It was always the fragile balance of opposing forces that made Diane Keaton’s face so remarkable — those tilted melancholy eyes above that frequent and infectious smile. She seemed in a perpetual state of emotional contradiction, which is one of the things that made her such a perfect match, at least on film, for Woody Allen, who as history’s most hopeful pessimist is a master juggler himself.

Bangor is an impressive and vibrant city, with a gorgeous riverfront, many good restaurants and lots to do. This year we expanded beyond our traditional “go-to” eatery — Sea Dog Brewing Co. — to try other restaurants, including Geaghan’s Pub. And when we travel in Maine, we always look for lodging from Bangor’s Lafayette family. They offer a range of accommodations featuring great service, plenty of amenities and real comfort.

In April 1775, at the outbreak of the American Revolution, the British Army arrogantly considered the colonial militiamen nothing more than “a rabble in arms,” timid farmers who would run away at the first sight of redcoat bayonets. The British even concluded their mauling at Lexington and Concord was a fluke, but two months later in Boston, the Battle of Bunker Hill proved them wrong — the Americans not only could fight, they could fight well.

Q: What do people from Georgia, Rhode Island, Iowa, Colorado, Wisconsin, California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey know that you don’t?

A: They know that Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester is an amazing place. There were people at Shaker Village from each of those states, as well as England, on the October morning we visited.