Fresh Winter Air, Defending The Snow Fort, Your Backyard From Attack.Working On The Maine Potato Harvest Teaches Kids Work Ethic.Hate To Be The Guy On The Inside Of The Harbor Boat Cluster In A Hurry To Get Out.
What is Maine all about? The people that are fewer in number and well spaced make the state of Maine what it is.
But the places that have not been spoiled, the four season beauty is what Maine is all about too. Sometimes blogging about this and that in Maine, adding helpful links, embedded video makes for a well rounded blog post. But other times, just rolling the slide show carousel gets the job done, makes the point succintly.
Our over 1200 Flickr Maine photostream help one by one show you this great state so far north we are almost in Canada on two sides. New Brunswick on the east, Quebec on the north and west. Our Maine 400 plus videos let you hear the people, see the folks who make the state unique, memorable too.
But sometimes hand picked, newly shot images put up one by one like an artist picture, portrait propped on an easel under soft track lighting make a point. Like a four carat diamond solitaire slid on to a ring finger. With out all the multiple images to overwhelmed. Or for a single shot to get lost in the multitude of eye candy. Like taking one child to an event, to spend the day one on one without sharing Dad or Mom with the other siblings in a family. Once in a while. Here are a few Maine images.
My Dad, John R Mooers Was A B-24 Tail Gunner On A Liberator 4 Engine WW 2 Bomber Plane.
Two 50 caliber guns, in an unpressurized cabin that is cold, smells like a latrine with a War War Two B-24 bomber plane filled with other young nervous army airmen.
My dad John R Mooers was a tail gunner in a four engine bomber airplane during the second world war. The 15th Army Air Force, the 882nd Bombardment wing and the entire country behind you raising victory gardens, sending daily mail. Praying morning, noon and night you all made it home safely after each bomb run.
Dad was stationed in Italy, lived in a tent with a heater and waited to learn if the weather was favorable for a bomb run the next day.
Morning briefings on the primary target, secondary missions and reminded what to do if shot down over enemy lines. Being outside the wire…way way outside and in the air dodging highly accurate German 88 anti aircraft guns. The smell of cordite in the air, the plane vibrating from the percussion blasts. Fear of shrapnel always on your mind.
The US Army Air Force issued each member of the B 24 flight crew a survival kit.
Filled with a chocolate bar, a map, silk thread, an ampule of morphine, a prayer and some blue seal silver certificate currency. To “buy your way out” and in case the enemy sympathizers questioned the value behind those dead presidents on the green currency you carried. Just in case. The note in the survival kit given to all the flight crew on the B-24 bomber plane called the “Dragon Wagon” was written in several languages. To get help if you had bail out, if stranded in enemy territory if you B-24 plane got shot down. And it was every man for themselves. Hoping not to land in a tree dangling unable to release from your parachute because the drop was too far and would break both legs. Praying not to end up in enemy hands in German controlled lands below.
My Dad John R Mooers Was A Tail Gunner In A B-24 Airplane.
On Memorial Day, and every day I think of how Dad squeezed back in to this very small tail gunner position B-24 compartment.
On a mission of destruction. To kill or be killed. He wanted to be a pilot but Uncle Sam had all of those fly boys it needed.
Dad was slight, skinny and wirery enough to be the perfect fit back in the tail of a B-24 bomber aircraft.
Removed from the rest of the crew of waist gunners, bombardier, ball turret, radio man, pilot and co pilot. Tied with intercom plane communications but observing radio silence at the P-51 Mustangs, your “little friends” bugged out of the escort, dog fighting to get your closer to your target. Some bomb runs were “milk runs” and routine. Others required change of mission plans due to heavy German 88 anti aircraft and squadron damage. Think about being cramped in a tight quarters for six or more hours, unheated, wearing an oxygen mask and wondering if you and the B-24 bomber flight crew will make it back to base. In one piece, or at all. Daylight bombing was very efficient but had heavy losses of life and planes.
