Characters

I was in Gorham because I had to be. I was on assignment, covering the 53rd annual Gorham Pageant of Bands — all I had to do was write a quick story and snap some photos for a package. But somewhere between my Jeep and the parade route, in the blazing hot sun by the concert band tents and the judges' stand, it happened. I saw the excited, exhausted student musicians, I caught a whiff of the need-to-be-dry-cleaned uniforms, watched the plumes and flags fluttering in the wind, and heard the whir of white-washed wooden rifles spinning in the air. And I was transported back 45 years to my own experiences at this pageant — the sunburn and sweat, the focus and fury, the hope and desire to get a perfect score, the intense passion to do my part to support my teammates and director. It was all, for that afternoon, in present tense. Yeah, I'm 45 years away from that experience, but I will never forget my friends, mentors, and classmates. They were my heroes and colle...

"Hi, I'm Theresa." She greeted me with the ease and effortless polish only a seasoned professional can summon. Around us buzzed a smooth swarm of high-energy movers and shakers from the local business community — a sea of shiny teeth, firm handshakes, expensive suits and freshly applied makeup. Business cards were flying faster than Black Jack cards in Vegas. There was laughter, and schmoozing, and socializing-with-a-purpose. People seemed happy to be together, but happier still to be connecting professionally. I, on the other hand, was at the wrong end of a long, exhausting day. I had searched in vain for 30 minutes to find a parking space before finally settling on a spot just a stone's throw from outer Mongolia. With more theatrics than necessary, I schlepped my camera gear across rows of vehicles that belonged to much luckier drivers than I, trudged past the valet parking drop-off, and limped into the restaurant. I hadn't seen my makeup ba...