I celebrated the big 42 over the weekend – and in true style, it turned into a 3-day affair. Kicked off with golf and martinis thanks to the Sosnowski’s, followed by a Casco Bay ferry ride through the Diamond Pass with some of my favorite people, and wrapped up the celebration with a lazy Sunday and a late Maine lunch of steamers and clam rolls at The Clam Bar (very cute spot).
While walking through the Portland neighborhoods, reflecting on my years here, I found myself caught in a game of “Do you remember?” My husband—who didn’t move to Maine until the early 2000s—had absolutely no clue what I was talking about, but he humored me anyway. Especially when I blurted out something like: “Do you remember calling Time and Temp?”
If you grew up in Maine – especially in Greater Portland – you know exactly what I’m talking about. We’d call it with our friends, mostly because it was a free call to Portland. (Still not totally sure why that was such a thrill—but in the days of FairPoint bills detailing every number dialed, and charging 10 cents a minute, calling another town felt like something.)
Time and Temp didn’t tell jokes or give insider info. It simply offered the current time and an “accurate-ish” temperature—but to kids heading in from Dingley Springs, it meant something. That gigantic flashing sign above Monument Square, meant we were close. That Portland—the big city in our eyes—was just ahead.
That flashing tower still stands. And it still makes me think of a simpler time—pre-GPS, pre-weather app, pre-text. A time when heading into town meant planning, calling ahead, and being present.
In a tech-filled world, connection looks different. It’s convenient, yes, but I hope you still make room for those little pockets of Maine nostalgia.
The ones that surprise you mid-walk. The ones that make you smile. The ones you share over steamers and martinis.
PS: The number still works. Go ahead—call it. Just for old time’s sake 207-775-4321
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About the Author: Shannon Elliott
