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Thomas -- Ergersheim, Bavaria, GERMANY
9/30/06 -- 12:49:30 PM

Born and raised in Biddeford Maine. Left in 1988 to join the Air Force. I met my wife while stationed in Germany. I ended staying here with her. I miss Maine terribly, especilly the wide open roads (compared to German roads), the food especially sea food and the Weathervane, and the music (WBLM and WPOR)
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Stratton Wayne St. Clair ( strattonstclair@mac.com ) -- Roanoke, VA
9/29/06 -- 08:25:56 AM

 I love the autumn. It as a season has settled deep into my bones in some strange way it speaks to me more than any other. Spring is truly beautiful and is probably my second favorite season. Spring tugs at the heart strings with longing and desire, with an ache of passion. But autumn, autumn speaks of memory and loss, of time's passage and autumn gives us a look reminiscent of the parting glance of a lover as they walk away. And the leaves fallen, fading memories on the ground, and the air, crisp and clear, alive and pregnant with winter's foreboding... in autumn I give directions south to monarch butterflies and watch for the V's of Canadian geese in flight and migrating Hawks upon the thermal currents. Orion, sober and stately rises higher each night into the autumn sky, a march that speaks as much for the change of seasons as any other. Time to look for shooting stars amid the glowing field of winter's stars, and a hope to catch a glimpse of the ghosts of the sky, the northern lights dance the dance of heaven. The earth cools and the soil warm with life, becomes the repository of springs yet to come. Autumn, like no other season ripe with fading and passage nurtures within its chilly womb, next year. I love the autumn... it stirs my soul like no other.
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Cookie ( cookiecoogan@yahoo.com ) -- Ithaca, NY
9/28/96 -- 10:15:06 PM

N.S. of Peachtree City: thanks so much for the link to that article. I too read of Mr.Driscoll's passing with sadness. I remember watching Dialing for Dollars 'bout every day "One ringy-dingy, Two ringy-dingies...." . As a little kid, I was a big fan of Mason Mutt, too. Eddie Driscoll was a very funny, entertaining man. It's too bad that so little film of him survived, but I did enjoy the little clips at the site you shared. Thanks again.
______
Missing home; going back there soon. I'm out of Moxie!!!
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Jill -- Troy, IL
9/28/06 -- 12:03:09 PM

I am looking for a pull over sweat shirt with the logo "Maine the way life should be" on it can't find one...any help?
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N. S. -- Peachtree City, GA
9/27/06 -- 10:29:56 AM

I just read this morning of the sad passing of WLBZ's beloved Eddie Driscoll.  What a slew of great childhood T.V. memories came to me as I thought about watching "My Back Yard" and "Dialing For Dollars" as a little boy in the 60's.  Growing up in Brewer back then was special as it was - that TIME was special, but he was THE local TV personality, and he made me laugh always.  I wish my kids had the pleasure of that type of T.V. viewing instead of cable television and the internet.  Unfortunately, Alzheimers made his last years very sad - and terribly tough on his family, I'm sure.  Rest in peace, Eddie, and I'll keep those great memories in my head and my heart. www.maine.rr.com/04/driscoll/default.asp
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Carol ( hilly352002@yahoo.com ) -- Bowie, MD
9/26/06 -- 08:55:04 AM

I just returned from 2 1/2 week stay in Maine and as usual enjoyed every moment.  I eat so much seafood when I'm home I just realized that the whole time I was up there I never once had beef.  It's a nice break for me since my husband is a huge fan of beef and we end up eating it more often than we should.  Anyway along with all the seafood I did have an Italian and some whoopie pies.  I haven't had a whoopie pie in a long, long, time.  It was awesome.  The leaves were just starting to turn but not any real color yet, I guess it will be another couple of weeks for that.  I had great weather while there, with very little rain, some nice hot days and even spent one on the beach at Spring River.

