i read today that my friends were frantically searching for some lost keys back home. Keys that not only controlled our mutual friends life but also had his emergency nitroglycerin attached. So many reasons to want to find those keys. Over 40 friends on Facebook shared the frantic CSI post in hopes someone would find these missing keys...

​

Today, the owner found the keys strung to a stop sign . Kindness. Someone took the time to string them up...

Marcy is well beloved. One of her clients gave her money to "buy a round" for MARCY's band of merry peddlers ...

​such Kindness.

Our tour leaders Chip and Bill put out a lunch today that would rival most restaurants . Sure, you could argue that it's their job. They are trained to create an appealing lunch...but I saw more than a trip to the grocery. I saw kindness. From the choice of vine ripened tomatos to the apple rhubarb crisp Bill (or his wife Mary) made...to the hand chopped Asian slaw and pesto pasta...all such sweet kindness.

Bill and Chip run a very caring and kind ride for different groups of strangers every week and somehow I'm certain kindness prevails.

​

Tonight my Falmouth friend Rob texted me the news of the Selectmans decision to stop the fight over their misplaced industrial sized wind turbines in a residential area. A 7 year battle, apparently won.

thank you Rob, for letting us know.

kindness brings communities together...

"rolling , rolling, rolling...rawhide..." he sang from atop his bike, his right hand pointing toward the sky as he took the lead on this 30 mile trek....

Sure, many of you don't even know this familiar rallying cry of our generation. I had to smile. He always rises to the occasion.

​

The route was a visual extravaganza! So different from Cape Cod, South Carolina, Florida, and Ohio...we wove thru the enormous trees, the acres of pastures like kids watching fireworks "oooo-Ing and ah-ing" with every rotate of the wheels.

Travel riches you up. Takes you out of your comfort zone. Introduces you to new people and experience. For these five friends, we are deeply enriched. It's not the ride or the scenery... it's the people.
​

We managed 30 + miles out of our aged but adventurous bodies...we shared the experience. At lunch, when people were remembering the hills...lamenting the climb or "high fiving" the accomplishments, I chimed "I love these trips because there are never any whiners!"

Just achievers...adventurers ...big Haearted warm blooded athletes or wannabes ...making life happen.

oh and there are bears....many many bears...
​

A long ride alone with the guy you live with can teach you many things . We don't share a lot of alone time, generally. But 6 hours in the car driving from Cape Cod to Middlebury Vermont, I was reminded of much.

I was reminded how we all see life differently. It's part of our DNA. I'd say "ooo look at that yard sale?" In my most longing way, as if asking to stop as I watched it slip away in the rear view . He says, without hearing my subtle desire, "yeah, but did you see that German shepherd under the tree, he was a beauty,"

Truth is, I missed the tree and the shepherd but not the glistening wares of other people's junk! Perspectives.

We laughed a lot on this ride. Of course, laughing doesn't take much for us.

I learned what he slows down for. "Oh, honey check out that burning bush", or "did you see that juniper?" "Wow, now that's an arborvitae ...."

Of course he also slows for Dairy Queen, but that's another blog all together.

Me, well I'm pointing out Mansard roofs, colonial facades, Greek revival porches and white picket fences.... and he's "yah, but did you see the black lab on the second step of that porch?"

Nope. Hon, missed the Lab. Perspectives.

I love pigs. Those who know me well know my collections of all things piglet-y! Just yesterday I showed a house that had "flora" the pot bellied pig wearing a pink tu-Tu grunting and farting her way thru the house as we considered it for purchase. I love pigs.

on the 6 hour drive mark suggests I find a place place to eat close to Lebanon ...first crazy name is "Big Fattys BBQ"! After a good laugh and some uncomfortable identification, we decide we must try Big Fattys!



​

we reviewed the rules and felt at ease!

i contemplated how I could smuggle this pig home with me....

but Mark was too distracted by the beer and a hat...

we asked the gal who pulled the tap to order us her favorite... and our came Burnt Ends and Slaw!

burnt and cooked another 10 hours...WHAT?

closed on Sunday's....will have to come back

thought the whoopie pie would be like my moms...but NO! Too sugary...

oh well! If your ever in Hartford Vermont, check out "Big Fatty's"!