Day 121, Thursday July 25, 2024: Presque Isle, Maine to Bethesda, Maryland

Carnegie libraries visited: Caribou, Maine

Days sober: 399

The Tim Horton’s in Caribou was popping at 10 this morning. Eleven guys, at tables of 4-4-3. Nine were wearing t-shirts; an equal number were in baseball caps. Lots of talking shit; lots of laughter. By 10.15 the restaurant was empty except for me. They all went to work, and I should be going too. 

As I’m walking into the Carnegie library in Caribou, a guy crossing the street towards me says “Hey, what are you doing?”

“Just taking pictures of the library.”

“It looks like you want to burn it down. Burn the books. I’m drunk.”

Even if drunk, he looked like he could kick my ass. Tan t-shirt and Carhart pants. He’s getting closer, and I’m not going to engage with him.

I say “Have a nice day” and walk away like I know what I’m doing. What I’m doing isn’t exactly obvious, as looking back it seems that I was too befuddled to take any pictures of the library, so here’s a postcard from the Maine Memory Network 

Caribou Public (Carnegie) Library

I had the premonition that I was coming down with Covid – and this one proved to be true – and the last thing I remember before flying home was eating a righteous slice of blueberry pie at Governor’s Restaurant and Bakery. By Friday morning, I had tested positive. I remained in Bethesda until August 4th.