I spent many a weekend visiting my grandmother even when I was in my late teens and early twenties. Weekends at Nana’s began at Brackett Street, later Pine Street, later Salem Street and eventually in Northfield Green in Portland. Northfield Green was interesting as it was a community of elder folks, mostly women. There were some married couples there, but many were living alone. It used to make me laugh when a fellow lived alone received attention from the ladies. Anyhow, my grandmother had happy hour every afternoon with a couple of her neighbors, Louise and Hattie. On occasion when I was visiting, I had the privilege of joining them. Good conversation, laughter and stories were told over a drink and a cribbage game.
             I mostly listened to them talk. They talked about common people they knew. Occasionally they would talk about their kids. Hattie had no kids so she just listened like I did. Louise’s husband was into sports and Kiley Field on Munjoy Hill was named for him. They raised a large family on Munjoy Hill, all girls I believe. Anyhow, Louise loved sports as much as her husband did. She once told me this story. 
             “I used to go to all the basketball games because I knew all the boys. Then as my kids played sports, I went to all the games because I knew all the parents. Later on I went to all my grandkid’s games because I knew all the grandparents.”  She was very comical.
 Recently I have been thinking of her though she has been gone since 2003. I met her sister, Doris, a few times who would visit from the Washington DC area, usually for about 10 days or so. They really enjoyed each other’s company.
             Louise knew I was interested in genealogy and told me that her maiden name was MacPherson. I recall she told me she lived on Holly Street which is off Forest Avenue. She asked me to check the census for her sometime. I tried but could not find them on Holly Street. The 1900’s census was the latest one available at that time. Louise was born in 1903. Later years are available now, so I had a friend check it out online. She found Louise and her sister Doris living on Cumberland Avenue in 1910 with their parents, Duncan and Annie. Duncan was from Scotland. Life changed after that year. Louise told me a story from her youth. She said that her mother died giving childbirth. Louise remembers seeing her mother and the baby in a casket together. In those times, people were usually waked in their homes. Her father had great hardship trying to raise his daughters so Louise and Doris were split up. I am not sure if they went to live with relatives or not. I know that she confided in me that she never forgave her father for separating her and Doris. Maybe they just never spoke about it. Anyhow, here’s to Louise who lived a good life.