Maybe It Was Perfect – Tim Cotton Writes

The current situation in the blogosphere is hazy with the chance of random thoughts, possibly a shower before I go to bed.

I haven’t seen all my sisters—in the same space—for a ridiculous amount of time. I think it was for my parent’s sixtieth anniversary. This week, we all celebrated their 64th.

Two of my sisters live in the deep south, and one dwells on an island just off the coast of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, it’s the Atlantic. It’s the only ocean pounding against the jagged edge of this side of America.

Thanks to the gathering for my lovely niece’s wedding, I’ve seen them all over the last ten days. Two of them for a few minutes each night this week. It’s been a pleasant chance to reconnect.

I’ve never written about it, but I should tell you that my mom and my dad live on the same property that I do. I wouldn’t say I am their caretaker, but I’m here, next door, to take care of the things they cannot. My standing joke is that their apartment is a bit larger than my house. They have three bedrooms, while I only have two. I don’t need more, of course. My mom’s theory is that my side of the joint is still bigger; you don’t argue with your mother.

Years ago, we determined that if I was going to be driving to their house and plowing the yard, pulling snow off the roof, and fixing the television when there was some confusion about the stupid buttons on the remote, that I might as well be closer. I am sure that there are times they have cursed the decision. Especially on the nights when I come home late and slam truck tailgates in the dooryard, or ask them to let Ellie out because I have somewhere to go after work, or because I listen to Lou Rawls a bit too loud very late at night, but it all works out.

Ellie likes it when they come to see her. Mom brings her biscuits in the pocket of her apron.

Kimberly has been staying on-site with Mom and Dad. Robin and her husband have been lurking at some local hotel; I don’t know which one. They come over each afternoon. It allows me to stop over and visit for a few minutes with everyone during the evening. My water-centric sister is back on her island doing her thing, but she got in on the action for a few days.

I guess all I am telling you is that I didn’t write a darn thing this week. All you get tonight are the ramblings of a man who enjoyed sitting around and talking about growing up in a pretty good place, well-loved, by some great people. It wasn’t perfect, but we thought it was. That’s really all that matters.

Be well

Coffee & Chocolate

Barnes & Noble

This is one of the best books I have read in years. It has tenderness and warm, gentle humor - and several laugh out loud spots. Give yourself a gift and read this. You will better about life.

Amazon Customer October 9, 2020

Amazon

I loved every bit of this book. I’ve been following the Bangor Police page and then Tim Cotton’s page on Facebook for years now. I think of it as a tiny little piece of my day that I can count on to make me feel something – usually something good, comforting in some way, occasionally a wee bit of sadness, but sad in that wistful way that a person appreciates. This man writes the way I often find myself thinking in my own head. He points out all the commonalities that we have as people, rather than the differences. The differences he writes about are the superficial ones, and the ones that make us interesting. I stretched this book out for quite a long time, reading a chapter or two in between other books. It’s a great place to turn when a person wants to occupy their minds with something peaceful that helps us to understand the world and our place in it just a little more.

Unhappy July 1, 2020

I’ve enjoyed Tim Cotton’s stories and ramblings on Facebook (or The Book of Faces, as he calls it) for a while now. And having a whole book of his musings is the reading equivalent of binge watching Netflix (something I’ve only recently learned about during the lockdown). Cotton talks about the little things and he tells it like it is. But it would be a mistake to say he has ‘no filter’ – he most definitely has a filter and it’s a filter of kindness and compassion. I liked Chapter 5 ‘The Cop’ best. It’s more fictional than the rest, and I hope it’s a hint of a novel to come?

Wrenn December 30, 2020

I have read this book 4 times now; the first 2 times I read it slowly, trying not to let it end too soon. I decided to read a few other things after that – Hamlet, Great Expectations, A Time to Kill, A Time for Mercy, Little Women. The entire time I was reading those books I longed to go back and read The Detective in the Dooryard again. When I picked it up for the third time, I felt like I was sitting down with an old friend I hadn’t seen in years, the kind you know so well you can pick right back up where you left off. The Detective in the Dooryard is a collection of stories, some about Tim Cotton’s experiences as a Bangor, Maine police officer and Detective; some are about memories of things that shape us all into who we are today. Tim often references music, mostly from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Just the mention of a song’s title makes me remember growing up and coming of age during those years, and I am immediately taken back to people, places and events in my past – some good, some bad, but always just as clear as if I were there. Tim’s writing is so descriptive you feel as if you are there inside each story as well; some of his writing actually takes my breath away. There is a lot of humor, wry sarcasm, wit, and deft handling of sometimes difficult subjects. This book is the touch of your Mother’s hand on your forehead when you’re sick, your favorite treat as a child; it’s coming home. Can’t wait for the next one

Hannah January 6, 2021

This book is like a warm hug. I honestly don’t want to put it down, but I also don’t want it to end. The struggle is real. It is not a mystery that you think you can figure out and refuse to put it down to prove to yourself you’re smarter than the author, but it feels so good and real you want to read more. Maybe I’m biased because I grew up in Maine and Tim Cotton’s lyric writings immediately put me back in the Maine woods and setting sun as I try to get every bit of light to take in the last bit of beauty from the day. It really is poetic, and funny, and relatable. You don’t have to be a big old sentimental Mainer like me to thoroughly enjoy this book, you just have to be a human living in a chaotic world looking for a happy release. Would I recommend this book; YES, SIR! Will I be giving up my copy any time soon, probably not. I know I’ll pick this book up whenever I need a warm hug, a feeling that I’m home in Maine snuggled up on my gram’s homemade quilt, and a moment of happy calm. Pick this up and enjoy! You’re welcome!

TIM COTTON WRITES

Coffee & Chocolate

Amazon Customer October 9, 2020

Unhappy July 1, 2020

Wrenn December 30, 2020

Hannah January 6, 2021