2005-09-30 - 3:54 p.m.
My fondest memories from childhood center around a place called Beech Hill Pond.
Beech Hill Pond is nestled down in the woods, just a little to the Northwest of the magnificent Maine coastline. The closest big town (I don’t think any of the towns in Maine qualify as cities) is Ellsworth, Maine and the closest small town is Otis. I went to school for half my sixth grade year in Otis; the school was in a two-story house. You could tell which grade a kid was in by which row he or she sat in. It was a really small town.
Beech Hill was like a fantasy land for me – I could be anything or anyone one I wanted out there in the woods. I had no fear and would often walk for hours, deep into the forest and even sleep on giant moss beds under warm shafts of sunlight. Sometimes I would find a place, there under the emerald canopy that seemed sacred – I remember every spot to this day. I felt that I was king there – it was, in essence, my church.
I also spent a great deal of time on the water either rowing a big wooden rowboat, or canoeing into ever nook and cove. I knew every inch of the shoreline, ever rock and outcropping, and every little island. Most of the points along the shores of the lake have names, but I made my own. It was my lake, as far as I was concerned.
My favorite times were at night. The edges of the lake, all around, were dotted with the orangey lights of fire places and lanterns – there is little that I find as beautiful and alluring as those lights. And out there, in the deep darkness of the Maine woods the sky was as clear as if I were standing atop the ozone – every star winked back and the Milky Way glowed like sugar-glaze against the black velvet of space. Some time around midnight, I would row out into the middle of the lake. I’d stop and hang my hand over the edge of the boat and let it trail in the top layer of water, which would become as warm as a baby’s bath. I’d star up into the depths of space and just listen.
My eyes are wet with tears right now – the memories are so strong and beautiful.
My god – if there is a heaven for each of us…this one is mine.