Remember Veterans Around The World Like At The Arc de Triomphe Paris France.
As you entered the IP zone, the place where one by one the planes in your B-24 squadron, flight group would open the bomb bay doors.
Pulling the pins first on the variety of bombs to be used in today’s excercise to win the war. Stop the war. Support the troops. I think of the sacrifice my dad the B-24 tail gunner and all his flight crew made. Would you fight for your country’s freedom today and serve in the armed forces to do what had to be done for the United State’s way of life? Would you protest the war, head to Canada? How would you treat the soldiers on their return from fighting the war wherever it was on the blue and green globe?
On Memorial Day, I honor guys like my dad, his flight crew, my two brothers that were in the service and all veterans.
Dead, alive, maimed. Many gave some. Some gave all. God bless America and the freedoms we have, fought for, preserve as the greatest country on the planet. Was being a tail gunner dangerous? Dad always said the ball turret, under the plane had the worse position. Your landing gear gets shot out, the hydraulics worthless and you can not sometimes put the landing gear down manually. The life expectancy of that ball turret airman had way way lower odds of survival on his life insurance policy. Hope you enjoyed this blog post on John R Mooers, tail gunner in a B-24 bomber airplane called the “Dragon Wagon”.
Maine. The word hits folks deeply, in various ways, all depending on where they live now…if they are instate already or not.
What is lacking there, what is special here about the state of Maine. Maine people would have a different way of describing the state if suddenly plucked out, bright blue beamed, yanked to an urban, crowded populated area too. They are content living in Maine now but if suddenly what we don’t have in the Pine Tree State was pointed out with some “off premise” therapy, to compare the two, that gratitude would increase.
I love Maine for what we have for unspoiled natural resources and the full slate of all four seasons to enjoy the state’s beauty in. But what we lack, what is missing in Maine is maybe even better than the long line item run down of what we count our blessings about here in “Vacationland”.
No crime, being half the state average of 4th lowest in the nation if you find yourself in Aroostook County. Or less pollution of all kinds because of the low population. Heck even light pollution that clouds even the simplest act of seeing a black velvet night sky loaded with a multitude of stars is not possible many places other than Maine. All those little things of what we have.What we don’t that only mess up living. Enjoying the short life all of us has on this green, white and blue spinning planet Earth.
So the one word ways to describe Maine. Like the headline for this MeInMaine blog post promises, broadcasts, hints at? Okay, like I said the order, the content of that list would depend on your perspective. The one word Maine descriptions to convey what the place is like to someone that is not from here. Not living here now first.
But for the folks who live here in Maine, were born and bred here, who have logged many years, spent a lot of time, gotten used to the place. Those comfortable and settled in, the list to describe Maine using only one word at a time is the kinda the same. But way way different too.
That list includes what we DON’T have here. Using words like billboards, litter, pollution, traffic, lazy, entitled, crowds, humidity. Ungrateful.
Folks who live here in this under populated state, far enough away from the street slick, crime riddled places to the south live different, appreciate not locking doors. Leaving keys in the driveway vehicles. Same cars and trucks left running as you zip in to the post office, running errands. Not worrying about personal safety. Not carrying tasers. Your kids able to walk to the movies, down town and not a wreck until they get home from little league practice when they ride their bikes every where. And this is what they would add to the Maine list of words to describe, one word at a time the people here.
Friendly. Helpful. Real. Genunine. Volunteers. Family. Porches. Churches. Christian. Creative. Resourceful. Artful. Musical. Lifestyle. Organic. Green. Homestead. Farmstead. Cottage. Camp. Cabin. Honest. Consistent. Land. Space. Protected. Insulated. Unique. Centered. Content. Picnics. Porches. Independent. Stubborn. Gentle. Loving. Caring. Survivors. Tall. Sturdy. Determined. Workers. Resilent. Thinkers. Forgivers. Accepters. Dependable. Prayers. Frugal. Comfortable. Rich. Values. Character. Aware. Blessed. Connected. Maine, so much can be said with one word definitions. Maine, she kisses, flirts, hugs and holds you tightly. Like a black bear. Not letting go of the strangle grip on your heart from day one. Grab your coat, tell your friends you are heading north up I-95 to Maine. There’s only one place like it.
