Christmas in New England - Portland Head Light, Victoria Mansion, and home

December 27

Portland Head Light
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We're on the plane at Portland Jetport, getting ready to take off – and I just realized that my camera is not I my bag!! A woman in the next row up said an announcement was made at the check-in area that a camera had been found, but we were long gone from there by then. So, on the good side, I had to switch memory cards today, and most of my pictures are on the card that isn't in the camera. And I have that card. Yay! However, the pictures of the stunningly Christmas-decorated house...gone... I bought a souvenir guidebook, but that doesn't replace my photos. The flight attendant helpfully suggested that we call the airport to claim it, but, really, what are the odds? We'll see. And here I thought I was going to make it through this trip without a single major mishap on my part. Sigh.

Backtrack. So, this morning, Harry didn't want to get up, though it was the only morning on this trip when it was important for us to do so. I admit it, I was a tiny bit irritated and started taking the linens off the bed while he was still in it...heh heh...

We went to Sue's for some quiche left-overs for breakfast, and Harry and Jim and I waited for Melissa and Sue to come back from taking care of some business at the notary public. We settled in, expecting the transaction to take a while, but they were gone for maybe 20 minutes total! They said they drove there, walked right in, had the notary witness the signatures, and drove right back. No wait, no hassle. I love this place.

[When we arrived at the airport, there was no line at the check-in counter. There was no line at the TSA checkpoint. The airplane went straight to the runway and took off – no wait. Things are how they used to be. As I said, I love this place.]

Sue decided not to go to Portland with us because of Jim's injury. Jim, by the way, is taking the calls for his son's “side” heating oil business for a couple of days. As I said, Jim hates to just sit around. Business is good, and the phone is ringing off the hook.

Jim went to the orthopedist today and will be having surgery tomorrow. His Achilles tendon is torn all the way through, and he won't heal up properly without the surgery. [The surgery went well. Several months of physical therapy should help him to recover completely.]

We said good-bye, which is always so very hard to do, especially with such lovely, kind, generous, hospitable people. Parting is such sweet sorrow, eh?

Portland Head Light
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We loaded up the car, turned the heat down in the duplex, locked up, and off we went to the Portland Head Light, which I've heard is the most photographed place in Maine (if not on the East Coast). Who can blame anyone? It is entirely stereotypical and photogenic. The cute cottage front, the add-ons and (presumably) storage areas in back, all connected to the lighthouse in an inverted “T” so you don't have to go outside to get from the house to the lighthouse. Which is a good thing, because I imagine it gets rather chillsome on a blustery winter's day. Such as today, for instance. The wind is reaching right through my jeans with its glacial fingers. Brrr.

You've got your rugged coastline, your boiling waters frothing over the rocks, and your wintery gray skies with pink on the horizon and the faded sun hiding behind clouds. Altogether, it is a picture-perfect winter scene by the seaside. It looks like a postcard at the gift shop, which it is. And the homes on the waterfront are enviable.

Portland, Maine
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We then drove in to Old Portland, which reminded me of Boston's North End, and we had lunch at The ThirstyPig, an Irish pub with one employee on hand for the busy lunch hour. The poor fellow was the greeter, waiter, bartender, cook, busboy, dishwasher, and checker. Harry had a bratwurst sandwich, and I had chicken-apple sausage. I asked for it to be served on greens, but it came on a roll. I didn't have the heart to send it back. And I gave the guy a huge tip, 'cause he totally deserved it. He was doing every job in the place. [I later learned that my credit card had been compromised, possibly here. I hope it wasn't you, dude.]

Beautiful Victoria Mansion
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Melissa's high school friend Michelle joined us at the pub for lunch, and then we all went to the Victoria Mansion, which was unbelievably decked out for Christmas. Every room. Every corner of every room. Every surface in every room. And there were many, many rooms. The ceilings, which are always of great interest to me, because my grandfather was a craftsman who did the fancy ceilings, were amazing. They were plaster, painted with frescoes to look like inlaid wood, with little cherubs and things – very impressive. The woodwork and paneling in the home? Impressive. The fireplaces, mirrors, and mantles? Impressive. The carpets? Impressive. The furniture? 90% original...and impressive.

