Good riddance to 2020

3 years ago

 2020 is finished. With finality it is possible to look forward to a new, prosperous new year. In front of us, a page white and pure, waiting for the midnight ink to begin to flow. Its mission: to tell us the story of 2021.

Heroism, heartache, as yet unknown. Tears of love and laughter will flow. Perhaps at the end of this new year hugs and kisses will ne our greatest treasure to be shared with absolute abandon in our fields and forests. Then we can return to trying to explain Aroostook County to the world.

No easy task, explaining the drive that powers and guides each County resident. How does one explain miles of endless blue sky, green fields, and forests ebbing and flowing in the ocean of wind around us? It has been tried. Wherever a County resident goes, it is a responsibility to tout the pride and integrity of the rocky soil. As they see The County continuing to exceed expectations, our competition can only whimper at its own ineptitude. It is a great place to grow, grow and grow.

May we soon see the shelves and menus of our schools and hospitals laden with our produce. May we continue to raise the women and men who will make the infrastructure work, and in doing this task, demonstrate what peace and pride bring to make us a wealthy place.

Tip the hat to 2020. Raise a tipple to 2021. A new page, a new year and a beginning lie in front of us. Challenges will be met one step at a time. 

Hello, courage, and welcome back to our table. 

Have a great and happy new year.

Orpheus Allison is a photojournalist living in The County who graduated from UMPI and earned a master of liberal arts degree from the University of North Carolina. He began his journalism career at WAGM television later working in many different areas of the US. After 20 years of television he changed careers and taught in China and Korea.