“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.” –L.M. Montgomery

I LOVE June.

I personally think June is one of the best months you can spend in Maine. Summer is just beginning but the temps are in the 70s, low to no humidity. Everything is green, the lupines have bloomed and it’s just fucking gorgeous. It’s the end of the school year and high school graduation for some. Like January, it feels like a time for new beginnings, fresh starts.

Typically it’s an emotional month for me, too. June is not only my birthday month, but my brother’s, too. It’s a time when we would celebrate our birthdays together, along with my dad’s birthday and Father’s Day. This year, though, I’m canceling any kind of birthday celebration with my family. We’re heading to one of our local Pride parades instead. We’ll celebrate Pride together and to me, it’ll feel like we’re celebrating my brother. Which is what I’d rather do.

Will I still celebrate my own birthday? You bet your ass. Like I’ve said in previous posts, I’ve always loved my birthday but have often been disappointed by others in their lack of celebrating my birthday. So fuck ’em. I might not have a road trip planned like last year’s big 5-0, but I’ll do what I want and create my own celebration.

This month, I’ve tried to take time to really see things around me that bring me joy. That Kermit lawn ornament? I saw it on a lunchtime walk while I was at work, and it cracked me up. The reserved parking sign is at a local grocery store. I’ll never use it, thank goodness, but so so happy it exists for those future moms out there! That photo of me is just from my run today. It was a pretty fantastic 5-miler, the first in 8 months. Certainly worthy of celebrating.

The “Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful” sign was at a restaurant where I had lunch with my dear friend and second mom, Sue. I feel like it’s a reminder that I don’t need others to validate who I am. I’m some kind of wonderful, damn it, and need to cut away those that make me feel otherwise.

See that Maine and Pride flag? I saw those flags at a home, that if you grew up here in Maine, you might automatically think those folks were close minded rednecks that would shoot a gay man on sight if they had a chance. The house was a bit run down with many cars and car parts all over the lawn and driveway. And yet they flew that Pride flag high and proud. I actually laughed out loud. I was a bit ashamed of myself for putting those folks in a box where they certainly didn’t belong. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong.

That last photo is of one of my sistas from another mista, Trish, and the FABULOUS author, Steven Rowley. We were fortunate enough to hear him speak about his latest novel. His humor is infectious and he is just bursting with joy. If you’ve ever read “The Guncle,” it’s definitely a reflection of who Rowley is. And if you haven’t read it, I encourage you to go to your local library or bookstore and get it asap. Then pick up the sequel, “The Guncle Abroad”!

Friends, if you’ve never been to Maine before, I encourage you to visit in the month of June. But if you can’t be here right now, I hope it’s lovely wherever you are. And if it isn’t? May you find something to bring you joy this month.

Remember, if you need a fresh start, this is as a good time as any other.

So let’s do it. Let’s begin again. ❤