Every once in a while I have an interaction that makes me shake my head or smile, or both, and remind myself that I am indeed Down East (and will always be from away).
*For those new to the idea, “down east” isn’t just Maine, it’s “real Maine.” Sorry to all my good friends in Ogunquit, Kennebunk, and the rest of southern Maine. It’s wonderful there and I might even end up living there some day, but when you come all the way up to what’s called Down East, you realize you are in “real Maine.” It is remote, unspoiled, beautiful, and charming, in its own way.
So as for charming…
They paved the main road this year. I don’t know the last time they paved it – route 15, or Stonington Road, take your pick. I honestly don’t remember when they last did so, but it’s beautiful now – you can drive without fear of ruining an axle or ride your bike without fear of flipping over…at least until this winter, when the potholes will surely return.
The only problem is that when the pavers went past our little dirt road it really messed us up. Because Margaret Lane is just a half mile long dirt road, entry and exit to Rte 15 is now messy and difficult. Dirt has washed away from rain, and we kick up stones every time we try to enter the main road. It didn’t seem like the end of world, though, so we called Eaton Paving and asked their advice. Good old Terry came down within a few days and recommended a solution – he would dig out around the road and create us a new entryway, or apron from Margaret Lane to Rte 15. I thought that sounded okay and he promised an estimate shortly. The estimate arrived within the week and we simply agreed to it – this is Deer Isle, Maine, so trying to negotiate the price would be akin to saying ‘just forget it.’
And so it began.
They added us to their list of jobs to be done. I called in a couple of weeks and a friendly voice answered. “This is Karen.” I asked Karen when she thought Eaton Paving would be able to come do our small job here in Stonington. Karen said she had no idea, as the guys made that decision and they arrive and leave well before she does. She said it might be a “couple of weeks.” “Just to clarify, Karen, do you mean a couple of weeks till they can do the work, or a couple of weeks before you can tell me when they can do the work?”
I think we all know the answer I got.
I called back in a couple of weeks. Karen – ever friendly – had no more information then and said it might be “a couple of weeks.” I called a couple of weeks after that and Karen started making me feel bad for bothering her, she was so nice. Unfortunately though, she had no idea when Skip would choose to do our job. She claimed it was tacked up on the wall and she had put a little circle around it. The fourth time I called she reiterated about the circle (surely that would signal to Skip that we should be a priority?) and then admitted “well, I’m his wife, but we don’t talk about the business at home, and he comes in to the office real early and chooses which jobs they will do.”
I wasn’t annoyed – i am too experienced around here to get annoyed; it’s just the way things are.
A few days after that last call – it’s a couple of months now since I got the estimate – I was driving past Dean’s (photo above). Dean runs the local business that repairs engines, a pretty important business in this fishing town. He services my chainsaw (you can’t really live here without a chainsaw, ya know) and so he has gotten to know me at least a little bit. I couldn’t help but notice all the Eaton Paving trucks and equipment at Dean’s house (next door to his business). They were redoing his driveway, and it looked like a very nice job. Dean must be pleased, I thought. I also thought that maybe because he’s a well-known local he somehow got priority from Eaton Paving.
I stopped in at Dean’s soon after that, just to pick up my newly sharpened chains. Dean was there and said hi. I asked him in a friendly way, “Gee Dean, how did you get them to pave your driveway so quickly? I’ve been waiting a couple of months now.”
Dean looked at me and without smiling or smirking just said “well now it took about two years. I wouldn’t call that ‘quickly.’ They didn’t even call me, they just showed up one day with all their trucks and did the driveway.”
Here’s where I smile and shake my head yet again. “Okay, thanks Dean, that kinda resets my expectations a bit.”
Ayyup. Gotta love it up here.
mikesteinharter.com 