Our Youth, Local Community Members Are Where The Value Is, Not Wearing Handcuffs Of Gold And Over Spending.
In Maine, our happiness, sense of contentment does not come from a mall, or ordering a lot of “stuff”, junk, items on line to try and impress.
The joy we contain is not generated by plastic, being saddled with debt or wearing “handcuffs of gold”. I learn a lot of new expressions from the folks I work with wanting to find Maine real estate. I heard many complaints about living “down country” and usually the in the top three is the Maine property buyer wants to get away from the high overhead of where they live now. Not just the high property taxes, big home mortgages, traffic and crime. But their lifestyle that is 200 miles an hour, a blur with spending more than they make.
A gentlemen in to the Houlton Maine real estate office yesterday lives on the Hudson River in New York. His wife was not with him but he complained about the high cost of living and fear of being a terrorist target where he lives in New York now. He wanted a second home that could become his full time place. The money spending on the other end was staggering just to tread water, live day to day without the extras. And then the way you live in many areas of the country dictates trying to impress your neighbor, keeping up with the Jones, being something thru spending you got in to the habit of decades ago. It’s not Maine. It’s artificial, boring, wasteful, working at being a snob which is really insecure.
In Maine, we are resourceful and we enjoy the outdoor recreation in our day to day. Not throwing around tons of money, maintaining a level of spending to artificially create a sense of look at all the loot, shiny bling bling around me King Midas situation. Our happiness is we saw a moose, little ones crossing the trail on our way to climb Mt Katahdin to climb, picnic, camp with our own kids. Or we hear birds singing happily while the sunrises as we drink the first cup of hot black coffee overlooking a lake where fish jump, loons sing or cry depending on your perspective.
We are more aware of our surroundings in Maine. We care about others, feel connected and help each other.
Know we can depend on others to be there too. We are independent and don’t enjoy asking for help but knowing it is there in a time of need is a comfort. A joy, a cause for happiness. One more reason to live in Maine. Friendlier, helpful people and not too many people if you take a head count. Spaced so everyone has four season elbow room.
I guess it boils down to a sense of respect for others, the surroundings, yourself. Maybe we are more centered. Maybe taking money out of the life equation is what makes it simple, living here sane. Maybe we are in better physical shape, getting out and working on a hobby farm, out on a lake to enjoy the water. Perhaps its because we spend more time with just ourselves, know how to entertain ourselves. We’re not trying to be something puffed up, requiring wearing handcuffs of gold. We shy away from spending all our doors with money we don’t have. Or if we do spend at a drunken sailors pace, then we will have no savings for a raining day of the essentials, what matters most for our families. It’s not the glitter to impress that runs our day to day. Not how we roll. Mainers take you as you are, don’t care if you are wearing a real Rolex, driving a Porsche, or had that suit hand taylored in Hong Kong. Maine, get here fast as you can.
Maine, No Place Like It, That Is Still The Way Life Should Be, Was.
Maine, why you are here, why you want or need to be in Vacationland, the Pine Tree State? The motivation, desire for Maine living, the flavor of the surroundings, people, 4 season recreation.
Different unique reasons, yet many of the same laundry list items sought out if you peeked over the shoulder, studied the written wishes, goals made by folks that remind themselves why they live here. Others outside Maine who want to live here. Need to be here. Or those that flit, sample, zip in to Maine any chance they can. Like this three day memorial weekend, for hunting season, the holidays. Traditions where just the expression, knowledge “I’m going to Maine” or someday “I’ll retire to Maine.” The state of Maine offers comfort, security from crime, elimination of traffic, and most of the countryside, lakes, resources are pretty much like they were before developments. Less people, more good stewards to the area mean better experience, quality of life in Maine.