Over the top? Maybe.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The house had forced-air heat, hot and cold running water, gas lighting (now converted to electric, of course) with chandeliers that pulled down or pushed up, depending how much light you needed for the leisurely task at hand. Very advanced for its time, ca. Civil War. They even had indoor bathrooms. The water pipes wrapped around the chimney to warm the water. Smart use of energy, eh? Those Mainers have been “green” for a long time.

Leaving is always a bummer.
Photo by Chris.

And then we headed to the Jetport, and here we are, flying to (shudder) O'Hare, where we'll change planes. Harry's been pointing out some cool stuff in the Sky Mall magazine...always shopping, that one. The “special edition” humidor with a Blu-ray copy of “Scarface” for $729.99 is a must-have, no? Well, it does come with 100 cigars...

Amazingly, my camera had indeed been found...and turned in to lost-and-found...at the airport, complete with memory card. It was retrieved by a friend of Sue's, and Sue shipped it home to me. Would this happy ending have happened in most places? No, it would not. And so, it's just one more reason for me to love Maine and the people in it. Thank you so much!

Our arrival in San Francisco was delayed just enough that we missed the last BART train by ½ hour and had to take a cab across the Bay and back to Zack and Mel's. It's a toss-up between the getting there and the coming back as to which is the least enjoyable part of travel; but, on the plus side, the getting there has the benefit of anticipation. What do you think? Do you most dread the getting there, with all its accompanying nerves and unfamiliarity and tantalizing promise of new adventure, or do you most dread the bittersweet separation from a new-found love and the long road home that, at least, ends in the comfort of your own bed?

Christmas in New England - Sebago Lake and Dinner in Gorham

December 26

We slept very late this morning. It's great to be able to sleep in! I started the day with a Captain Eli's blueberry soda, which I found downright tasty. Thank you, Pat and Heather!

We had a quiche brunch at Sue and Jim's, where we discovered Jim camped out on his recliner in the living room, sporting a fetching, brand-new cast on his lower leg and foot! And Sue was at her sewing machine, whipping up a fleece “cast sock” to cover Jim's toes and the cast. What a great idea for keeping his toes warm!

Sebago Lake
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Here's what happened: He was in the woods, feeding deer, when he snagged and wedged his toe under a partially-buried stick or tree root. His momentum brought him down, and the result is that his Achilles tendon is torn. Just how badly, they'll know when he gets the MRI. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, eh?

Jim's a person who absolutely hates to sit around. Since he does all the snowblowing at the main house and at the duplex, which has two driveways, and winter has just begun, who will take over this chore while Jim is incapacitated? I heard a lot of sure-hope-it-doesn't-snow-anymore-type comments. Good luck with that, right?

The railroad tracks by the boat ramp at the lake.
But don't get in the water.
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

We (except for Jim) left to go to Oggie's (Mel's grandmother, Sue's mother), which is by Sebago Lake, about a 45-minute drive away. At 45 square miles, with 105 miles of shoreline, it is the deepest and second largest lake in Maine and is the water supply for the city of Portland. It's beautiful, and I imagine it's pretty busy in the summer. There are signs up that you can't go swimming, but you can go fishing and boating. In the winter, when the lake is frozen over (which hadn't happened yet), you can drive your pickup truck on over to your fishing hut on the ice, presumably driving your pickup truck right back to the shore to find a restroom if you need to relieve yourself. But, whatever you do, don't get in the water. You might pollute it. Things that make you think.

The sun sets behind the pond.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Oggie lives outside the picturesque town of Gorham, on lots of beautiful, rolling acreage that houses the gentle slopes where Melissa went sledding and the pond where she went skating as a child. And the woods where parties were held when she was a teenager. But maybe I'm getting stories mixed up, and it was someone else having the parties.

