I drove into Bar Harbor after a recent hike, looking to pick up a few things for dinner.  As I drove down Main Street, I saw a sight I would never see during the summer, an empty on-street parking spot almost in front of Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium.   

During the hot days of summer, such a spot would be occupied all day by a rotating collection of vehicles, while the area around it would be filled with pedestrians, going from shop to shop.  Depending on the time of day, there would be a line out the door of folks waiting for a delicious, refreshing scoop of ice cream in one of the many flavors offered at Ben & Bill’s.  

This day, there was no crowd of people on the sidewalks, the summer crowds long gone, but Ben & Bill’s was open!  So, despite the cold, cloudy winter day, I accepted the opportunity presented to me, an easy parking spot, no lines, no waiting, the only hardship being the short wait for an employee to realize they had a customer. 

I left with a couple of scoops of cookies and cream in a waffle cone, my simple go-to, and drove down to the town dock.  There I sat, enjoying this treat and the view, while thinking of the warmer days ahead and the memories made during those summer days here along the coast of Maine.