Lobsterman Max Oliver, 78, captains the lobster boat Virginia out of Rockland, Maine, three days a week, May through November. The boat happens to be named after his crew, Virginia Oliver, who is also his mother. At age 101, she is believed to be the oldest lobsterer in the world. And she is still going strong.
Oliver — known by friends as Ginny and to some as the “Lobster Lady” — has lived in Rockland her entire life and still lives on the same street where she was born in 1920. She has been lobstering on Penobscot Bay since she was seven years old. Now, Oliver works 200 pots with her son, Max, hauling them out of the water while she fills the bait bags and bands the lobsters, WCSH reported.
You will know when you are getting old because you start telling random strangers “I’m 85 (or whatever) you know”. It always seems to end with the ‘you know’.
I doubt that Virginia has ever said that, it is amazing how some bodies and brains last much longer than others.
You are an incredible lady Virginia.
This is a sad story. She has done it because it’s the only thing she knows. She never had a life, this is her life. Sad for the family all around. How is this a news story? The oyster/crab/lobster boats scrape by on crap wages. This is the only way they stay in business is keeping people like this working salary wages that aren’t anything.
Since you dont live in Maine you dont know what life is like here Stan. While I can relate to what your saying. Lobstering is not all that stressful. Here in Maine life moves at a different pace. Yes we pay our bills. We earn what we need. Some people are more driven than others. Yet alot of us we are happy with the life of “making do”.
Oh and the lobster indostry can make alot of money if a fisherman wants. Many of the lobster boats here are capable of 200 traps. The boats themselves new are worth 100k-200k and are usually paid off after 5 years.
If you want to see them having fun. Go to YouTube and look for “winter harbor lobster boat race”. When the locals get together and have some downeast fun.
Sad? Not really. In Many ways working on a lobster boat would be more fun than being lethargic and looking out a retirement window wondering why family doesnt have the time to say hello anymore.
Good on ya’, Willy.
Hey from Northport. 🦞🦞🦞