Letter to Stephen King

Dear Steve,

I just finished “On Writing”. Thanks. My favorite Stephen King book to date.From your book, I have gleaned the following information. I find it quite remarkable.

My grandmother's name was Nellie Pillsbury, from Shapleigh (Stephen's mother's name was Nellie Pillsbury). I grew up in southern Maine, SPHS class of 1969 (Stephen King grew up in Topsham, Brunswick High School, 20 miles from South Portland) . I attended UMO from 69 to 73 and remember you well (SK graduated from UMO in 1970 and doesn't remember me at all.) . You're "Study Dammit" picture was on my wall for 4 years and we both attended a Kent State “gathering” on the Fogler Library steps in the spring of 1970...). I taught high school, science, for two years in Waterville (SK taught high school, english, in Hampden). I drove a 1960 Ford Galaxy with a blown rear main seal (so did SK). I worked in an old paper mill in Madison Maine with rats as big as cats (SK worked at an old paper mill in Pejepscott with huge rats, the subject for one of his books). I married a girl from Penobscot County;Brewer... she lived on Grove Street (SK married Tabitha from Penobscot County; Old Town... and they lived on Grove Street). I met her at UMO (same with SK). She is my best friend (ditto SK). My mother died of cancer (ditto SK). We have 3 children (ditto SK). Our son, Ryan, a Mech Eng. from UMO, broke his tibia in 30 pieces in 2008 and has battled back from infection, depression and pain med addiction (ditto SK). My daughter, Katie, has a BA in English from UMO (ditto SK). I play guitar (ditto...). I like to write (duhhhh....).

Three and a half years ago, we sold our house in Waterville, quit our jobs and hit the road, coast to coast four times and about to strike out again. It's been a mind expanding adventure. So now, I'm dabbling in your craft of writing. No idea what I am doing, have tried to stop more than once, but seem to be addicted to this solitary obsession.

You may never read this letter (though I mailed it to you...). If you do, thanks for who you are and what you do, not just the writing, the philanthropic stuff, too. We're not that different, you and me; just a couple of Maine boys doing our best. Your best inspires me.

Best regards,

Glen

A day in the marsh

David bought a 12 foot inflatable zodiac with a 90HP, 4 stroke Johnson outboard at a yard sale. He is the king of yard sales, knows the value of stuff, buys and sells, but he kept second guessing himself on this boat. We worked on it for a few hours and then he worked on it for another week. And the day finally came to take it out for a trial run.

We fueled it up, packed the survival kit and the beer and put into the marsh at mid-island. The engine started right at the turn of the key and soon we were flying through the creeks and rivers. Before we knew it we were 25 miles up the coast to Darien.

The boat handled pretty well at first and we experimented with air pressure in the pontoons. Throughout the day, steerage got stiffer and stiffer and it took longer and longer to plane out. By the time we got back, it was clear that something was going on. David discovered a hole in the hard under hull and drained off a barrel of water, 400 or 500 extra pounds.. Hmmm.

But, still and all, it was a great day to be out in the marsh. even in a leaky boat...

Veteran's Day

Check this out!



Liberty Belle (WWII B17 bomber) at Malcolm McKinnon Airport, St. Simons.

The B-17, dubbed the “Flying Fortress” as a result of her amount of defensive firepower, underwent a number of improvements over its ten-year production run. B-17 Models ranged from the YB-17 to the B-17G model. Throughout the war the B-17 was refined and improved as the combat experience showed the Boeing designers where improvements could be made. The Final B-17 production model, the B-17G was produced in the largest quantities (8,680) than any other previous model and is considered the definitive “Flying Fortress”. With its 13 .50-caliber machine guns, Chin, top, ball and tail turrets; waist and cheek guns the B-17 was indeed an airplane that earned the respect of its combatants. In addition, the flight crews loved the B-17 for her ability to take and withstand heavy combat damage and return safely home.

During WWII, the B-17 saw service in every theater of operation, but was operated primarily by the 8th Air force in Europe and participated in countless missions from bases in England. A typical B-17 Mission often lasted for more than eight hours and struck targets deep within enemy territory. During the war, B-17’s dropped 640,036 tons of bombs on European targets in daylight raids. This compares to the 452,508 tons dropped by the B-24 and 464,544 tons dropped by all other U.S. aircraft. The B-17 also downed 23 enemy aircraft per 1,000 raid as compared with 11 by B-24’s and 11 by fighters and three by all U.S. medium and light bombers.

There were a total of 12,732 B-17’s that were produced between 1935 and May 1945. Of these 4,735 were lost in combat. Following WWII, the B-17 saw service in three more wars. B-17’s were used in Korea, Israel used them in the war of 1948 and they were even used during Vietnam.

Today, fewer than 100 B-17 airframes exist and fewer still are in airworthy condition. At one time, more than 1000 B-17’s could be assembled for mass combat missions, now less than 15 of Boeings famous bombers can still take to the sky.

RTE 17

Dropped Connie off at Jacksonville Airport and drove back to Georgia on the back roads. North to Yulee, on to the Saint Marys River and into Kingsland where I started collecting political signs in Camden County. Put em up, take em down

Through Woodbine, across the Satilla River and to White Oak. Great names... Tarboro, the Folkson State Prison, Hickox, Winokur, Nahunta. I suppose visitors to Maine find our town names curious, too. Norridgewock, Passadumkeag, Ogunquit...

This is paper country. Lots of pulp trucks on the roads, stands of pine, clearcuts, at times the foul smell of digesters.


I met a man at a campaign meeting named Bob Torres. The causeway from the mainland is named after his father. Small world... his brother Joe, whom I know from my time in the paper industry in Maine, owned and operated Linclon Pulp and Paper Company. He provided a lot of good jobs to the area. Did a lot of good things in the state. Bob said Joe was very ill. Best wishes, Joe.


And then a picture worth a thousand words...