Who Needs the Coast of Maine When You're in Stratford?

Note: This letter is from the owner of the River Dog, a seasonal food stand located at the Birdseye Boat Ramp.

As I get older, I yearn for a simpler, quieter life; one that allows more time for savoring the moments, instead of noticing them after they’ve flown by.

I got it into my head that I might like to retire to a sleepy little fishing village on the coast of Maine. I envisioned buying a family-style diner overlooking the water, with a beautiful airy apartment up above—from where I could spy the boats bringing in their rewards of the day.

In an attempt to find this haven, I dragged my family up that way in  October 2009, but was disappointed to find most of the coast had closed by then—save a few stuffy bars overfilled with college kids, loud music and bad pizza.

In 2010 and re-opening again this year, instead of a vacation, I opened a little hot dog stand on the boat ramp in Stratford. One afternoon while looking out the window eyeing the remnants of a small thunder storm, I sat in amazement as I watched boats pull up to the docks, while fishermen dressed in hip boots and vinyl aprons unloaded bags of clams to be transported—probably to local restaurants.

Transfixed, I followed their methodical routine made to look effortless by years of experience.

As if shaken out of a sleep, I realized-what I was watching was the very scene I had traveled five-hours in the hopes of stumbling upon.  My awareness left my soul feeling warm with a sense of familiarity, as if suddenly finding something that was once lost and had been sorely missed.  

In that moment, it struck me that I was in fact looking out from my ‘family-style diner’ overlooking the water. There I was, as I had pictured I would be someday in the distant future, wondering what the catch of the day would be and how it should be prepared for my dinner patrons.

I smiled at the irony as my memory recalled the saying, that often what we are looking for may very well be in our own backyard.

I closed the shutters and decided I couldn’t wait to come back tomorrow.

Deb Torreso
River Dog