Love On Appleton Ridge

Fran and Richard Meservey were excellent role models for me. They prayed together and showed their love for each other in front of me, held each other in high esteem and most importantly loved God with all their hearts. They always called me dear and prayed fervently at each meal from their hearts. They lived across the street from my Uncle Vernon (my mom’s brother) and Aunt Norma’s in Appleton, Maine, a small farm town. From their house you could look over and see his entire property and pastureland from the second floor. I loved to go there and stay overnight, my sisters and I would take turns. I loved to ride the banister from the second floor, how fun! The family Lorna, Rick and Marcia and their parents Fran and Richard were deep believers. I kept my eyes wide open. I wanted what they had. I loved it when the rabbits got loose and we tried to catch them and put them back in the rabbit pen. Have you ever tried to catch a rabbit? The rabbit always wins. I loved to hold them they were so very soft and fluffy. Fran and Richard were related to me because my maternal Grandmother Nellie was Richard’s sister. Nellie was a loving mother of ten children, my mom was somewhere in the middle! Nellie suffered with cancer and on her deathbed called me over. I was to be nine years old the next day. She said “go over to my jewelry box and take something you’d like to have for your birthday.” Here she was dying but thought of me. I’ll never forget her. On Sunday we’d all go to Appleton Baptist Church, the only church in town! Everyone knew each other and praised God. I observed well the love of God here. Then we’d head back to Vernon’s for a big meal that Norma would prepare for all of us. My Uncle Vernon didn’t go to church; instead he stayed home and tended the animals and the farm chores. He’d been up since before the rooster! I didn’t love him any less. He showed me how to milk a cow and let me help him feed the pigs their “slop.” I dared to pet them, (this was done by carefully placing your hand on their head and not getting it anywhere near the mouth) and doing it while they were eating, as they were distracted! I remember once I almost got stepped on by a cow, ouch it was close! When it came time for a cow to go to the butcher Vernon would not do the job, he sent them out, for these animals had names and he loved them all. He was very affectionate; he always hugged and kissed Aunt Norma in front of me. He made me feel special. He taught us to ride a horse; he’d lead them until we were old enough to ride on our own. I couldn’t wait until I could gallop up the road with one of them. Vernon lived next to a river and we’d walk out the path across the pasture carefully crawling under electric fences to go for a dip. The river bottom was soft and gooey sand, I remember it feeling like your were sinking in it. From Vernon’s second floor we’d always look out early in the morning to see if there were deer in the pasture. Deer are very smart, they know if you’re looking! They figure if you have time enough to look they could be your next meal! All my relatives were deer hunters too. My mom grew up across the street with nine other children, five boys and five girls, two girls who eventually died young of a crippling disease. Eventually my Grandfather Alton died in 1972, I was fifteen. Then someone bought the farmhouse and as of today it stands there a few piles of wood, not well taken care of, so sad. I remember playing in the hay in Vernon’s barn, oh how fun that was. It was heaped to the top of the barn and you could fall quite a distance and not get hurt. We’d play hide and seek in it. The farm was 2 1/2 hours from Kittery, where I grew up. We went down mostly in deer season, my dad hunted until he lost one in the river and that was the end for him. I have fond memories of Appleton but mostly the love there. Today love continues as my Uncle Vernon has been taking care of my Aunt Norma who has complications due to mini strokes in her brain. True love exists on Appleton Ridge, love that has always inspired me. Note: This story was published in the Camden Herald on January 27, 2007. My dear Aunt Norma Pease passed away in May 2008. I dedicate this story in her memory.