Middlebury Meets Africa

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.

Finley

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”.

Sue with tomatoes

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

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.

Susanna and Heather dress-up

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.