While waiting outside of Picard Theater on the Bowdoin campus to see a Maine State Music Theater matinee, an MSMT “Angel” (volunteer) came up to Tina and me and asked if we’d like our picture taken. We said “Sure!” and she took our picture. We then chatted with her about this season’s shows. She asked if we’d seen “1776” and I said we had. I asked her if she remembered the amazing singer named Jalen Kirkman. She said, “Oh, yes, he was terrific! Did you see the great article in the paper about Jalen by David Treadwell?”

I allowed as how I had seen the article and that I, in fact, had written it. She bubbled over with enthusiasm, graciously saying how much she has enjoyed my articles over the years. She even said she kept some of her favorite ones in a scrapbook. As you can imagine, such comments are music to any writer’s ears. We like to be read and appreciated. In fact, we like to be read even if a reader doesn’t like what we’ve written. (Trump supporters have been known to accuse me of having “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” I prefer the term “patriotic American.” Thoughtful Americans understand how Trump, enabled by spineless GOP politicians, has threatened the very foundations of our democracy. Resisting such a would-be dictator is patriotic.)

I’ve written 620 “Just a Little Old” weekly columns over the past 12 years. I don’t do it for the pay (there is no pay), I do it to provide a service to the Times Record and to the Midcoast community. Incidentally, Portland Press Herald readers also have access to the column. I also do it, of course, to hear comments like those of Linda Tetrault, the aforementioned MSMT Angel shown in the photo with Tina and me.

Thank heavens for people like Linda Tetrault who still read newspapers in this digital age, especially local papers. Some people are upset that they can’t get everything for free, but newspapers need support just like every other business does. And small towns need good local newspapers. Kudos to all the MSMT Angels who help polish the gem that is the Maine State Music Theater.

Linda must also be commended for taking the time to show appreciation to someone else. How wonderful it would be if we all took the time to thank other people for the work they do, the service they provide? After all, don’t we all wish to be seen and appreciated, not taken for granted or ignored?

My good wife Tina shines on this front. She’s always thanking everyone, from the cleaning person to the grocery check-out person to the bank teller. She’s always complimenting parents of babies and small children for their parenting, They feel good about it and so does she. She’s also good about smiling at people she passes on the street or anywhere else for that matter. What a gift to them and to the world.

In a column a few years ago, I wrote about a Boston College psychology professor who has a “do something nice for a stranger” week in his introductory classes. Each student must do something nice to or say something nice to a complete stranger every day for a week. The student must keep a journal for the week, noting what they did or said; how the stranger reacted; and how the student felt about the interaction. I try to do it, but it doesn’t come as naturally to me as it does to Tina or, I’m sure, for the delightfully charming Linda Tetrault.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for
future “Just a Little Old” columns. [email protected].