What I Never Told You

 I have told you lots of things about Steve Trumble, but I didn’t tell you that he had cancer. And the reason I didn’t tell you that he had cancer is because, way back when he told me, he asked me not to tell anyone. 

I kept my word. After he died, many asked what had happened, and still wanting to keep his confidence, I really didn’t say anything. But I’m saying something now, and the reason I’m saying it is because I think there’s some real value in having people know.

I found out about the cancer very early on when we were meeting for lunch in town so that I could introduce him to as many locals as possible. I was recovering from a cold and when he offered me a handshake, I turned him down. I explained why and he thanked me and said he had to be careful with his health. After we had been talking for a bit, he told me about the cancer and asked me not to say anything. When I asked him why he didn’t want people to know he said something like it wasn’t how he wanted people to see him; it wasn’t how he wanted to define himself. So I kept it to myself. 

Over the years we would occasionally get together for dinner. He knew of my own mobility and health issues and would always ask how I was doing. And I would ask how his treatments were going. We’d give each other a little pep talk, mostly him encouraging me, and then we’d get down to more important issues--the theater, things happening around town, ideas I had, things he was going to be doing. It was great. We both talked so much that we were each jockeying to get our thoughts out, often having to stop because the restaurant we were in was closing. 

Why am I sharing this now? Well, with the possibility of new buyers closing on a purchase of the theater (hopefully more about that soon), I’ve thought a lot about Steve. I’ve thought about how nobody knew that even from the very beginning of owning the Fine Arts Theatre, Steve knew he had cancer--he knew he had cancer and he did it anyway. His disease was progressing, and still he decided to open Theatre Creamery. He did it because it delighted him to bring his childhood theater back from the abyss and make it a place for our own community. I knew this every time I saw him, and I loved him for it. I thought you should be able to do that, too. 

MaynardFest 2021--a Roaring Success!

Photo courtesy of Linda Thayer

The weather was absolutely perfect for MaynardFest this year. Between that and our inability to get together last year, I think everyone who showed up downtown was feeling an abundance of joy.

I had taken a break from posting because without being able to connect with people--without community--I really struggled. But lately there have been many pockets of goodness for me to want to write about more recently: the securing of a location in Maynard for the Food Co-op, all the outdoor dining, the new and varied trees installed by the Maynard TreeCorps, the new mural supported by the Maynard Cultural District, Eriksons (because Eriksons!), The Maynard Sesquicentennial events (including that wonderful parade and the fireworks display sponsored by Green Star Herbals), the possibility of a purchase of the Fine Arts Theatre, and so many more. All of these have been such food for the soul after the COVID-ful 2020 the world experienced (and continues to experience). But for true celebratory community feel for me, MaynardFest took the cake!

As usual, the Chamber of Commerce did a great job pulling together vendors. I heard of only one complaint about a balloon vendor that I'm sure will get handled, but other than that, it just seemed like everyone was having a wonderful time.

My family started with breakfast at the Boston Bean. I have some mobility issues, so after eating, I had to decide if I had the energy to walk the Fest. Once we stepped out, we couldn't help but join the flow of people moving down Main and Nason Streets; it was just too much fun to resist. My twelve-year-old said something like, "I love MaynardFest because I can recognize all the people I've met over the years and don't get to see very often." So true. You'd have thought she was an adult because she marveled at how much kids with whom she had gone to preschool had grown. It was even better when she observed, "We can't go ten feet without talking to people! Make that four feet!" I know from talking to others that we certainly weren't the only ones having that experience.

We loved being out there with all of you. If you didn't make it, I'm so sorry we missed you. Let's hope for an equally delightful MaynardFest 2022!