From The Road: Roads Less Traveled...and More So

August 29th

The plan for this "Trip of a Lifetime" was to travel on smaller, slower and more populated and/or scenic routes. This has worked out well, giving me glimpses of the character of places, and allowing a comfortable speed (thus conserving at least some gas). There are also more opportunities to note flora, fauna, interesting signs (on a rock and mineral store: "Can you tell the sex of a trilobite?"), and roadside stands selling local produce along the way. Even so, many times things went by too fast, so I regret that I can't share with you the whole, complex, and interesting experience.

Detouring onto a super highway does occasionally have its benefits, however. When entering a new state, it is worthwhile to do so on an interstate, and stop at the Welcome Center. Here you will find brochures with information on places to see, events, and lodging coupons. The folks behind the desk are also great sources of information, and nice, besides.

On one such highway, entering New Hampshire from Maine, I was struck by how lulling the dark forest was along the road. Verges were clothed in the greens of various ferns (they of the complex nomenclature and ancient and idiosyncratic reproductive habits). Among them were constellations of white daisies, the ethereal lace of cleavers flowers, and now and again the yellow or orange of hawkweed, and the pink-tinged valerian. Elder flowers were in bloom here and there, and I chuckled to remember the summer 30+ years ago when I dragged my children out on a Euell Gibbons-inspired foraging expedition to pick elderberries. We clambered through brush and over stone walls, and brought home enough berries to make a batch of barely drinkable wine, 23 jars of jelly, and six cases of moderate to severe poison ivy. Gathering elderberries, needless to say, is now a family joke.

Peachy and I stopped in New Hampshire for a few days to pick up mail, clean and rearrange the van, visit with my brother and his family, and on Sunday, attend The North Wilmot Church (ecumenical, open only in the summer). Then we departed for the Green Mountain State, Vermont.

In one of Peachy's file boxes is a collection of quotations that have spoken to me at one time or another. Every once in a while I will share one with you, so, from a United Church of Christ service,

"Release in us enough light for another day, enough joy to smile in the morning and laugh in the evening, enough love to turn from our own preoccupations so we may tend to others' needs, enough praise that a rainbow of songs will follow each tear."

One of the blessings of this trip is that I am no longer bound by many old habits and ways of looking at things. I can more easily "--turn from (my) own preoccupations--". This is liberating, and, hopefully, productive. Shalom