Crossing the bridge into The Way Life Should Be was both a figurative and literal entry into Maine for many Memorial Days. The past couple of years we’ve switched things up, and part of me is sad for that, especially given this year’s entire derailment of travel, but we have a treasure trove of memories that I’ll unfurl in this post. A moment of nostalgia feels good right now. It is a moment of comfort. A reassurance. Let’s look back…
Our very first trip to Ogunquit was in 2000, right after we met, and it was actually our very first trip anywhere together. It was late summer, and the town was getting ready to shut down for the season. It was just waking up to extending things through the end of fall, but back then it was the end of summer and almost the end of the vacation season. It turned out to be the start of something wonderful, in many ways, and the next year we came back for Memorial Day weekend, where we would return for almost two decades.
The first dozen years are well-documented in photographs, but I won’t bore you with that kind of slideshow. Instead, I’ll post the more recent links that are still up after the big website revamping after 2012. It will good to remember, especially since we haven’t been there in a few years, and, the state of the world being what it is, since we may not be there in the near future.
Memorial Day in Ogunquit, Maine ~ May 2013
- It always begins with a hint of floral beauty, whether it’s raining or the sun is shining.
- For many years, we had nothing but rain whenever we would visit. It’s a testament to the magic of the town and its denizens that it never deterred us from wanting to come back.
- Ok, maybe the food helped a bit too.
- The men of Maine Street.
- A windy and rainy day is the whole purpose of a lighthouse.
- When the clouds part, the beauty is lit.
- After the rain, a pictorial.
- Bare-assed in the knotty pine room.
- A secret garden path.
- The yellow jacket.
- Flowers in the sun following the rain.
- After the sky breaks.
- A new friend from the forest.
- Farewell until the fall.
Memorial Day in Ogunquit, Maine ~ May 2014
- Welcoming lilacs, a tradition that would be a favorite aspect of every Memorial Day. Just as they were finishing up in upstate New York, they would be beginning their show in Maine.
- Making friends in Ogunquit has been a wonderful part of our vacations, especially when we come back to visit with them again.
- Going outside of Ogunquit can be fun too.
- Florals feel more groundbreaking in Maine.
- Sweaters and underwear.
- Artistic endeavors find inspiration on vacation.
- Muted and unmated brilliance along the Marginal Way.
Memorial Day in Ogunquit, Maine ~ May 2015
- A soft floral entry into the Beautiful Place by the Sea.
- Ogunquit’s beauty can be quiet or bombastic.
- Always the lilacs…
- This remains one of my favorite almost-secret places.
- A life not for sale.
- Another new friend hidden in a pansy.
- A colorful climax to a holiday weekend.
Memorial Day in Ogunquit, Maine ~ May 2016
- This year went lighter on the recap links, relying on a few photographs to say thousands of words. , which is somewhat regretful seeing as this was the last time we were in Ogunquit for Memorial Day for a while.
- There was still some room for these whimsical objects.
- After that, Ogunquit lived on in memories and virtual posts.
There would also be more visits to the Beautiful Place By The Sea, such as this fall visit in 2017. But for a more comprehensive look, check out this post which included some of the summer and fall journeys we’ve taken there.