Mel's gram has a Pug dog and a Cairn terrier, and those pooches rule the roost. And why not? They are adorable and sweet, and they are great watchdogs. Harry had a good time playing with them, as he has done with Dudley at Sue's.

Where Mel grew up.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The frozen landscape is so lovely – undulating hills and stands of leafless trees interspersed with evergreens, a country road with only a very few other homes visible (even with the leafless trees). What a great place to be a fearless kid. This is where Melissa grew up, in the house on a knoll across the lane from her grandma and grandpa's. How wonderful is that? Sue still owns most of the land across the lane, having sold the house and a couple of acres.

For dinner, we went to the home of Mel's “Uncles” and wife Robyn for a dinner of lasagna and salad that Sue made and brought along. Robyn had prepared cheese appetizers (and some post-dinner brownies and ice cream!). Robyn's daughter, Andrea, made chocolate chip cookies as well as peanut butter cookies with a mini-Reese's peanut butter cup in the middle for more dessert. Come on! Stuffed, once more! 

We all visited for a while, and again it was hard to pull ourselves away from new friends. What a treat it is to meet all these wonderful people.

Then it was time to head back to do some laundry and pack our bags for the trip home. I can't believe we're leaving tomorrow! These past few days have zipped by so quickly.

Christmas in New England - Christmas Day in Maine, New Hampshire...and Massachusetts!

December 25

Sue's beautiful home.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas... There were a few snowflakes spitting out of the clouds this morning, but there was no additional accumulation. That's good, because we're going to New Hampshire later. But first: Christmas in Maine!

We went to Sue's for breakfast, which was Mel's favorite Christmas morning food – homemade, giant, gooey, fantabulous cinnamon rolls. Oh, man! That just cannot be good for you. But, you know, it's only just this once...

Punch-stitching by Sue.
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

Following breakfast, we exchanged gifts. And, may I say, Sue is the Crafts Queen. No one else need apply, because there's just no point. She made a beautiful, intricate quilt for Melissa, all stitched in swirls and things. Really, it is marvelous, and I'm sure it looks amazing on the bed. And then there were quilted dresser-top runners for Zack and Harry, also too lovely to actually use. What if a pen leaks on there or something? It would be a travesty. For me, Sue made a bag ala Vera Bradley, with six pockets on the outside and ten pockets on the inside, a magnetic closure, and a matching zippered clutch. And also a punch-stitched sachet bag full of Maine spruce needles that can hang from a doorknob to make the entire room smell like a walk in the woods. My gifts to her and Jim paled in comparison, which is, shall we say, an understatement. I am such a slacker! Note to self: You can do it! [Thank you so much, Sue. I love the bag and use it and the clutch all the time, and the sachet smells amazing! My local friends are amazed at your skill.]

Jim's kids and grandchildren arrived just as the four of us travelers were leaving to go to New Hampshire, but we had an opportunity to meet them, which I had hoped to do.

Couldn't help myself.
Photo by Chris.

The weather was gray but got progressively warmer as we neared our destination...all the way up into the 30'sF!

It was a lovely drive, though, about 2 ½ hours, down to New Hampshire on the interstate and then over to Nashua. The scenery and topography were about the same as in Maine, with rolling countryside and lots of trees. There was no snow on the ground here, so, no white Christmas for those in this part of New Hampshire.

The home of Melissa's Aunt Stacy and Uncle Dano is a very cute, renovated, and tastefully decorated Cape Cod. Where the side porch used to be, there's a cozy, cathedral-ceilinged family room that leads out to the garage (where the drinks were being kept cold). The kitchen is all Sub-zero and Bosch, with beautiful cabinetry. They've been working on the house gradually, and it's worth the effort. Between Sue's gorgeous home and this one, I'm going to have a hard time cooking in my kitchen when I get home!