Congrats Steve on the selling of your house.  I've been trying to convince my husband to move to Maine and he may be willing at some point but we can't do it now.  Good Luck
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Stratton Wayne St. Clair ( strattonstclair@mac.com ) -- Roanoke, VA
9/24/06 -- 08:14:12 PM

Well at least Vermont is New England Bruce, try living is the south like Steve or me.

And congradulations Steve I am so damned jealous...but I am setting my cards in a row.

Am hired by the local VA hospital here as a cook (yeah I know after studying graphics for 3 years too) but once I jump through all their hoops and hurdles and actually start working, after probation and a year on the job I can transfer anywhere...including Maine, and I can transfer between departments so I could get a job in Portland and not have to deal with Togus.
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Bruce G -- Granville, VT
9/23/06 -- 09:28:30 PM

Only live two states away....seems like cross-country.........
Origionally from Bethel.... moved to VT from Starks......

Darn.... now I'M    "from away...."
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Steve White ( mainerinexile@bellsouth.net ) -- Dallas (not for long!), NC
9/23/06 -- 02:18:39 PM

You're reading a post from a VERY, VERY, VERY happy guy! My house is now under contract and I close Oct 20th! I'll give you all 3 guesses as to where I'll be moving...
You guessed it! I don't think I've ever been more excited about anything in my entire 52 years. Oh, by the way, I have a well worn Mainer in Exile T-shirt for sale - LOL
Cheers
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David Howe ( dhowe0152@sbcglobal.net ) -- Willimantic, CT
9/22/06 -- 02:49:02 PM

Nice to hear so many stories of those who left such a wonderful state. What a great news article these stories would make in local Maine newspapers.

Maine Exiles has supplied us all with the opportunity to share our stories and many thanks to all the staff.

Once again I will share my families came from Newport, Troy, Unity and Pittsfield.

My dad was a milkman for Rowe Farms and my mom used make the bread at a diner in Newport that began with S. Time passes us by
but memories linger on forever.

Best Wishes to all who post messages.
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Stratton Wayne St. Clair ( strattonstclair@mac.com ) -- Roanoke, VA
9/16/06 -- 07:48:47 PM

I remember a person I would love to find, hear from or know what happened to her.

Back in Feb. 79 or 80 (my memory fades) I helped a young woman nd her three very young children move from Portland to Lewiston to escape an abusive relationship. We moved her into an apartment across from park Sts. Peter and Paul catherdal is by. Her name was Linda Leland, if my memory serves correctly. She was petite with dark hair and eyes. We struck it off extremely well... and when we parted company it was with mutual smiles on our faces. I was young and callow in those days and terrified of women with children but my thoughts turn to her every now and then and wonder how life has treated her. She was/is a real sweet person. If anyone knows anything, (which I doubt) pass on the info please.
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Paul Williams ( Pool_isCool@yahoo.com ) -- Winter Haven, FL
9/16/06 -- 12:20:35 PM

I originally called home Kenduskeg, But grew up in Brewer on Brimmer Street. I joined the Air Force in 1979 and have been home for visits but nothing permenant since.
Unfortunately the Air Force seen fit to keep me in places such as Montgomery, Alabama and Grand Forks, North Dakota. My
wife Sharon and I went for a visit to Orrington to visit with my parents just after we had married during the summer and I will never forget just how expensive Maine had become. I love the State from the Penobscot River to Moosehead Lake from Mount Desert Island to Kittery Point.

  I used to make weekly visits to Arcadia NP when I was in school just to climb Chicks Hill and look over the ocean.

