Depending on when you’re reading this, we could be having another one of those glorious early fall days here in Maine, the kind of day we try to recreate from memory in mid-winter, when the snow is halfway up to the window sill. But here I sit at Storyteller Central, pounding out my first column after the autumnal equinox. What I want to do is go through the stack of e-mails and respond to as many as I dare to.
Lawrence from Cranston, R.I., writes: “John, Is it true that the holiday Labor Day was actually invented there in Maine?”
Lawrence, there is absolutely no proof that Labor Day was invented in Maine, but such minor details have never stopped us from making up stories about things.
You have to understand that for almost 100 years now, Maine has been a tourist Mecca. During that time we’ve looked for creative ways to manage our summer visitor population. It’s said that black flies were introduced into Maine as part of a tourist-control program. According to our admittedly shaky historical sources, Labor Day was first observed in Maine as a friendly reminder to tardy tourists that summer was over and it was time for them to haul up the boat, lock up the cottage and go home.
That’s my story, Lawrence and I’m sticking to it.
Karen from Falmouth, Mass., writes: “John, You can’t go too far in Maine before hearing the word ‘ayuh.’ I’m just curious. Does anyone know where the word ‘ayuh’ comes from?”
Karen, questions about Maine’s unique word for expressing an affirmative have been asked many times, many ways. As the maple syrup people say, “It all boils down to one thing,” though at the moment I can’t rightly remember what that one thing is in this case.
Anyway, most experts agree that Maine’s “ayuh” probably came to us from our early Scottish settlers.
The late John Gould said “ayuh” is the one word that only true Mainers can say and use properly. So why does every flatlander who crosses the Piscataqua River feel the need to say it a few dozen time a day during his or her visit? Who knows?
As for its origin, Gould said that years ago a Scot – wanting to respond in the affirmative – might reply “aye,” and then out of deference to his non-Scottish audience, add “yes.” Gould speculates that over the years “aye-yes” became Maine’s signature word, “ayuh.”
Henry from New London, Conn., writes: “John, Maine used to have a sign at its gateway in Kittery that read: ‘Maine: The way life should be.’ If that is so, what’s wrong with Connecticut?”
We are limited by space constraints, Henry, so I couldn’t begin to say what’s wrong with Connecticut.
That saying – Maine: The way life should be – does not imply, Henry, that there’s anything wrong with the other 49 states and a life lived in those states is not what it should be. OK, maybe it does imply that. So take it up with our governor, Henry. He should be able to provide you with a snappy answer.
Several confused summer visitors wrote to ask about the numbers on our turnpike exits that changed several years back. George from Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., writes: “John, for over 30 years my family has been coming to Maine and taking the turnpike’s Exit 9 to head Down East to our camp. Several years ago, for some unknown reason, the exit was numbered 44. There used to be a bright yellow sign below that number that said something like, ‘The exit formerly known as 9.’ After so many years I became fond of Exit 9 and saw no need to get rid of it. Why the change? Was it felt by those in charge that 9 wasn’t getting the job done? People had negative feelings about 9 and experts concluded that a higher, even number was needed?”
George. I believe that’s it. Those in charge finally concluded that 9 wasn’t getting it done. So, after months of research and exhaustive analysis it was decided to bring in a a bigger, more experienced number.
How is 44 doing? The jury is still out. Critics – and on the highway everyone’s a critic – are giving 44′ a 9 out of a possible 100.
John McDonald is the author of “A Moose and a Lobster Walk into a Bar,” “Down the road a piece” and “The Maine Dictionary.” Contact him at Mainestoryteller@yahoo.com.
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