Today, for Women's History Month, I will introduce to you this beautiful lady
Meet Carolcris, 79, mother of 3, a teacher, an artist, a dog lover and a very happy soul!
Even though Cris has lived in Maine since 1973, she’s not sure that she qualified as a real MAINE woman!
She was born during the second world war on an army base, Governors Island, New York harbor. She remembers her mother reminding her that she could see the Statue of Liberty from her window! It’s probably attributed to her drive for independence and individuality and her love of America. Her father, having just complete medical school, was sent to Germany till the end of the war. When he returned they moved to Huntington Long Island New York. She was seven years old and soon her parents divorced. Her father married one of his patients and she and her mother and sister moved to New Jersey.
Her mother remarried and moved the family to the Mainline, outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cris’s childhood seemed to be chaotic but she took it all in stride. In the summer she lived with her dad and stepmother on Long Island. They had a farm with cats, dogs, ducks, pigeons, pet owls, pet raccoons, horses, and seven siblings (step, half, and whole)! She explained her father believed in Dr. Spock method so she would sleep with her cowboy boots at the foot of her bed, blue jeans on, and ready to go! Dr. Spock wanted children to make their own decisions! Cris always hoped for a reaction from her dad. She would have candy for breakfast, never take a bath all summer, run away when she wanted to, go bowling at midnight and swim out of sight in the ocean!
She returned to her mother’s home in Pennsylvania at the end of every summer. She faced a private girls school, ballet and dancing lessons, piano lessons, ice-skating lessons, tennis lessons, and most important of all, attempts were made to create a young lady! She had to get A’s in school, she played on all varsity teams, and learned to comb her hair!
She was Carol until she went away to college. She had decided to leave the past behind, and since they were five other Carol’s on her floor at school, she changed her name to Cris! She took her middle name of Crist and subtracted the “t”! She attended Colby Sawyer college. After receiving her 2 year degree, she was hired to teach Phys. Ed. at a small coed private middle school in Chelmsford, Mass. 5 years later she fell in love with a handsome, intelligent, musician, Larry Brown. They had 3 beautiful boys and lived on Lake Cochituate, Natick, Mass. She and her husband were employed by the Girl Scouts to maintain and direct a girls scout camp. Larry became an alcoholic which did not mix well with fatherhood. After 6 years they divorced and Cris moved with her boys to Maine. She was hired to managePleasant Mountain Craftworks, in Bridgton, Maine. Housing was included which meant she and her 3 sons lived in the retired church bingo hall! She was on her own- never been to Maine, never run a retail store, never had to care for her 3 boys all alone. Ever since she was a little girl however she had always wanted to move to Maine. She loved winter, Woodlands,mountains and oceans! “Oh beautiful America” described her Maine! Her husband had sailed away to never never land! On $50 a week she began supporting her children and her Maine adventure!
Maine treated Cris and her boys well. She managed to build two Farmers Home houses, completed her degree at the University of Maine, summa cum laude, all the while caring for her children. She taught school for 17 years, was the summer recreation director for Bridgton and Harrison. She even taught skiing at Shawnee Peak on the weekends. She was very proud that all 3 boys graduated from college. She celebrates that all 3 live and work near by! She tried marriage for a second time when her youngest son was a senior in high school. Her new husband, Henry Hudson, told her he was her knight in shining armor and she believed him. He asked her to quit teaching and focus her attention on him. He wanted a perfect, domesticated and docile wife. Unfortunately Cris had become too independent. She needed to be busy and also was used to having her own money. She began a business of painting, wallpapering and restoring homes. Henry was a true Mainer, and had no tolerance! They divorced and Cris knew it was better to leave town than struggle with the social morays of divorce.
Cris began again. She moved to old Orchard Beach in 2001. She knew no one but loved the area. The ocean reminded her of Martha’s Vineyard! She had a successful business till she was 75 and then retired. She joined a wonderful church in Biddeford Pool, is a member of York County Senior college and even taught cooking classes before Covid. She joined the Maine Peace singers and they performed in retirement communities. She is a member of the Saco sport fitness center and on the weekends enjoys her family as they walk together through the woods or on the ocean. Most important of all however is her wonderful male companion, Harper! She asked God to provide her with a man or a dog and she got the best thing in the world, her best friend Harper! She has thanked God continually for her wonderful life!
Carol's favorite quote is:
"The old gods may be great, but they are neither kind nor merciful.
They are fickle, unsteady as Moonlight on water, or shadows in a storm.
If you insist on calling them, take heed; be careful what you ask for, be willing to pay the price.
No matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark."
By Estelle Magritte 1642 to 1719.
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Thank you, Carolcris, for sharing your story with us!
#whm #womenshistorymonthproject #womansupportingwomen #womenempowerment
4 Comments
Apr 11, 2021, 9:41:37 AM
Patricia Heath - Patricia (Pat) Heath - What a wonderful Bio. Meeting you and your 3 boys a year or so after your move to Maine. Always admired your strong will,devoted mom and yes,your zest for life. Most of all,my forever friend.
Mar 28, 2021, 7:22:38 AM
Beverly Pietlicki - Beautiful biographical images! Nice work. I’ve also met Carolcris! She’s outgoing and inspirational just as it is written!
Mar 27, 2021, 2:26:52 PM
Dana Morris-Jones - I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Chris through Maine Peace Singers. She is a delight and has a true zest for life! I didn’t know all these things about her history but none of it really surprised me
Mar 26, 2021, 12:45:20 PM
Anne Sheepy. Nico Noura - WOW! Powerful..learned alot about my noble,joyful.hardworking,perservering ,Sis. Please send the poem to my email..cannot copy it.