Camden, Maine #5

I know I've been posting a lot about my year and nine month stay in Maine, but it was a pretty big turning point for me. Things were coming together. I was learning that I could actually do something rather than just take up space or get under foot. My grandparents actually liked having me around. I liked them. It was a great thing. I actually got paid for helping out and a little bit for helping out in the tin shop. I started buying my own clothes and stuff. Making choices on my own. A lot of firsts.

After working a little bit in the tin shop, my grandma helped me get my first real job. Her friend Nancy managed the Yacht Club. I worked during the summer and I did pretty good. I was setting up tables inside and outside, sweeping and mopping the dining hall, and helping the maintenance guy. Helping meant doing all the stuff that he didnt want to do. I scrubbed toilets, hauled trash, did some minor painting. The season ended and so did the job.

I used to hang out with Gideon at Wild Rufus Records. This was a giant store that looked like three shops joined together. The record store had just about anything you could ever think of. Brand new stuff right when it came out, old standards, rare imports, etc. Towards the back part of the store, they had guitars, basses, drum, and assorted band instruments. I bought my first six string for $30.

I used to carry that thing all over town. I didn't know how to play it, but it was just
something to build my identity and my confidence. Gideon taught some basics and I was off. I picked up an amp and then more people wanted to hang out with you and swap riffs.

Once,  my grandparents took me to Nova Scotia. We took the ferry, swam in the quarry, and a bunch of other things. It was also my birthday. One of the best I ever had. It seemed like everything I did with them was better. I know most people wouldn't want to be seen with their grandparents, but they really were great.