Some older friends and I were reminiscing about our youth recently and have decided life really was different, especially in the country town where we grew up – about 15,000 less people, mostly dirt roads and a place where everyone knew your name and names of several prior generations.
As children, we played in the woods (forest!) because that’s what was there. We fished and caught frogs anywhere there was a stream – never saw a “no trespassing” sign. We were never warned to be careful of ticks and in all my childhood, I never saw one.
Poison ivy was the big scare. It grew alongside most of the roadways. A good scrubbing of the feet and legs with Fels Natha soap washed away the poison ivy itch.
Now we’ve got sidewalks and wide shoulders on the road. Poison ivy is uncommon, but tons of other maladies have sprung up. We burned our trash in the backyard fireplace or big metal trash can and no one complained. Fireworks were legal, but it was kind of an understanding that they were used only on July 4.
On hot days like we’ve had recently, we went wading in the nearby brook, drank gallons of lemonade or Zarex and climbed up in our own big pine tree to sit on the branches, dangling our tan (barefoot) legs in the breeze. Those were the days.
In those days, we had no fans, no air conditioning and definitely no trips to a beach.
Speaking of heat, now that summer weather is here, many are thinking of getting out of the house and going to a cooler place, perhaps near the ocean.
If you are 65 years of age or older and a Maine resident, you are admitted free with proof of age to most of Maine’s state parks.
For those not quite in the senior category, park passes can be purchased to almost all parks. Those that do not accept state park passes include Baxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, the Penobscot River Corridor, the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, Peacock Beach in Richmond or Scarborough Beach. The Maine State Park Pass is for day-use only and does not include camping.
Passes can be purchased when you file your Maine income tax, on your first visit to a park this summer, by calling the state Department of Agriculture Call Center at 800-332-1501 for Maine residents, 207-624-9950 for non-residents, or 207-287-2209, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
According to their website, Scarborough Beach on Black Point Road, does not charge seniors 65 and older who are Maine residents. At Gray’s Wildlife Park, those of us 61 years and up pay $5. In the southern Maine area, there are many places one can access the cool ocean or lake breezes, and at a reasonable price.
The stifling heat also contributes to more visits to the air-conditioned grocery stores! Instead of one long list and one trip, some will make several trips – to cool off. Take it easy in the heat and before you know it, we’ll be enjoying autumn.
Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.
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