Going Solo - Day 1

Last weekend was Family Weekend at UVM and we all went to Burlington to spend time with Kerry.  This weekend is Family Weekend at Middlebury College.  Since Annie needs to stay home this weekend,  I volunteered to come back to Vermont by myself. 

If anyone is feeling bad for me, don't.  I have been looking forward to it all week.  This morning I woke up early to take the dogs for a walk before I left. Then I packed up my things and headed out for a great day!  The journey would be just as nice as the destination because today, instead of trying to beat the destination time on the GPS, I intended to stop whenever and wherever I wanted to stop.  I would pull over to take pictures and I would explore every little shop along the way that sparked my curiosity! I would MEANDER!  I love that word!

When I got off I91 onto Rt. 103 in Vermont, I saw a kitchen store that was never there before and just had to go inside. 

I loved the side of this building!

Another stop for a picture of this colorful water wheel.

Meet my new friend, Harry.  Or maybe it's Hairy.  He was very cute!

Not all Vermonters graduate from college, or even high school!

     

I arrived in Middlebury at about 1:15 PM, just in time to meet Adam before his next class - Italian! I took 2 semesters of Italian when I was in college 30 years ago.  I was surprised at how much I could understand!

The Italian class sings "Volare" in the beginning of  class!

The sky to the east was dark and made such a nice contrast to the beautifully lit stone buildings on campus!

In back of Adam's dorm, a band played, pumpkins were carved, apple cider and cider donuts were served!

The basement of Adam's dorm was filled with very interesting graffiti.

Notice the bullet wound to the head!

The town of Middlebury

This picture was taken while I was driving - one handed out my window.  I wasn't even looking in the viewfinder!

Some scarecrows in front of the Shelburne Country  Store.


After spending the afternoon with Adam,  we headed to Burlington to have dinner with Kerry.  We went to a cute coffee shop called the Muddy Waters after dinner for some hot chocolate.  Then Kerry and I went to the hotel and Adam went back to Middlebury.  It was such a nice, relaxing day!

Funny Girl

Skype is an amazing thing!  If you have ever chatted online with a loved one away from home, I'm sure you would agree.  It's the next best thing to being there.  

Tonight, Annie and I and Kerry's friend, Jojo, had dinner together.  After dinner, we skyped with Kerry for over an hour.  It was just like she was sitting at the table with us.


From the time Kerry was an infant, she has always had a very expressive face. As we were chatting, I was taking pictures of my funny girl.

It's soooo much better than just talking on the phone, isn't it?

 

Young At Heart

 THIRTY SEVEN YEARS AGO these men were part of a team.  They were boys who loved the game of baseball.  They were the Hazardville Senior Little League State Champions.  They went on to play for the New England title and placed 2nd after losing
2-1 to Maine.  I am proud to say that my husband, Vance, was a part of that team. 

The red jack in the picture is the 37 year old jacket that given to the boys after their State Championship win.  Vance still has his jacket too.

It was a long time ago, but they were not forgotten. Tonight these boys/men were inducted into the  

Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame!

 

Vance is in the front row, far right.

 

 

Vance is wearing a face mask to protect his mouth after getting his front tooth knocked out in an earlier game.

Vance (far right)

The newspaper said "We won't forget" and it was true.

 Some were balding. Some were grey. A few were deceased or unable to come to the ceremony for health reasons.  Their wives and children came in their place. 

At first glance, they did not look much like the young boys from 37 years ago, but as I watched them hug and reminisce about the past, the years seemed to melt away.  I could almost picture in my mind the young boys they once were.

Each of them received an engraved plaque  and became 
official members of the 
Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame!

Vance's mother, Alice, and cousin, Kathy were there to celebrate this great honor with Vance and me.

Ready, or Not!

Ready, or not!  As August came to a close, our house was chaotic getting ready for the new school year to begin. 

Adam, a college sophomore, was excited to get back to Middlebury College.  Back to his friends, stimulating teachers and classes, yummy food, and beautiful Middlebury, VT. 

Annie, a sophomore in high school, was finishing her summer reading, memorizing ions, composing an essay, and planning her outfit for the first day of school.

Kerry, on the other hand, was sleeping.  When she wasn't sleeping, she was working,  saying farewell to friends as they headed off to college, and trying to pack for her first year of college.  I could tell she was nervous, and I could totally understand because of my three kids, she is the lucky one who inherited my innate shyness.

 After a tearful good-bye to her friend, Jojo, the entire family drove to Burlington in two very full cars.  Kerry didn't feel like eating breakfast and had a sore throat, and she slept during the ride.























We arrived at UVM and a big group of people with green shirts helped carry her things to her room.

Kerry's room mate, Emily, was waiting to meet her. Then she left to allow us to figure out how to fit all of Kerry's things into her side of the double room! 

Kerry wanted a lofted bed, but we lofted it a bit too much!  It got lowered so she could sit up in bed without having her head hit the ceiling!

So we got her somewhat unpacked and left for the Hilton in downtown Burlington as Kerry headed off to a mandatory meeting of the Honor's College.

We had an early dinner and hung out in beautiful downtown Burlington.



 As usual, it had it's share of interesting personalities!

And Cows!

 With lots of reminders of what a great college town it is!

 We had a nice evening watching the sunset over Lake Champlain by the waterfront.

P

We picked up Kerry to have breakfast with her on Sunday morning before we left to go home, and she didn't look very good.  Her throat was even more sore, she had a headache, her neck hurt, and she was exhausted.  I could not leave without taking her to see a doctor, so Vance and I found a walk-in clinic in Winooski. Three hours later, it was confirmed that she has mono!

After so many years of taking care of her when she was sick,  it was sooooo hard to leave her alone in another state to face her illness and so many new "firsts" in her life without me. 

I know how difficult it will be for Kerry, but I also know that these mountains she has to climb alone will make her into a strong, confident individual.  And I know that each small victory will make her proud of herself.

I know all these things, because I REMEMBER.