It's Bill, 6/15/25: Tina's Birthday

Tina’s Annual Birthday Bash in Lubec

Tina has her own birthday party the first Saturday of June. Having many friends, just about everybody in Lubec is invited. A 3-day affair, the party goes from Friday to Sunday. The party starts Friday afternoon with some of Ricky Wilcox’s college chums. Ricky had passed this spring, but some traditions don’t change. Ricky is certainly with us.

A Weekend Gathering of Friends

Saturday is the big day, with no set starting or ending time. Probably around noon, the weather was OK, and folks started drifting in. Rain was forecast for 4 PM — which it did. Best to get there before the rain.

Ricky was an excavating contractor and also ran a fuel oil business at one time. Lots of vehicles of all vintages and condition. And necessary miscellaneous stuff. To maintain and store all of this equipment, Ricky built a large 60’ x 120’ garage for his equipment and tools. The garage is Tina’s birthday party place. We all gather in the garage with the 20’ overhead garage door open. Long tables are set up, some for guests to sit at, some for all the food, and a table for the bar. Folks in the know, and who want to sit, bring their own folding chairs.

Dodging Rain, Parking Trucks, and Saying Hello

I showed just before 4, barely missing the rain. Parked the Tundra, heading out, a couple hundred yards away, a lot of vehicles along the circular driveway. I meandered toward the party garage in fine fashion, sippy cup in one hand, cooler in the other. Parked my cooler to the side of the big garage open interior. Started saying “Hello!” to everybody before I got there.

Let’s figure over 50 guests, all doing the same thing. A 10’ x 10’ portable canopy was set up for the smokers about 50’ from the garage. Shortly after 4, the downpour started. As the evening wore on, the tent was all but in the garage. Didn’t matter then — the smokers were smoking in the garage.

More Than Just a Birthday Party

Tina’s party has a pretty basic concept: get friends together for a good time. Beyond Tina’s birthday, it’s a bit of a celebration for Tina, the school’s principal. With school over, it’s time to start summer. At Tina’s birthday party, there is no cake, singing, or birthday cards — just old-fashioned fun. It’s a potluck supper: you name it, it’s there in quantity. Beverages are easy: BYOB.

Halibut Bites, Music, and Unofficial Photography

For snacks, TJ, who lobsters and fishes in Cutler, deep fries halibut bites dipped in a secret batter. Delicious, melt-in-your-mouth. Thirteen pounds were consumed in less than 2 hours.

Allan Cook set up to play about six. Everybody sipping and snacking. I became the unofficial photographer after being there for hours. I think my photos will give you a hint at the condition of the photographer and crowd. Mea culpa.