On with the tour. The living room has built-in bookcases on either side of the fireplace (which I've been dreaming of having at my house), and the downstairs bedroom/den is a television room. It's all set up with fabulous surround sound, of course. The family photos on the wall drew my attention, as many of them are of past generations. I love to look at old photos.

Mmmmm.....
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The large group that was assembled packed tightly around the dining room table for a fabulous feast of traditional Christmas fare – turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans with bacon, peas with pearl onions, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing. I ate too much. So did everyone else. And don't even get me started with the cheesecakes and chocolate and Whoopie Pies and cookies. It's a wonder nobody had to be taken to the hospital.

Christmas packages waiting to be opened!
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The gift exchange was lighthearted and enjoyable, with some gag gifts preceding the “real” ones. Again, everyone was so generous to us! Pat and Heather gave me a monogrammed Bean bag, and Harry unpacked a bag filled with honey and maple syrup from Maine and special Maine blueberry soda and sarsaparilla. Uncle John and Aunt Pat found Hampton Company popcorn to give to Harry (How did they know he likes popcorn?). Uncle Dano and Aunt Stacy gave us New Hampshire maple syrup to take home. And speaking of home, how are we going to manage to bring all of these wonderful gifts with us without our luggage being overweight? Well, it'll be worth it if we are. So there. What a happy problem!

Zack & Mel
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

We had a very good time and were so glad for the opportunity to meet Melissa's father's side of the family. They made us feel completely at home and included us in all the banter, and we felt very welcome.

Melissa is well loved by all of her family. I may have neglected to mention something about the other night, when we went to see her Uncle Barry's band. Traditionally, when Melissa walks into the room, Barry makes it a point to play “Sweet Melissa.” We weren't disappointed at Fastbreaks. The affection that is shown to Mel is genuine and heartwarming.

Have I mentioned that homes here have basements and attics? You can stash all your “stuff” away, out of sight, and the rooms you live in can be tidy and uncrowded. Wouldn't that be great? Those of you with basements and attics, I hope you appreciate them!

The drive back to Maine started off on the wrong foot as we turned right instead of left or something. We ended up in Massachusetts. So...Christmas in Massachusetts! Melissa, who was driving, was a little upset about this turn of events, since the long-enough ride home already would now be made even longer.

As we neared the coast and, therefore, the freeway north into New Hampshire, it started to sprinkle and sleet lightly. In New Hampshire, it started to sleet more heavily and to snow. By the time we crossed the river into Maine, there was packed snow on the road. Just ask the guy who spun his vehicle around on the bridge. We nervously watched the temperature drop...32F...31F...30...29...down to 20F. That would mean ice on the roads, which hadn't been cleared, sanded (for traction), or salted (to melt the ice). 

Melissa drives excellently in this weather. She did an admirable job, and we never slipped or slid or skidded. We drove along at a steady 40 – 45 MPH, following a single-file system down the center “lane” of the freeway (nobody could see the lines in the road, so single-file seemed like a good idea). Occasionally, a [language alert] complete jackass would decide to pass on the left or right, showering road sludge all over the windshield and momentarily obliterating our already-limited field of vision. Happily, there were no tragic circumstances for anyone, and we got back safe and sound (obviously). We were only about an hour later than we had expected, which was quite an achievement, but it's after 2 a.m., all the same.

Tomorrow: Christmas at Grandma's!

Christmas in New England - Cabela's, Lobster Rolls, and Christmas Eve

Dec. 24 

This morning, I skipped breakfast in order to stay behind at the duplex to wrap gifts for tomorrow (Christmas) and Monday (when we're having Christmas with Sue's mother, Oggie).

When I stepped outside, the snow crunched crisply under my feet. A crystal-clear, sunny, very cold day. It was 12F. There wasn't much of a breeze as I happily walked towards the main house.

