Middlebury Meets Africa

2Summers | 16 September 2013

This past weekend I visited my sister Susanna in Middlebury, Vermont. For those of you unfamiliar with American geography, Vermont is a tiny state in the far northeast, bordering New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Canada. Middlebury is a quaint college town in the central part of Vermont.

Instagram of my sister’s dog, Finley, on a stone in Middlebury honoring the Dalai Lama. His Holiness visited Middlebury during his tour of the U.S. last year.

Vermont is normally sunny and beautiful in September but it was cold and drizzly for much of this past weekend. I didn’t spend much time frolicking through the New England hills taking photos for my blog, as I had planned to do. (Also, it was the first weekend in two years that I had the opportunity to lie on the couch and watch football. I took advantage of this opportunity.)

So I don’t have that many stories to tell or photos to show. But it was a great weekend. I loved spending time with my sister, who I hadn’t seen in 18 months, and hanging out with her friends. Susanna even hosted a barbecue to celebrate my visit. We named the party “Middlebury Meets Africa”.

This photo tells the story of Middlebury Meets Africa. Susanna is holding a basket, which I brought from South Africa, filled with Vermont-grown cherry tomatoes. Susanna is also wearing a Baltimore Ravens t-shirt, which has nothing to do with Middlebury but everything to do with my family’s passion for Baltimore football. (By the way, the Ravens won yesterday.)

Toasting marshmallows at Middlebury Meets Africa.

I wish I’d had more time in Middlebury. Three days wasn’t enough to catch up with my only sister. But this was the way it had to be. I’m determined to go back again, soon. I really need to see my family more often than once every two years.

I didn’t even remember to take a photo of Susanna and me together this weekend. Here is a shot of us from 30 years ago instead.

Okay, maybe it was more like 35 years ago. Susanna is on the left and I’m on the right. (Photo: Tenney Mason)

I’ll miss you, sis. Thanks for the party. xoxo.

Comments

Catherine - 16 September 2013 at 21:24

so glad you are able to reconnect with your loved ones.enjoy the times!

2summers - 17 September 2013 at 03:52

Thanks!

Debra - 16 September 2013 at 22:17

Oh that last photo so captures the joy of sisterhood

beeseeker - 16 September 2013 at 22:24

Always enjoy your posts, but the title here had me hooked … And I live in England :-)

Eugenia Parrish - 16 September 2013 at 22:26

My oldest son and his family live in Hartland, just south of White River Junction, and the other son and his family life in Northfield. Not far as the crow flies, but on the other side of the state, which is to say, on the other side of the mountains! Too bad, I know they would’ve loved to meet you. Where next?

2summers - 17 September 2013 at 03:51

Hey Eugenia, I’m in Maryland now visiting my dad. Ten back to Washington again, then to Florida to visit my mom. Busy!

Kathryn McCullough - 16 September 2013 at 22:57

Sounds like a wonderful weekend. I love getting to see my sister. And the photo of you two as kids was PRECIOUS! Does it get any more darling than that?!

Hugs from Ecuador, Kathy

2summers - 17 September 2013 at 03:50

Thanks Kathy :)

Owls - 16 September 2013 at 23:32

You two are a couple of cuties, even as grown women!

2summers - 17 September 2013 at 03:49

Thanks Cuz :)

Tanya - 17 September 2013 at 03:38

It was really nice meeting you, Heather. I’ve had a chance to check out your blog and I enjoyed the writing and the photography. Safe travels.

Jaco - 19 September 2013 at 13:13

Love Vermont. This was my first experience of the US, back in 2001. I worked at the Woodstock Inn & Resort for the winter (our summer).

2summers - 19 September 2013 at 14:36

That’s cool, Jaco. Vermont is not usually first on the list of U.S. destinations. Especially in winter!