I remember the a capella singers on the corner.  I remember the school plays, St. Bernard’s gala events and parish Balls, Irish dances.  It was nothing like my world when I first came to Vermont.  I tried not to be a “flatlander.”  At first, this term seemed derogatory to me.  But, after a short while, the definition came to mean “anyone who came here after YOU.”

The surroundings were very green and beautiful.  All I wanted to do was raise my food, my young family and my animals.  I tried organic gardening (successfully), raising chickens and pigs (what an adventure!)  My first marriage failed just at the right time.  I realized I was worth more and found someone who thought so too ─ a country gentleman who took me from my personal ashes and helped to bring my life and that of my three daughters to a level of healthy recognition of our beautiful surroundings, nature and designer labels (the kids really liked that part). 

I became a businesswoman; he was also an executive.  We bought his grandfather’s cottage, transformed it for our five children (our baby ─now 20 ─ was the 5^th generation to live here).  Many of our neighbors reminded me of the old neighborhood families in the way that we interacted ─ caring and looking out for each other.  It was the 50’s all over again ─ but with elegant restaurants nearby and designer outlets less than 20 minutes away, and of course, the wonderful mountains with all the Fall Foliage splendor and Winter White (very Christmas!) wonderland scenes. 

Knowing that I am still very connected to my past through TCGVA and remaining close to the comfort of my dream lifestyle is the best of both worlds.  My roots taught me well; family and neighbors and life-long friends are where it’s at.

I am now preparing for our youngest son to go back to college (I know many of you get this tear jerker) and it is the most picturesque scene you could imagine at Castleton College, but I still cry even though it’s his Junior year.  I understand the connection, the admiration, the respect, the wonder, that we all feel at this stage, but I still believe it comes from that last generation that told us we could do and become anything we wanted.  My thanks go to the neighborhood and that “you can do anything” generation.