My husband had left before me, neglecting to take his hat, gloves, and coat. Really. How does one step outside and not notice these things? My hope was that he had: 1. Turned right instead of left when exiting our driveway; 2. Remembered which house he was looking for; and, 3. Not succumbed to the cold. Not necessarily in that order. I was a bit concerned, though he was wearing a thick flannel shirt, a wonderfully warm fleece vest, and heavy boots. I needn't have worried.

Sue pulled up in her SUV, told me Harry was snug as a bug at her place, and invited me to join her in a little expedition. Soon, the two of us were off to pick up lobster for tonight's sandwiches. Yum! You can't go to Maine and not eat lobster, right? (Jim also made an absolutely delicious Maine shrimp bisque to go with the sandwiches, which were lobster meat with the tiniest bit of Miracle Whip in a grilled bun. The bisque was a milk/potato/corn base with lots and lots of shrimp. Truly delightful. But I am getting ahead of myself again.)

Maine Countryside
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

As Sue and I drove along, I had an opportunity to admire the landscape in beautiful sunshine. The countryside is so lovely, with rolling topography and lots of trees and little lakes. “Ponds,” they call them. Ha! They are lakes, all right. And with the frosty snow that remains on the ground, the frozen landscape looks just like a painting. It just needs a frame around it, and you could hang it up in a museum. Just gorgeous.

Today was to have been sleigh ride day, which we'd all been looking forward to. As it happens, Sue has never been on a sleigh ride! And she still hasn't. There was apparently not enough snow for the sleigh, and there was too much snow and ice for the wagon, and, voila...They canceled on us. Believe me when I say that there were sad faces all around. Especially so for the sleigh ride guy, who earns most of his dough this time of year.

Cabela's
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

To make up for our disappointment, we all loaded up in Sue's SUV and headed to Mecca. No, the other Mecca: Cabela's! It's in Portland, Maine.

On the way there, I mentioned to Sue that I'm quite enamored with the farmhouses that go on and on, with the attached barns [See photos in last post]. She said that they are typical country construction here, and the old ones started out as regular, two-story farmhouses that were added onto as kids came along and families grew, which is what gives the rambling look. The attached barn was for animals. Jim said that smart folks had a separate, detached barn for the hay some distance away from the main house. Something about spontaneous combustion, which you can imagine might have had devastating effects on many families.

Before entering Cabela's, we went to American Pie to eat. Pizza pie, that is, and very good, too. As a rule, I'm not a big fan of pizza crust, but the beer dough was very good. We ordered two pies. One was sausage and pepperoni and peppers and onions. The sausage was very tasty, and the pepperoni didn't give me indigestion! Yay! The other one was sort of Asian influenced, with chicken and julienned carrots and spinach and a sauce that was a tiny bit sweet, but also very good. I admit to eating quite a bit of the pizza. It was yummy.

Cabela's
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

And then, it was across the parking lot to Cabela's. That is one huge sporting goods store! If you're going camping or fishing or hunting, and you can't find what you're looking for here, you really don't need it. They had lots of taxidermy about, too, in “nature” settings. Deer and wolves and elk and moose and dozens of other kinds of animals. It was kind of an educational exhibit, if you will. No offense to my wonderful sister-in-law, who simply can't abide this kind of thing. My husband was in heaven.

It was already getting dark when we left the store with our purchases. I thought perhaps we'd been there longer than we'd planned. Then again, it seems to get dark very fast here. But I could be imagining things.

On the way home, we stopped at the Hanniford Market so Zack could pick up the ingredients for our traditional homemade eggnog. It was a very nice market, with attractive displays and much variety in the product department. We weren't actually shopping for produce, but I was browsing, not shopping! And I like a good produce department. So there.

I guess he is a lap dog,
after all!
Harry and his buddy.
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

We returned to Sue and Jim's by way of the construction site for the new casino that everyone hopes will boost the local economy, which is in a slump. I'm led to believe that the economy in Maine is pretty much perpetually in a slump, thus the hope that the casino will mean lots of hiring, benefits, and so forth. I'm sure we all have our own quite varied opinions about the probability of said hopes being realized or dashed. We shall see.

