(Mei-Mei's summer house in Vermont)
(photos: Mei-Mei, Jennifer & Kim)
Dear One Worlders,
Have finally made it to Vermont, my summer retreat where I normally come to rest, recuperate, commune with nature (moose, bear, raccoons, porcupines, hawks, raven, and trees for miles around), and become a country mouse. I have been spending time at this very special place ever since I was two. My aunt bought it in 1938, just before WWII broke out. It has served as a haven for dozens of people over the years, refugee children living in New York City my aunt took for 3 summers in a row- she even rented a cow so they have the fun of learning how to milk Bessie, set up an outdoor bathtub, and introduced the city kids to the outhouse with the best view imaginable. Artists, musicians, family friends and nature lovers have migrated to our hilltop to enjoy the sheer peace and pure air for over 70 years.
My children learned to handle snakes, identify birds, stars, examine pond water for micro-organisms, and sleep outside in a tent from an early age, often bringing friends to share in their adventures. Their father used to tend to three enormous vegetable gardens, and each child had a tiny plot for which they were responsible. Radishes and lettuce were their best crops. Most importantly, they savored broccoli, sweet corn, peas, turnips, beans and carrots, among many other "greens," picked minutes before they went into a pot or were eaten raw. Everything was organic, long before the term became popular.
Since 2000, I have mainly lived on my own during the summers, reveling in the solitude and quiet, except for occasional visits and a raucous end of the summer picnic/birthday celebration in late August that culminates in hours of singing- the greatest gift I could ask for on my birthday. This summer, or what is left of it, will ressemble what Jen has been going through: sitting for ten plus hours a day at the computer (with periodic interruptions just to gaze at the mountain tops from my gazebo or to go for a short run to regenerate the creative spirit). I have an iron clad deadline: by September 6th I absolutely have to a rough draft of my first memoir as I am presenting my work to my Memoir group at Brandeis 10 days later. I have no TV, no internet on my sacred mountain top, so if I miss a few Saturdays, just imagine me hard at work! I will go down to the nearest village every four or five days but Saturdays.the library closes early so you are more likely to hear from me every two weeks.
Wishing everyone a fun, productive and adventuresome summer.
XXX Mei-Mei
The photos of Jen, Kim and myself date back to 2008 when we held the first CAL retreat in Vermont!
