The Comfort of Strangers

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

(From Burlington to Bradford, Vermont)

This morning, talking to my mom, I found out that my former babysitter and dear family friend, Ms. Betty, passed away.  She had the most pleasant voice that I’ve ever had the privilege to hear.  I can still hear her, despite not having seen her for a couple of years.  She was bubbly, but also calm.  She sounded like wind chimes, but not in a strong gale.  She was sweet, but also to the point.  She was motherly, but laughed with you like a good friend.  She knew how to wake you up in the morning—with gentle cheer and the promise of homemade hot chocolate.  She always made a hot breakfast.  She was the secretary at the elementary school.  When my tummy hurt or I didn’t feel good, I could go see Ms. Betty and sometimes that was enough.  She had the unfortunate news of telling Mom that Larry B. had broken both of his arms on the playground.  (There was burned rubber leaving the driveway.)  She was soft and always smelled good.  When Mom and Dad were away, she filled the house with warmth.  I am so thankful for the memories of her.  I hope to live the way she laughed, with love and honest enjoyment.

This morning I made my way into the mountains near Stowe, Vermont.   By the time I had reached a scenic area on the mountain, I was filled with excitement.  Max and I spotted a trailhead and just set out…or…should I say…UP.  Now, Max at times has a hard time getting into and out of the car, so I was concerned that he would not enjoy much scrambling up rocks, roots, and dirt.  Not to mention the fact that what water that was coming down the mountain came down via the trail.  Max held his own.  I’m so proud of him.  At one point I thought for sure he couldn’t make it up a large boulder with a smooth stone face taller than my waist…but he scouted a different route and pushed on ahead of me.  So, I followed him for a while!  His smile was telling.  There was only one moment of panic when he tried to step up onto a root and his foot went through and lodged between the root and the dirt wall.  Momma to the rescue!

After coming back down, I toweled as much mud as possible off Max and myself, got water for both of us, and loaded Max into the backseat.  He was asleep before I pulled away from the parking lot.  Needless to say, he’s had a couple extra treats today.

The views are lovely, but, unfortunately, I missed the peak foliage.  However, Vermont is still the epitome of fall.  I am enveloped in gold, orange, maroon, and forest green leaves, boughs, and trees.  There are smells of wood-burning, crunchy leaves, cinnamon, and apples.  The vibrant gold that remain on the trees is outlined in deep shadows and set against a cobalt blue sky.  The sun shines at such an angle that the shadows appear in high contrast. 

I drove quite a way today, and had to stop to go to the bathroom right as I came to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory.  Awful timing.  So, after “going,” I got shuffled into a factory tour and had to go through a tasting room.  Next…the worst part…I had gotten so hungry, I decided to eat the next thing I saw.  So, I closed my eyes and pointed at the menu.  I had selected the Brownie Special with Whirled Peace ice cream and hot fudge sauce.  If only, I had landed on a nice crunchy salad.  (If only they served anything other than ice cream!) 

This evening, I pulled up to an adorable house, just beyond a dog-leg bend in the road, set behind some trees, and surrounded by chickens, and Leo, the rooster.  Pam, the aunt of my friend Nissa, was there to greet me, and I knew we’d be instant friends as she welcomed me with a hug.  (And she has a “coexist” sticker on her bumper.)  Uncle Arvid came home soon after, and we talked like we had known each other in a past life.  He makes extremely technical knowledge accessible to the not-so-technical brain (like mine).  Nate (son of Pam and Arvid) and Caroline (Nate’s wife) came for dinner.  They have a four-legged child who weighs 200 lbs and loves to play with Max…he’s an English Mastiff.  It’s like a Shetland pony loping through the dining room.

Dinner was a treat—pasta carbonara, fresh salad, and garlic bread.  I offered some help with wine and chocolate.  As a house guest, it is important to have both on hand.  

The next day, Caroline, took Max and I for a hike UP  Black Mountain just across the border in New Hampshire.  I was pooped from the previous day's adventure...or severely out of shape...and had to pause frequently under the guise of watering Max.  "Oh, that darn dog...he's a heavy drinker...whew..."  Caroline was very kind to pretend that she needed to stop to rest as well.  

Friday, October 15, 2010

Talk about having a hard time waking up!  Last night, a storm blew into Vermont bringing wind, rain, and chilly temperatures which made sleeping in a comfortable bed just the thing!  Alas, I left the warmth of the bed and prepared for the day.  Pam and I had made plans to do a little tourist-ing and shopping today, but first, she let a tall, blonde woman sting her with honey bees!  

Bee sting therapy is apparently very healing for many ailments including rheumatoid arthritis, lime disease, tumors, neuropathy, allergies, multiple sclerosis, bone spurs, sprains, and osteo-arthritis.  Pam is being treated for RA and a bum knee.  So I watched Pam be stung by twenty bees!  I also met Bobbi who read my fortune in African tradition with sticks and stones.  She was an engaged conversationalist with whom I connected easily and enjoyed hearing what she had to tell me.  

I cannot remember a time when I've met so many people that I so quickly felt comfortable with.  Being on this journey has opened a part of myself that allows me to simply be in the moment.  I can enjoy the comfort of strangers knowing that I will soon leave their company.  I've experienced a similar phenomenon in the past when I was leaving other places.  There is no fear to accept situations just as they are because they are mine only temporarily.  I hope to go home with the same fearlessness that I have been enjoying while on the road.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Bradford, VT to Bar Harbor, ME

FINALLY!  I have caught up with fall.  My path today led me through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, including a fly-by of Mt. Washington, the Northeast's highest point, and through the state of Maine.  I can't believe the color, it reminds me of the MAC counter at Nordstrom's with colors so vivid I can see them even with my eyes closed.  After a quick stop at the visitor's center, Max and I checked into the Days Inn....it is....let's say "blustery" outside today.  

Max had a lovely dinner of kibble, sweet potato, and flax oil.  I dined on FRESH MAINE LOBSTER...and all the fixin's.  Tomorrow, we are going to explore Acadia and Mount Desert Island.