By G. E.
Shuman
Yesterday was Sunday, from when and
where I sit, and it was a beautiful, sunny October Sunday, for sure. Lorna and
I had just come from a very inspiring and helpful Sunday morning service at our
church, and she happened to suggest that we take a little ride in that bright
sunshine.
The only possible negative to our
decision about a short trip was our other decision to stop for some fast food
to eat on the way. There was just
something about those burgers that sat like rocks on our stomachs for much of
the trip around the corners and up and down the hills of our beloved Central
Vermont. Every time I stop for such food I regret it, wish I hadn’t done it,
and swear I won’t do it again. Then, eventually, I do it again.
We had decided to eat and
tourist-watch from our car, while parked in front of the Vermont State House in
Montpelier. That has always been a favorite spot for us, for checking out the aging
out-a-staters as they pile out of the leaf peeper busses there this time of
year. Those folks always seem just a bit different to me. It’s not a negative
thing, but the countless caps atop all the gray hair and huge sunglasses just
give them away. Then I remember that I would look exactly the same as those old
geezers if I got out of one of those buses with them. Oh well.
So after ‘dining’ we continued our
trek up old Route 2, through Middlesex, Waterbury, Stowe, Morrisville, Wolcott
and Hardwick. Driving through Waterbury and Stowe was the worst, as it is
always the worst if you don’t like traffic. I’m sure the pumpkin and apple
cider sellers along the way were happy with the traffic, as they watched their bank
deposits getting fatter and their wares being placed in the trunks of hundreds
of cars and sucked right out of our state and back to the various ‘away’ places
those tourists came from.
As Lorna and I slowly age, (She like
fine wine, me like old cheese) we have taken to the travel game of the elderly,
in counting the different license plates of those cars as they head for home.
Sunday afternoon, I know for sure, there were at least a dozen other states
represented along the road back toward 89 from the Stowe area. To me that is
amazing, as I have always imagined that at least a few of those states must have
leaves of their own. Maybe I’m wrong.
It did seem that the further north we went on our little trip,
the brighter the scenery looked, and I verbally chalked that all up to the fact
that it may have been a little cooler up there than here this fall. I also thought
aloud to Lorna that they might have gotten a bit more rain over the summer too.
(As if I knew anything at all about what makes leaves turn brighter or duller
in fall.)
Eventually we circled back, (as news people and politicians
seem to like to say lately) and came home. It was a simply wonderful morning
service and afternoon of sunshine for us. Both made us thankful to be here.
Dear
Readers,
I realize it
has taken a while for me to get the last few columns out to you. I actually
hesitate to use the word ‘columns’ as these writings are no longer
traditionally published. I do promise to try harder to get something to you,
here, on a more regular basis in the future.
One note: I
have been working on a group of short stories; some older, some brand new, and
all mine, that I will soon be submitting to Amazon for publication. I’ll let
you know when this happens. In the meantime, please remember that “The Smoke
and Mirrors Effect”, “A Corner Café”, “Cemetery Bridge”, “Up On Heath Street”,
and “George’s World”, are all available on Amazon under the George E. Shuman
list of works.
Thanks.
Also, if you know of others who would like to get the free link to this site when more pieces appear please send their email address to vtwordsmith@gmail.com I will happily add them to the list of readers.
