A week or two back, on Gibber Jabber, I responded to a question (because that’s what happens over at Gibber Jabber, she asks questions and you answer them.) I said that my dream job would be to be a philanthropist. A good deed doer.
They’re called … phila — philan — “Good Deed Doers” (Google, natch)
And of course, if I could, I would give the world a whole lot of good stuff.
But this week I’ve found myself to be the benefactor of a good deed doer! Yup, Me!
A very generous, very wealthy man gave me, John and mostly Duncan a lovely hunk of land in Maine on Mount Dessert Island where we are right now.
For many years, we’ve been coming to this island with our various dogs. Acadia National Park takes up much of the island, and it is an amazingly beautiful place to hike or just sit and watch the sea from a pink mountaintop. Acadia is magical.
But there are leash laws in Acadia, as it is a National Park. And while we haven’t always been strict adherents to that particular rule, well, the park is full of people, some of whom don’t really want to meet my dogs (imagine!).
Last year, we found out about Little Long Pond. It is a family preserve, owned by the Rockefellers, with hiking trails, carriage roads and a lovely, well, long pond. Dogs were allowed to run free there. In all 1,000 acres of the place.
And this month, David Rockefeller celebrated his 100th birthday by giving this piece of land to Duncan! Well, and me. And John. And you!
FREEDOM!
To celebrate his 100th birthday, he donated the land which abuts Acadia National Park (much of which his family had also donated) to the nonprofit Land and Garden Preserve, so that they will keep and preserve it AND CONTINUE TO LET DOGS RUN FREE!
Thank you, Mr. Rockefeller!
Thanks, Mr. Rockefeller. We wish you many happy returns. We know we will have many happy returns to Little Long Pond; and we will think of you and thank you each time we do.
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I am not a particularly good photographer, but I have a camera shy dog.
FiftyFourandAHalf 