in, day-out. I’m as smitten with her now as I would have been in 1948.

… Stephen King, who’s so smart (I know because he agrees with me often on music, movies, and politicians!), realizes that Mad Men is the best show on TV rather than a soap opera. It is one of the few shows to understand people who view their self-worth through their work. In a time (like now) when social mores are changing rapidly, Don Draper fascinates because he—despite being a politically incorrect bad boy—accepts people (women, blacks, Jews) based on what they accomplish. Rent it from the first season.

… people take a moment to remember fondly Elise Turner, the UMaine professor who stayed so optimistic and strong during her battle with cancer that ended this year. Elise was a wonderful example to her daughter Kathrina and an inspiration to all that knew her.

… I work hard in 2009, but that I see my wife and sons more than in this campaign year.

… the members of Maine’s new legislature treat each other with respect regardless of party and avoid petty infighting and backstabbing.

… we do even more to revitalize Bangor’s downtown.

… we go to Wikipedia and read about Irene Sendler who died this year and know that we haven’t done enough.

… live Irish music stays in downtown Bangor (what a great addition!).

… all those young people who worked so hard on campaigns in downtown Bangor stay in Maine and run for office.

… we work harder on economic development for Washington, Piscataquis, Aroostook, and Somerset Counties. Bangor rises and falls with the people of those areas.

… I get to see McCartney and the Raconteurs in concert in 2009.

… there is another earmark for Maine Discovery Museum, like Mike Michaud secured when I asked him in 2003. Earmarks are a far better policy choice than going to war in Iraq!

… President Obama makes early childhood a top priority so that crime will go down, economic growth will be stronger, and lives will be fuller.

… we visit friends face-to-face at least as much as we do on Facebook.

… we remember that we are all going to die all-too soon, so we should be more gentle with each other and forgive each other more often.

Sean Faircloth is proud to know more about the Beatles than most people because the Beatles expressed themselves with good humor, deep passion, and great joy . . . and their delivery was punchy, energetic, and concise. He is the father of three great sons: Brendan, Ryan, and Declan.