Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Oquossoc, Maine

 This afternoon we found ourselves in Oquossoc driving towards Mooselookmeguntic Lake.  This is where it all began - my love of Maine.  When we were kids, mom rented a "house" on the lake.  No TV, a static radio, lumpy beds in a large loft and primitive bathroom were the down sides.  The positive sides outnumbered those inconveniences.  A large lake just a few steps from the door with a private beach and dock.  Use of canoe and rowboat.  Unlimited time to play cards and board games.  Bike riding for hours on end to nowhere and back.  A library with unlimited books and magazines to read and the time to read them all.  The possibility of seeing a moose or deer around every corner.  Time to take pictures with my 110 film camera.  Time to draw the beauty of the area.  Tourist shopping in a town with plenty of quaint and unusual shops. 

My scariest memory is when I was 16 and ventured out onto the lake in the canoe by myself.  I had my camera and sketch materials.  I paddled to the south end of the lake when I finally noticed the clouds.  The storm was intense, the waves came from nowhere and I was unable to paddle in any direction.  Visibility was minimal with the driving rain.  I headed towards the shore and hoped to find a beach to pull onto with the canoe.  Nope.  After struggling for what seemed like forever, I noticed two people trying to get my attention.  They had a dock that I was finally able to pull over to and they assisted in getting me out of the water.  They gave me dry clothes and drove me back to the cabin.  Lesson learned - always keep an eye on the weather! 

When I began dating Paul at age 18, he was invited to join us.  He too fell in love with the area and when we decided to build, Rangeley was at the top of the list.

My most embarrassing memory occurred when I was 18 and Paul was with us.  The upstairs loft was where my sisters and I slept.  In the middle of the night I dreamt I was in a wooden row boat without oars and when I opened my eyes , I was blind!  I screamed.  How could I get to a safe area when I was blind and in a boat?  Then there was crashing and Paul yelling and turning on the light.  Yup, I was not in a row boat but my bare feet were on the wood floor.  And I was not blind.  The night was super dark with no stars, moon and of course no street lights or nearby houses.  Life lesson - night lights!

                                                            Paul and myself

                                                                Karen and Alan

                                                    Marc (my baby brother), me and Paul

We were soooo young!  Through the years we have kayaked, snowmobiled and tubed on the lake.  

                                                     My favorite sunset picture on the lake!

It is just as pretty today.  








Of course we look the same too!   Not!



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