We enjoyed the aforementioned delightfully rich and delicious supper, followed by Needhams and Whoopie Pies and Moxie (the original) Soda, which is the official soft drink of Maine. Come on!

Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

Back at the duplex, as I write in my journal, it is one minute before midnight. Our little tree is lit, and we're watching “A Christmas Story” on the television. I've called my loved ones back home to wish them a Merry Christmas, and I'm reflecting on the Reason for the Season.

Two thousand years ago, a Child was born who would clear the way for us to be in relationship with our Creator. His perfect life was sacrificed in atonement for you and for me. Today, we're celebrating His birth, though, not His death and resurrection. It's a joyous time. Unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given. His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Joy to the world! The Lord is come!

I wax nostalgic and a bit teary-eyed, as I have a tendency to do during my more contemplative moments. Peace on earth; goodwill towards men. Merry Christmas!

Christmas in New England - Snow! L.L.Bean, The Glenlivits at Fastbreaks

December 23

Snowy landscape behind the duplex.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

SNOW!!! The sunlight wasn't filtering through the blinds when I woke up this morning, so I peeked through them, expecting a gray drizzle. But, no! There were big, beautiful snowflakes falling thickly and creating a wintery landscape. The ground was covered in a white blanket, and the trees were dusted with powdered sugar. SNOW! Yay! I couldn't wait to get out in it. What a great surprise, as there hadn't been any snow in the weather forecast for the week. Perhaps there was hope for our sleigh ride, after all

Harry and I got all bundled up and stepped out onto the porch. I was expecting light fluff, but the snow made a wonderful creaking scrunching sound as my boot pressed into it. It was the sound of perfect snowman (or snowball...) snow. Again, yay!

Quiet whiteness.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

We walked to the main house, the very few cars that were going by slowing down and moving to the far lane to keep from spraying us with road sludge. We were almost to Sue's driveway when I spotted a big duelie (large pickup truck with two tires on each side in the back) coming our way. Well, actually, it was barreling towards us, accelerating as it approached. “Uh, oh,” I thought to myself. I could see this happening as if in slow motion. Sure enough, he did not move over an inch to avoid spraying us. Quite the opposite. WHOOSH! I was covered from head to toe with brown, sandy, icy, wet, cold road grunge. Jerk. Well, there's one in every crowd, eh? I hope he got a good laugh at my expense. Happily, I was wearing a ski parka, so the wetness stayed on the outside layer, and I was still nice and dry on the inside.

Putting the finishing touches on
the "deer" as the snowman looks on.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, Zack and Mel went outside to make a snowman. It wasn't just any snowman, though. This one was a hunter, and they also made a snow deer with its four legs up in the air. Dark humor. Gotta love it. I think it was intended to be a gentle ribbing of Jim, who had failed to bag a deer for the first time ever.

We then got in the car and drove past Auburn and Lewiston and Lisbon to Freeport, where they've turned the downtown area into a lovely, high-end factory outlet store bonanza, with Mecca for those who love the outdoors (L.L.Bean) in prominence at several specialized locations (the “flagship” store, the hunting and fishing store, the home store, the bike-boat-ski store, the outlet store...).

The Boot
Photo by Zack.
All rights reserved.

We went to Amato's for lunch, an “Italian Sandwich” with ham and cheese and pickles and tomatoes and salty olives on a chewy roll. It was very good. There are Amato's locations here and there in the area, I've noticed. And Tim Horton's, too. But we haven't gone there.

We explored every square inch of L.L.Bean, admiring the Bean Bags and the Bean Boots and all the taxidermied animals hanging on the wall. The Christmas lights and decorations all over the grounds were really special, especially with the fresh blanket of snow. When you go, be sure to have your picture taken by the giant Bean Boot.

Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

It was getting dark, which it has a tendency to do quite early this time of year. The sidewalks were well salted to prevent slips, falls, and broken bones. Thank you!

