Pictures from Vermont

I took a bunch of pictures in Vermont. Here are some favorites...



Here is a link to some of the other pictures I took...

Vermont

I used to come to Vermont once or twice a year. My Aunt and Uncle loved nothing more that to host us in their gorgeous home. But since I went to seminary and moved to Block Island and later New Haven the trips became less frequent. In fact, the last time I was in Stowe was about 5 years ago (for my cousin Pete's wedding). And now I've returned on the unhappy ocassion of my Aunt's death.

It's fall here--just past the peak days for seeing the leaves change colour. Most of them are falling to ground laid heavy by the cold, misty rain we've been having since before I arrived on Thursday. There are still a few trees left with pretty red and yellow canopies.

The house is as I remember it. Since I was last here my Aunt got a new, very fancy stove installed in the kitchen (she did love cooking). By the phone my mother found a file folder with her name on it. Inside were momentos and correspondence including the programs and invitations from my wedding and ordinations, along with the wedding stuff from my sisters. It shows you how she liked to keep track of stuff like that.

My Uncle is doing as well as could be expected. He misses her dearly already. His instinct is to do stuff that needs doing, so we spent some time today doing necessary errands in town. Still, the spirit in the Johnson house is subdued and overcast (like the weather). My Aunt's remains are resting in her greenhouse with a good view of the yard. We'll give her a good send-off tomorrow at the churches.

I'm traveling back to Toronto after the community service in the afternoon. It's about an eight hour drive back to the GTA--I'm looking forward to having some time alone with my thoughts.

-t

Picture of Aunt Dee

I found this picture of my Aunt on the web. That's her on the left. What I like about this picture is the sense of activity that it evokes. She did a lot of things for a lot of people, and was instrumental in the creation of the new church building for her parish in Stowe (St. John's In the Mountains).



Mother Mary, the Rector, has asked me to participate in the service--which will be an honor.

So far I haven't had any luck finding a priest to cover at COTM on Sunday, so that means I'll probably have to leave after the funeral in Stowe to come right back. It will be a little hairy, but I used to do those kinds of cross-country drives all the time....

-t

RIP Aunt Dee

We heard last night that my Aunt-Dee Johnson--passed away surrounded by her family. She had been diagnosed with cancer 7 weeks before and declined rapidly. It's disturbing how fast things can change. Life is uncertain.

I'm probably going to drive to Stowe, Vermont, for two of the funerals. She was well loved in the church and community, so we are having three worship services: two in Stowe and one in Madison, NJ, where she and my Uncle lived for many years.

My mom is with us this weekend and was planning to fly back on Tuesday, but now she may just ride with me to Stowe and get a ride from there back to NJ (where she lives). We are still figuring out the details, obviously.

Since the Stowe funeral is on Saturday, I may have to find a priest to cover for me this Sunday. I'm planning to ask Merv (the interim at COTM before I arrived). He may have another commitment, however. So I'll see what happens.

I'm sad about Aunt Dee--someone said, "She was everyone's mother." Indeed, she did overflow motherly care. She loved to cook and take care of people. I'll miss her.

-t