[theoddz]

Well, I don't live in Maine now, but I lived and went to school there for 5 years with my ex and my college degree is from there.

I have only fond memories of Maine now, though I do think of it every fall when I remember how beautiful the leaves and the change of seasons were. I remember eating at the lobster co-ops, downeast near Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor. Cook's Lobster Restaurant used to sell a 2 lobster dinner with cole slaw and drawn butter for $15. I'm sure it's gone up since then!!

I remember thinking how rustic it was in Brunswick, where we lived. I loved walking on the campus of Bowdoin College and visiting that wonderful museum they have there of Admiral Perry's expedition to the Antartic. Annie and I would eat breakfast in this little diner alongside the road on the way into town. I think it was called the "Miss Maine Diner".

There were no apartment complexes, as we know them there. There were only the huge 100+ year old sea captains' frame houses, cobbled up to make apartments. Our building was so old, it was never intended to have indoor plumbing, or even electricity. Those were all "new" add-ons. One thing that old place had, though, was a bang-up heating system!!! Our landlord, "Doc Carver", who was 89 y/o (he looked in his 60's, tho....from years of living in "The Deep Freeze", as we used to joke with him), was a "furnace artiste" and always ensured that we were warm and toasty!!! Annie and I were very fond of Doc and his wife, Bea, who also lived in the building.

Oh, and I can't say enough about the wonderful fishing up there. The Maine woods are just incomparable, and it really is a hunting and fishing paradise. One of my classmates' wives was lucky enough to get a moose tag one year and our whole class celebrated with a "moose taco" night at Tom's house!!! That's something I'll never forget. Mainers are interesting people. Once they get to know you, you're like family to them, and they treat you as such. I've found Mainers to be straightforward, hardy and eager to laugh with friends and family. They are very family oriented and help their neighbors. You're never alone when you live in Maine.

So, my hat is off, and my heart out to the wonderful folks in Maine. I miss you all......and give the LL Bean store in Freeport a wave for me, willya?? No other place I know of, other than the casinos here in Vegas, are open 24/7/365.

~Theo~