Mischief, pool and Jamaica

Photo:

Pete Hodgdon

NORWAY – In his younger days Pete Hodgdon did a little bit of everything, traveled all over the place and had a lot of fun, but in later years he’s content to just be a happy man.

Q: Where were you born and where were you brought up?

A: I was born in Portland and brought up in Falmouth.

Q: Do have many siblings?

A: I have four sisters and one brother.

Q: What did your parents do?

A: My father owned and operated a gas station and service center and my mother stayed home and raised us kids. I think she had the harder job.

Q: What was it like growing up?

A: With my siblings it was competitive. We competed in game and we competed for food. I don’t have that great a memory these days, but I do remember the good times.

Q: Was there anything you wanted to be when you grew up?

A: I wanted to be like my father and be a mechanic and work on cars.

Q: Where did you go to school?

A: In Falmouth from beginning to end.

Q: Did you get into mischief or play any pranks?

A: Oh yes, quite often. The class of 1965 Falmouth High School had donated a large stone to the school and we painted it Gulf orange and blue. On Halloween we drove around and started a big bonfire in the center of town then went and opened up all the fire hydrants. Yeah, I got into quite a bit of mischief.

Q: What have you done for jobs?

A: I’ve done a lot. I worked for Dad until I went into the service. After the service I worked at many different gas stations from Florida to Maine. I was part owner of 1-Wheel Drive Kawasaki in Conway, New Hampshire. I opened a plant store in the middle of the Rainbow Mall in Portland.

I used to buy and sell sea food; clams and lobster in Yarmouth and then deliver up and down the Maine coast. Then I opened Pete’s Jet Skis in Harrison then Pete’s Billiards in South Paris. Now I work part-time trashing for Harris Brothers Trash Removal.

Q: Anyone ever say you look like someone famous?

A: Dundee, my significant other says I look like Bruce Willis.

Q: Did you do much traveling?

A: I’ve traveled all up and down the coast. For six years I went to Florida in the winter. I’ve really traveled all over the place. Dundee and I take a lot of cruises.

Q: What place did you find the most fascinating and why?

A: Many of the places were fascinating, but I’d have to say Jamaica was pretty amazing. There are lots of fun things going on all the time. When we were there a singing minstrel man followed us all around trying to sell us just about everything.

Q: Do you have any children?

A: I have two beautiful daughters, Annie, 26 and Elise, 23.

Q: Did anyone ever influence you to the point of changing your direction in life?

A: My two daughters brought me back to reality and made me realize that I had responsibilities to them rather than to just myself. It changed the way I thought and acted.

Q: Do you collect anything or have a hobby?

A: I collect everything, especially sports cards. My hobby is playing pool.

Q: Organizations?

A: I belong to the American Legion and the APA, American Pool League.

Q: What is the last book you read?

A: It was a sports magazine.

Q: What subject do you wish you knew more about?

A: I wish I knew more about financial planning and retirement.

Q: What is the one thing you would happily do over again?

A: I’m happy with everything I’ve done so I don’t need to do anything over again. I’m happy right where I am in life.

Q: What is the best memory this interview brought back?

A: Think about my childhood and growing up with my family in Falmouth and raising my two girls.

Q: What would you like people to know about you?

A: I love to go dancing and I’m a very happy person. I’m looking forward to retirement and moving south.

Q: Last day on earth, what would you do and with whom?

A: I’d do what Dundee and I do on New Year’s Day, which is hanging around all day in our jammies, eating and watching movies.

Q: If anyone could walk in right now who would you most like to see?

A: Marilyn Monroe!

Q: What scares you the most?

A: Having something happen to me that would put me in the hospital or a nursing home just to keep me alive.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: In Florida sitting on the back deck by the pool drinking margaritas.

Q: Any heroes?

A: My father.

Q: Any regrets?

A: Only that I didn’t hold on to the money I’ve had over the years, at least a little longer than I did.