Maine’s allure to a man from Texas
REMEMBER WHEN
by Guy Woodworth
When I was 8 weeks old I was adopted. In 1989 I learned of my birth mother’s whereabouts from my natural aunt. Upon contacting my birth mother I found that she had terminal cancer and that I had a younger brother who lived in Texas.
I met both of them for the first time in May of 1990 and in July of 1990 my mom passed away. Later that month I sent my brother a plane ticket to come to Maine.
While here for his visit, he was astonished by the rurality of Maine and the fact that a lot of the country here in “The County” was agricultural. When he told me that, I couldn’t help but tell him, “Little brother, you ain’t seen nothin yet!”
So, we all — my brother, my wife and both my sons — set out for Patten and the Logging Museum there, but we went through Ashland and down Route 11 to get there. Along the way we stopped just north of Knowles Corner and had lunch at the picnic site there. While there, the serenity of the woods and the fact that you could hear all the birds and squirrels that we take for granted, was another source of amazement for him. I remember him just shaking his head all the way to Patten and saying, “This is what I have been missing all these years.”
See, Bill was born at Loring Air Force Base and shortly after our dad and mom were transferred to Kissimee, Florida so all he has ever known is the big city.
Next time there will be more of Bill’s return to his rural roots.
Guy Woodworth of Presque Isle is a 1973 graduate of Presque Isle High School and a four-year Navy veteran. He and his wife Theresa have two grown sons and five grandchildren. He may be contacted at lightning117_1999@yahoo.com.
