Precerpt from In with the East Wind: A Mary Poppins Kind of Life - Acton Fair
Precerpt (excerpt prior to publication from the forthcoming memoir, In with the East: A Mary Poppins Kind of Life by Dr. Betty Lou Leaver
Acton Fair
Every
summer, the Acton Fair transformed our quiet Maine town into something
electric. For a few days, the dusty roads led to carnival lights, livestock
ribbons, and the unmistakable scent of fried dough. It was the social event of
the year—part agricultural showcase, part family reunion, and part theater of
the absurd.
The
fairgrounds buzzed with energy. Farmers displayed their prized heifers, kids
clutched cotton candy like currency, and all over the grounds unknown people
appeared; those would be the folks from all over Maine who made the trek to
Acton each year for its famous fair. The fair was pure Acton: 4-H, farmers, livestock,
produce, homemade articles; local, proud, and occasionally unruly.
One
year, the older boys in town decided to tip over the hoocheekoochee tent—a
risqué sideshow that had no business in a place where Sunday school and pig
judging shared equal reverence. That act of rebellion was about the extent of
any “crime” in Acton, and it gave our elderly constable—who spent most of his
time doing notary work—a rare chance to play lawman.
To
us kids, these boys were heroes. Brave! Daring! They had challenged the moral
order and faced down the long arm of the law, which in this case was a kindly
man in his late seventies whose badge was more ceremonial than functional. But
when he marched toward the scene, clipboard in hand, we saw something else
entirely: authority, danger, and the thrill of consequence.
The
tent flaps fluttered in the breeze, the crowd murmured, and the constable stood
tall—at least in our eyes. The boys got a stern talking-to, maybe a finger wag,
and that was that. No arrests. No records. Just a story that would be retold
for decades, growing more dramatic with each retelling.
The
Acton Fair wasn’t just about entertainment. It was also a place where newcomers
learned the ropes, where kids tested boundaries, and where the town’s quirks
came into full view. The fair was where Acton let its hair down—just a little.
Book Description:
From the barefoot freedom of rural Maine to the diplomatic halls of Central Asia, from rescuing a dying child in Siberia to training astronauts in Houston and Star City, In with the East Wind traces an extraordinary life lived in service, not strategy.
Unlike those who chase opportunity, the author responded to it—boarding planes, crossing borders, and stepping into urgent roles she never sought but never declined. Over 75 years and 26 countries, she worked as a teacher, soldier, linguist, professor, diplomat, and cultural ambassador. Whether guiding Turkmen diplomats, mentoring Russian scholars, or founding academic programs in unlikely places, her journey unfolded through a steady stream of voices asking: Can you come help us?
Told through an alphabetical journey across places that shaped her—from Acton, Maine to Uzbekistan—this memoir is rich with insight, adventure, and deep humanity. At its heart lies the quiet power of answering the call to serve, wherever it may lead.
Like Mary Poppins, she drifted in with the East Wind—bringing what was needed, staying just long enough, and leaving behind transformation. Then she returned home, until the next wind called.
From the forthcoming book:
In with the East Wind...A Mary Poppins Kind of Life
Volume 1: ABC Lands
by Dr. Betty Lou Leaver
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For more posts by and about Betty Lou Leaver, click HERE.
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