Many of the same factors that pull people from outside the state to visit, relocated, move here are to get rid of something they don’t like, that has creeped up in their day day where they live now. You’ll love the state for what we have, Maine for what we don’t have too. Both are long lists in a good way. The lack of crime, being the 4th lowest in the nation, Aroostook County half that average again may be all it takes for elderly that worry about gangs, clusters housing and folks with no repect for their things, other people’s feelings, possessions.
Or not spending a big portion of your life stuck in traffic. Going somewhere, trying to get there and having time during the day to get things done, but not just behind the wheel. The worry about crime, the being on your toes driving thru multiple lanes of traffic, are two contant worries you leave behind as you cross in to Maine from New Hampshire, to the south. Replaced with four season beauty, wildlife, less people to be on the look out on the roads, around your low cost ME real estate.
Don’t get me wrong. People are great…but too many people, well, they start to cause problems within just the over population stress.
Like labratory rats when they get too many rats in a small confine. You and I react to the environment and if it over crowded, one where you live in fear, or stuck in gridlock on a six lane highway, what fun is that? What toll does that existence do to you day in and out? Mentally, physically, financially, spiritually? Maine, happy campers here because the surroundings are like they used to be everywhere. Maine is the way life should be. Still is because not too many people here mean the simple things have not been messed up.
Maine, the reasons you move here are many, but to each person, their list has what they want from Vacationland, need. And what they don’t want, but can not get rid of where they live in population centers now. Maine, get some in your diet. You can dream standing up, with your eyes open here. These Flickr Maine images, over 1200 of them show you just a glimpse, but without words this great state. And for 30 images per second, brace yourself for over 400 Maine videos. To show you the community living, flavor of the people that make Maine unique.
Summer Living On A Maine Lake, Means Water Fun But Milfoil Infestation Is Not Good.
Milfoil and your Maine real estate lake property, waterfront cottage or second home are a bad mix.
Not only does it affect your property value, but milfoil is an plant that spreads like wild fire if a boat prop, a float plane pontoon drops a slip off in your Maine lake, waterfront camp or cottage location. Milfoil is in Southern Maine lakes and luckily Aroostook County is four hours away from where the state has discovered the milfoil infestation.
Lake Arrowhead in the town of Limerick added a provision for a 10% devaluation for those properties with heavy off shore milfoil infestation.
Maine’s neighboring New Hampshire where I read on line there are 58 lakes infected with milfoil, it is reported the variable leaf milfoil plant is taking over one to three lakes a year in the Granite state.
Here is more about the problem in New England’s milfoil growth in lakes, ponds. I am president of the Drews Lake Property Owner’s Association and we have had kept track of our lakes “health” monitoring temperatures, visibility, vegetation growth. Since 1947 Drews Lake had a dam to control the water levels and make a fish spill way. But back in the 1980’s when the dam when in to disrepair and the state was happen to let the association have it for $1, we have rebuilt the dam, written grants for soil erosion and put thousands and thousands of dollars in to silt control, revegetation along the shoreline. If you asked a Maine lake, pond, river what gets it the most angry it would gurgle lawns. Ones with weed and feed, lots of phosphorous and soil erosion because all the trees have been removed, and water can race to the lake, bring along lots of nutrients, top soil, debris that flows directly in to the water.
This Maine Lake Volunteer Monitoring Lake Group’s milfoil infestation graphic shows the extent of monitoring going on around the state, and where the known infestations are currently.
Milfoil is serious stuff and if you are thinking of buying Maine lakeshore, waterfront real estate, you need to make milfoil one of the top questions. Keep this graph to target the Known problem lakes. Luckily, Northern Maine, Aroostook County has no milfoil infestation problem. Partly due to education about how easy it is for a prop to bring in the infestation from an infected lake. Also with less people, less activity the lakes in Northern Maine don’t get “the traffic”, abuse and as much presure as other recreation lakes down state do that are closer to Boston, population centers.
