Wednesday, October 19, 2011

day six: a clear morning, a state fair and the journey

it struck me as odd, but strangely inate. for some reason, the cliffs of maine felt familiar, as if i'd walked them years ago, on some dreary winter morning with my boots on and hair pulled back. and as we passed the little cottages on the path down to the water, i thought about, seemed to remember, a life lived on the shore. i think it's in my bones, this being close to the ocean. like some old forgotten song settled into my blood, turning on and playing louder with each step of my moccasins on the damp soil.

our morning in maine was a sleepy one. it was quiet on the island. one of those cold, bright, clear, sunny days when autumn shows off a bit. we ate breakfast beside a warm window in the general store. thought about the near end to our trip, and all the miles stamped on us. our GPS. our soles and souls.

but what the morning lacked in noise and color, we found a few hours away. at a little county fair on the state border. on a whim, we followed a handmade sign off the highway. into the front yard of an elderly couple we did not know, who allowed us to park there. the ones with children in north carolina, who lit up at a chance to talk about them. who we stood around and talked to long after the fair had lost its appeal and the sun was setting.

we ate whoopie pies. examined prize pigs, chickens, and roses. handmade quilts and honey. horse shows by the track. we missed our hometown fair, and found the next best thing in this nugget of spontaneity, beneath the ferris wheel and big top.

i remember a park in albuquerque. standing beside the lake at closing time. watching the swing set sway as evening rustled the leaves around. i had felt it then, this déjà vu. of not wanting to leave for fear of losing it.

we left maine, but i felt it in vermont too. forgetting myself and blending. in all of the north, really. except when i asked for sweet tea, then i remembered.

15 comments:

... said...

What fun! :) How amazing to be so spontaneous and just drive! :) Love that.

Gentri said...

Love love love!!! I literally got chills when you said "soles and souls". Weird? Haha! I don't care- its beautiful!

Southhamsdarling said...

Great photos. The one with the rocks remind me very much of Cornwall here in England. It's funny when you think that you have been to a place before, isn't it? The State Fair looks great fun and, all in all, a holiday to be remembered for a very long time to come!

Blondie's Journal said...

I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed Maine...it is one of my favorite places. I felt a little deja vu when I was there as well...maybe it is that we have similar weather. I do love the east coast and I envy all the time you are spending there!! Lovely pictures!!

XO,
Jane

Sarah said...

Hurray for colorful fair rides!!! These pics are awesome =)

- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

maine looks absolutely gorgeous and what a better time of year to go! all the changing colors. glad you and the mister had a fantastic time and enjoyed the little fair. even if they cant compare on the sweet tea scale (one perk of being from the south)

Unknown said...

Your writing is more than just writing...it's beautiful. You're a fantastic story-teller.

Amber said...

i feel like my bones are at home near the sea. there's just something about being that close to the water that makes me completely content. Beautifully written, a usual :)

Haley said...

Goodness I miss your writing :) I was wishing I could've walked with you on that island and meet that sweet old couple.

Loved reading about your day in Maine...and looking at all the gorgeous pictures from your previous posts about your road trip from Philadelphia to Rhode Island! What a fantastic trip! :)

Claire said...

beautiful! I love the colourful umbrella ride :)

Amanda @ New Adventures said...

Beautiful pics! I want to visit Maine so, so bad!

Jennifer Rod said...

beautiful as always!
xo

Shay said...

Beautiful, as per usual. I love that feeling of Dejavu, it is so fun to feel. I think out of anywhere in the US I would love to live in Maine/Maryland.

Suz and Allan said...

I love the state fair pictures!

Jacqlyn said...

You are a fabulous writer! (And great photographer at that.) Hoping one day (soon) to rest my feet on the Maine seashore. ~Jacqlyn

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