Maine History Told by Mainers

Childhood Summer in Maine

Submitted by Lisa Ruby Clark

Maine summers are so diverse because there is so much to do. I remember and miss the traditions of when I was younger. There were the days when my mom was working and I would sit at home, reading the books I had carefully chosen for the summer reading program. When the mail came, I knew the mail woman by name and would run outside to see if there were any packages. In the evening, when my parents returned from work, we would have a barbecue. After dinner we would go out for ice cream or for a walk on the nature trails.

When my mom had a day off we would go to the ocean- usually Reid State Park where we would surf in the waves, climb the rocks, swim in the lagoon, and search for seashells. On the way home we would stop at Big Al's in Wiscasset or buy berries at a road side stand. My favorite adventure were the family vacations we would take when my father was on vacation. We would drive up the coast on Route 1, occasionally stopping at different sea side towns. I loved driving through Belfast and Bucks Harbor- where Sal from "Blueberries for Sal" had stopped. We would camp near the ocean and go hiking and shopping.

Each summer we would head to Baxter State Park where we would see Moose and Bears and go canoeing. Last summer I drove past Baxter, where I had not been for a long time. I could not believe how undeveloped it was- it was gorgeous.

At the end of the summer there was always a back-to-school shopping trip for clothes at the Portland Mall. Even though I lived in Augusta, I would always see people that I knew.

I now attend school in New York City which I love. However, I would never trade my childhood in Maine for anything. When I go home in the summer I enjoy the beaches and the farmland and relish in the fact that it is so pristine. There is nothing like eating dinner on a wraparound porch on a summer evening in Maine.