Editor’s note: The following is part of the Maine History Told by Mainers project that appears on the www.maine.gov Web site. It was submitted on Jan. 5, 2003, by Army Spc. Mico Morin of North Turner. Morin served in Iraq from the spring of 2003 to the spring of 2004.

Growing up in a small town

Maine towns are like no other to be found in this great country we live in. The people are more friendly, they are not in a rush, they have time to stop and say hello as they walk by.

I remember as a child, it was not uncommon to leave doors unlocked, or cars running as you walked into the corner store to get a cup of coffee in the morning. You said hello to old Fred and Bob, who were there every morning for breakfast, chatting with everyone who came in so they could get all the gossip. What else are two old men supposed to do with their time?

And gossip they did. I never got away with anything when I was younger. I had eyes on me everywhere. If I did wrong, my dad knew before I even reached the house. The whole town helped in my raising, helped teach me right from wrong, good from bad. It was like having several hundred parents and grandparents. I was annoyed at the time, but now see I was blessed. I still keep in touch with many of those people, and many have passed as I have been away for two years. I cannot wait to come home, many of the people I knew will be gone, but the closeness of community that was there will live on forever.