  I will say that in years since I left I have never seen a State with so much to offer in Scenery or in History. It is unfortunate that economics are what they are. Winter Haven is a nice community and has great access to the Cities of Tampa and Orlando and of course just minutes from Disney. But it just doesn't have The running Clean clear water of Maine. The babbling spring where you least expect one. The Air in the Winter so clean and crisp that it puts a smile on your face. Any Exiles in this area drop me a line.
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Donna K -- West Enfield,  ME
9/14/06 -- 07:29:08 PM

Hello to all...
   When I first found MIE website I was so happy just to hear from others in my situation. I had been living miserably in Florida for three years and headed home. When I got back, I was thrilled beyond belief.  I still am, really but I have to say it's not easy for an "older" person to get by in this state. The cost of fuel is way up and even though the state does give some assistance to those in need, it really isn't enough. If there are a lot of snow storms, you have to have your driveway (dooryard) plowed and that can run into a lot of $$$.
  I am originally from that awful place known here as "away" (Massachusetts) but I traced my roots and found that some of my ancestors lived in Norway, Maine in the 1840's. In fact, one of them is mentioned on the Norway, Maine town website.
   Anyhoo, I moved to Maine and was enjoying it to the utmost, right through the blizzard of '98 and then I had to make a choice to go to Florida and help out my Mom and aging Aunt, so I went.  BIG mistake. Florida, to me is just a glorified swamp.  There's just nowhere you can put your foot on "solid ground". It's a sinking feeling, believe me.  and you can't go barefoot...too many fire ants and snakes.  It's true what they say, it's the little things that matter. Once my aunt was on her feet and they didn't need me, I hot-footed it right back to maine.
 A while back I wrote a poem on MIE about hanging out the laundry and found that many people felt the same way.  Just a little thing, but such a joy. Of course, in Massachusetts you have four seasons, too and you can hang out the clothes there, too but it's a lot more expensive to live there and there's so much crime.  I would love to stay here forever but Mass. is offering affordable health care to everyone living there now and staying here may mean losing my home eventually anyway if I should get sick. The good thing is that it's not that far from Mass. to Maine and if I have to go, at least I'll be able to go back and forth (:>)ao I won't feel so much of a MIE.
  Those young enough to earn a good wage and take care of their own homes don't have those worries and I can't think of a better place to raise children.
Who knows, maybe I'll end up selling my home to a MIE. (;>)
  I hope I'll be allowed a few more lines so that I can leave with a small poem.
    I saw him as I pulled back the curtain to watch for the outside-cat. His huge, black body moved away, and I was glad of that,
    At first, I stared in disbelief, at the sight before me there, Then, off it sauntered, 'cross the yard, a monster of a bear. Now if I hadn't looked before I opened wide my door, I shudder just to think the shock I would have been in for, not to mention what the bear would think if he ever turned around, and saw a woman passed out cold and lying on the ground.
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Dan -- Patuxent River, MD
9/13/06 -- 1-:46:06 AM

Hi. My name is Dan and I've been a M.I.E for 12 years now. Actually 8. I'll explain. I was born and raised in Bangor. I went to St. Marys Catholic school in Bangor K-8, before going to Bangor High. I graduated from Bangor in 1994 and joined the Navy right out of high school. I went to Orlando Fl. for bootcamp, before being stationed in Norfolk, Va. for 4 years. Then I was lucky enough to get stationed up in Brunswick for 2 quick years, before being shipped off to Whidbey Island, Washington State. I spent 4 years in Whidbey, and now I am stationed at Patuxent River, Md. I have lived here two years now and I have one more to go, before the Navy ships me off to who knows where. I have eight years left, before I can retire from the Navy and I then I WILL be back home where I belong.

I've traveled all over the country and I've visted many different counties along the way. I have yet to find a place I'd rather be than Maine. Let me tell ya', Red Lobster just doesn't cut it and I've have not been in another State where I can go ice fishing. Most of the places I've been, if it gets below 40 degrees, people think the world has come to an end. And you don't want to be on the roads, if there is a dusting of snow. The people go nuts. So my fellow M.I.E, let me just finish by saying, I feel your pain.
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Steven Schoff ( clemrulesthecoop@yahoo.com ) -- Lyman/Kennebunk, ME
9/13/06 -- 08:13:54 AM

Looking for Ron Strout! You left Biddeford to live in Boyington Beach, Florida. Where are you?
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