A great time in life….

(Pictures are from Maine, mostly near the coast)

I am sure you remember the time when self service tanks came into use. You drove up to the tank, reset the meters and pumped the amount of gas you wanted, then went inside to pay. You left your keys in the ignition, sometimes the door open.  NEVER once thinking about driving off without paying or worrying that someone was going to STEAL your car. That was life in our home town up to the late 60’s.

In every  trip to the small towns of Mid America and the north east I have found the same respect and trust. Remember the Coach fill up I put on the blog, $340 or so. That I pumped then went inside to pay.

In the past couple years Sherry has treated herself to having her nails done. She deserves it and it it sort of a treat. She usually finds a place in Walmart to get it done. Not so in the back woods of Maine. After looking in the Paper mill towns of Rumsford & Mexico  I pulled over at a small sign: “Paradise Full Service Beauty Parlor”, (out back).

I told Sherry I would sit and wait for her, she walked up the little alley and disappeared. I sat there people watching  when I spied a lady in a black smock walking towards the car. I had never seen this lady, smiling, she said, “Hi Jack,” like she was a cousin, “Sherry is going to get her hair and nails done, she said pick her up in about an hour.”

We spoke for a minute and she left.  In a few minutes she came back, inviting me in. I said I need to locate a Radio Shack, I will be back.

(The power from these falls power the paper mill)

I finished my running, took some pictures of the water falls and went back and waited. It was closer to 2 hours, but who cares. Out comes Sherry and another lady in a smock. I got out of the car and the girl grabs and hugs me. “My name is Sherry too.”

(Lots of logging trucks around paper mills)

Then she went on and on about how much fun she and MY Sherry and had.  Hey, now they both knew everything about each other; exchanged phone numbers, etc.

That is the small town I remember. There are so many places we go I say, I wish I was from here. Moving to a place like Rumsford is not like being raised there, so it would never be the same.

But it is something to enjoy and know that there are folks who still live and trust like we did in Belmont, NC in 1960’s.

My observations for today. Glad you could come along.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Imma tell you, my girl is beautiful after leaving her hair dresser. She is always so, but in her mind it is different, she shines. I am glad she has reached a time when she can treat herself.

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A 1950’s Mercury Customized. This type of car was used in “Rebel Without A Cause” starring James Dean