"the call of Maine" (Madison, Dexter: live, commuting, property)

[island mermaid]

That was lovely and I got a little tear myself!

Hurry, we'll leave the light on for ya. Oops, someone will, for this I am sure.

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by Fort Lauderdale mermaid

That was lovely and I got a little tear myself!

Hurry, we'll leave the light on for ya. Oops, someone will, for this I am sure.

Um, I don't plan to make a stop-over in Florida, so the the light may be pointless for us Maine-Bounders!

[elston]

Thank you Fort Lauderdale Mermaid, I got the sentiment and appeciated it!

[maine4.us]

Is the call to a place memory or genetic memory? I read a few articles that state that people have genetic memories for certain places. These memories are the results of generations of your ancestors living in a certain place. They compare it to deja vous, "I have been here before." It is really unusual to think of a place as home, when you have no family ties (at least this generation or so) to that place. My DW MenME have always felt the call to the north. We first felt that call when we visited Nova Scotia and drove through Maine. We both always wanted to drive through Maine again and stop. We did, and we felt the call even stronger. I had been to Eastport in 1982, and it was tops on my list of places to take my DW. I was somewhat surprised that she shared that same calling to relocate there. Sometimes you just know when something is right. Many times we ignore those feelings and go about business as usual. When yearnings, and desires are that intense, we should listen to them. I think the tendency to follow your dreams/wants/desires increases as you get older. I guess that comes from having more yesterdays than tomorrows. Knowing that your days on earth are numbered, and wanting to remember each remaining number with joy.

[island mermaid]

I knew you would and you're welcome!

[elston]

This thread has been exceptional from any that I have read on any of the forums; I even suggested a version of it as a new forum topic to one of the administrators (not Maine specific) because almost without exception it has illicited sensitive and beautiful experiences and memories and aspirations. It has emphasized connections (even NDE connectedness and genetic memories that suggest those connections are deeper than regional preferences....but maybe, located in our DNA.

I look forward to reading others as they share how they experience "the call"; like I say this thread seems to bring out the best in so many; I love to read about what you love about Maine.

[maine4.us]

Elston: The idea came to me for this thread from one of my conversations during my active dreaming episodes. I am glad this thread evokes such powerful emotions. It makes me smile! I look forward to meeting you one day, in Maine, or course! We are so lucky in that our move to Maine does not depend on the sale of our current home. My hopes and prayers are for all people who plan on moving to Maine once their current home is sold. Keep the faith, and all will work out, and if it doesn't work out in our time, it will work out in our creators time. He places us where we need to be once we heed his call. This I know!

[moughie]

Your call to Maine was simply breathtaking!
Your ancestors are quite lucky to be so honored by their descendant.
You have shown them (and yourself) great respect by dignifying their memory.

[RMoore007]

Originally Posted by maine4.us

Is the call to a place memory or genetic memory? I read a few articles that state that people have genetic memories for certain places. These memories are the results of generations of your ancestors living in a certain place. They compare it to deja vous, "I have been here before." It is really unusual to think of a place as home, when you have no family ties (at least this generation or so) to that place. My DW MenME have always felt the call to the north. We first felt that call when we visited Nova Scotia and drove through Maine. We both always wanted to drive through Maine again and stop. We did, and we felt the call even stronger. I had been to Eastport in 1982, and it was tops on my list of places to take my DW. I was somewhat surprised that she shared that same calling to relocate there. Sometimes you just know when something is right. Many times we ignore those feelings and go about business as usual. When yearnings, and desires are that intense, we should listen to them. I think the tendency to follow your dreams/wants/desires increases as you get older. I guess that comes from having more yesterdays than tomorrows. Knowing that your days on earth are numbered, and wanting to remember each remaining number with joy.

I was thinking about this thread just today while commuting and this genetic memory really describes what I feel. When I visit Maine each year, I get the feeling everyone looks like me. Or that everyone looks familiar to me. Maybe this genetic memory is real. I especially get this feeling when I spend time around my fathers birth place which is in the Norridgewock and Madison areas and again when I spend time around the Dexter and Dover Foxcroft areas where my mother grew up. Just feels like home even though I haven't actually lived in those towns. The first "Call To Maine" for me is a strange familiarity.

Also, my mom died a few years ago leaving me and my brothers and sisters 67 years of her daily diaries. She started at about 10 years old in 1936 until she passed in 2003. Reading a young teens thoughts during the war including her college years and young family life in the 50's and 60's is quite interesting, says my sister who is now done reading them all and will be passing them on to me to read. Hopefully I can share some of her thoughts within this Maine forum in the near future. My sister said that she kept lots of lists and ended each year with a recap of major events. The second "Call To Maine" then is our family home since 1850 where my mom and her mom were both born and died in the same room there. And that my mom wished to always try to keep the old house and property in our family if possible. Of course I have a place for me behind the house down in the family cemetary anyway. I guess that is the third "Call To Maine" that I can put on hold for awhile.

[elston]

I shared my writing about "the call" with my minister, I wanted her to understand why I was leaving to move to Maine. I know that she and the congregation here are the anchor that I will miss when I leave and I had asked her to help me leave without abandoning this very special community. Since I made my plan...I have been feeling "up in the air" and much less connected to my church here which has been my most significant attatchement in California.

I got this very nice email message from her in response.

"My eyes are brimming with tears...your call home is so clear...your expression of the call so compelling...I’d like to save this...and with your permission, use it someday in a sermon about home...

I’ll miss you terribly but you do belong to Maine..."