WOW..

As many of you may know I am on the brink of getting married. And bizarrely, as I am the groom and my betrothed is English, we are getting married in Maine. In East Boothbay no less, a little over a month from now. As we wanted our friends from away to come to our happy event I have had to think about my feelings for the State in which one of my parent’s was born and it is also a place close to my heart.

Now I am, like the rest of you on AMG, prone to whinge and moan about the situation as exists currently in Maine. The high taxes, bloated State government and socialist governor detract from the State’s appeal as a great place to live.

Now we have an eclectic collection of people coming to the wedding. They include a senior member of the US House of Representatives, to a candidate for Mayor of London to a local councillor from the English home counties, to my best man who was PA to former Prime Minister Ted Heath. Our English politicos will find themselves right at home in a place with crushing taxes, an ever-growing State sector and a man at its head who is not all he appears. In fact it could be said that Baldacci is more of socialist than Tony Blair MP, the current leader of the Labour Party. Baldacci has far more in common with London Mayor Ken Livingston with his love of Chavez and high taxes, than with New Labour Blair.

But our wedding group includes a variety of professions, lest you think its merely a political conference masquerading as a wedding. We have an actor who is filming his first staring role, the cheeky sod got his first starring role (in the forthcoming Mum and Dad) the month before his younger sister, also an actress, is getting married. His name is Perry Benson, and he is supported at the festivities by several other members of the acting profession. We have a cadre of people who work for or around the football (aka soccer) profession as well provide an exciting mix. Fortunately, their respective teams are not in any of the cups that call for post-season play.

I am finding that I have to sell them the good aspects of the State, especially to all those coming from away, either out of State or further away. Many of our guests are combining our wedding with a week or more in the US. Most have not been to the North East and are keen to learn about the area.

Telling them about the beautiful shore and countryside of Maine is the easy bit, but where do you stop? The excellent seafood, fresh from our fisherman and lobsterman, the friendly people and the inexpensive shopping in Freeport (and with its almost 2 to 1 it is good). OK, so that last bit is not a hard sell the ladies coming it has to be said. There is so much good about Maine, whether the small stone chapel in Ocean Point where we are to marry or the excellent hotels and restaurants that you can find in Maine.

We must not, as those who care about Maine, forget all the good things about our State. It might not be the greatest place to live right now, but it’s a wonderful place to visit. I am sure all my guests are going to have a cracking time in Maine during their stay. I just wish I could recommend it as a great place for them to live. Every single one of the people at the wedding has skills and abilities that would be welcomed by Mainers.