My Barbara Bush story: When my kids were little, I would dress them especially well for children’s story hour whenever I saw “Celebrity Guest Reader” at Graves Public Memorial Library in Kennebunkport. It was the 1990’s, my husband worked long days at the Shawmut Inn on Ocean Ave (remember it?) before starting our luxury travel company, so I treasured our outings to the library. I loved sitting on the floor with my kids, listening to 
Barbara Bush read to them – the kids thought she was a nice lady, “she’s funny.” I explained to them what a privilege this was, being in the presence of our First Lady, wife of our 41st President – but that didn’t matter to my kids. She loved to read, and they loved to listen to her. One visit she brought her dog Millie – that was a hit.
2025, Barbara Bush graces the US Postage stamp, the Forever stamp featuring our Kennebunkport FLOTUS makes its debut on Lady Bush’ birthday June 8, at the Kennebunkport Post Office, how appropos for a gracious lady who loved to send and receive “real letters” in the mail (like me)! I also love pearls, and pair them with sneakers.
See Barbara Bush’s favorite places in Kennebunkport, and how our town memorialized and remembered her in April 2018.
More stories:
I also remember a charity fundraiser at The Nonantum, Barbara Bush arrived through the back door in Keds, slacks and her classic pearls – when she spotted my husband and me dressed in a tux and gown she was not too pleased. But she had us laughing in minutes as she said “those protocol people don’t always get it right.” She stayed for drinks and dinner, just to surprise the Nonantum staff and those damned protocol people. Proof: the best dress code is humor and a smile (with pearls of course).
From that day forward, I would often bump into Babs, she was out and about in her Mercedes SUV, picking up framed family photos at Ocean Exposures, walking the beach with her dogs, or at the Library. She always smiled and greeted me warmly…what an honor, and a kind sweet face, no pretense or fanfare.
When our fabulous First Lady turned 90 in 2015, Kennebunkport went all out. President George H. W. Bush (41) turned 90 the previous June in Kennebunkport by parachuting from a plane. Barbara Bush’s 90th plans were a bit more lovely and literate, literally. June 8, Kennebunkport booked her a bash – a tribute to the joy of reading benefiting the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy which is celebrating 25 years. I volunteered as a greeter, and it was great!
Barbara Bush’s 90th Birthday Party event in Kennebunkport was private and pricey (but all proceeds benefit her charity). Among the highlights, the Bush family, friends and donors gathered under a big tent at St Ann’s Church to enjoy the musical talent of Amy Grant, Reba McIntyre and Michael W Smith. The Ogunquit Playhouse hosted top authors for a Celebration of Reading the night prior to her 90th.
As you drove through Kennebunkport’s Dock Square you’d see signs wishing Barbara Bush a Happy 90th. She was indeed our First Lady of Kennebunkport, kind, generous, funny, strong, and committed to literacy.
My kids now recognize how special those “celebrity guest” children’s story hours were. Also having a past President at their Memorial Day Parades when they were in the Kennebunk marching band was “pretty cool.” We wished Barbara Bush a very happy 90th and good health and happiness to the Bush family.
I remember too, April 17, 2018, the day Barabara Bush passed, and there was a sadness that swept through our lil’ seaside town. We knew we’d lost a great lady, but she remains “Forever” in our hearts, and now on a Forever postage stamp, and in all the Literacy projects she passionately promoted! And we can visit and sit on a park bench at Ganny’s Garden on Ocean Ave for a whimsical reminder of her mismatched ked sneakers, her love of gardening, grandchildren, and books!
In Barbara’s own words:
“A man gave me some peonies once, and he said: Well, if you plant them just as we say, you dig a deep hole, fertilize it, spread the roots and put the dirt back on, and then, they may not bloom the first year but they will bloom for the next 100 years. That’s the way I think about literacy. You teach a mother and child to read and that family will read for a hundred years to come.” —Barbara Bush
We remember our First lady Barbara Bush of Kennebunkport well here… her favorite places where her spirit lives on.
If you are in Kennebunkport this summer, you should visit the First Family Legacy Museum at White Columns, and definitely stroll through Ganny’s Garden on the River Green, before you drive along Ocean Ave to view Walkers Point where her Bush family legacy lives on.
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