So, after we'd had plenty of shopping under our belts, it was back to the car, back through Lisbon, and on to Lewiston, where we had dinner at Chick-a-Dee with Melissa's father, Patrick, and his wife, Heather. In case you're wondering, as I did: No, it is not at all related to Chick-Fil-A. It isn't a fast-food place; it's a “sit down” restaurant. I had the Patrick-recommended breaded, fried Maine shrimp (bay shrimp size) with a baked potato and a salad. Very light and crunch batter. I'm not usually a big fan of fried seafood, but I enjoyed this dish very much. It was our first time meeting Pat and Heather, and so it was a special occasion for us.

"The Glens" - Barry on the left, Pat on the right.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

And then, it was “try not to slip on the icy road” as we made our way across the street to Fastbreaks (a pool hall, bar, and pizza place) where Melissa's uncle, Barry, had assembled his old band (The Glenlivits, or "The Glens") for a once-a-year reunion gig. It's a bother to bring your gear with you on the airplane when you come up to Maine to visit your family, so Barry generally borrows Pat's gear, I understand. Pat is also a musician and is also in a band.

As the band began to play, I must admit that I was rather impressed. They're good! And even though they are all in different bands and play professionally, it's got to be a bit difficult to just get up and play as a group once a year without having practiced. They played lots of Allman Brothers and some blues, which is just what you want to hear in this type of venue. Pat joined them for a few songs, too, and I know that Melissa (and the rest of us) genuinely enjoyed seeing the brothers play and sing together. Nice job, guys.

Fastbreaks was jam-packed with people. It was a “standing room only” crowd, and we didn't get a place to sit until the second set was almost over. A good time was had by all.

I'm told that Lewiston is a “French Canadian town,” which I find intriguing. There's apparently a lot of population overlap in this border state, too. “The French” have been here for generations. At Fastbreaks, there was a “French” guy who was somewhat inebriated and was flirting (in French) with one of the ladies in our group (who speaks no French), a fact of which he was obviously aware. And so, he was being absolutely outrageous, thinking no one was the wiser. Until I asked him what he thought he was doing and told him he had a lot of nerve making himself obnoxious to a married woman that way. In French. Heh heh. He apologized and went about attempting to ingratiate himself to her and her husband, and all was well with the world.

On the drive back across the river, through Auburn, we admired the huge homes on the knolls, away from the river. Interesting. It seems as though there would be mansions all along the shore, but, no. Lewiston was a manufacturing town (woolen mills and shoe factories) back in the day, and the river was accordingly incredibly polluted and smelled just awful, according to Heather. So, the well-to-do built on the hills rather than down by the water.

The charming smaller model down the street.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Besides Cape Cod and Federalist and Colonial, there's a style of home here that seems very practical for the weather. I guess it's “New England Farmhouse,” with the main house in the front, a sort of vestibule/mudroom appendage on the back of the house, connected to a huge barn/garage/storage building (Zack is of the opinion that the red ones are the classiest) in the rear. All-in-one. Practical for New England weather. The older ones seem to have been updated and remodeled. The newer ones are no doubt built to modern standards. Driving by, I imagined snug and toasty people going from the house to the barn and back without having to go outside in the frigid Maine winter. Except that the houses were probably pretty drafty and difficult to heat years ago.

The more "deluxe" model,
complete with The Red Barn.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Here, I remember the farmhouse where we used to visit friends in the Quebec countryside. Downstairs in the common rooms, it was very comfortable in the winter. There was a door closing off the stairwell at the bottom to keep the heat from rising up to the second floor. The second floor is where my friend's room was. Wow, it was cold up there. You had to wear your coat to “stay warm,” and there was ice on the inside of the window glass. Brrr.

And so, unexpectedly, Maine is reminding me of my childhood. It feels at once familiar and novel and uncomplicated, and I feel my heart warming pleasantly to the possibilities of this charming place.

A ruggedly handsome guy...
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.