Autumn brings a plenitude of tourists to Vermont from all over the world to view the sugar maples gone wild in their October hues. From Canada to Massachusetts no-Vacancy signs hang in front of every Inn, Motel, Lodge and Hotel, when color is banging bright during these short weeks. Back-woods dirt-roads, which are normally a place of tranquil driving, become obstacle courses as the locals have to navigate around photo-takers strategically straddling the thoroughfares. Some of my neighbors get quite peeved by these tourists obstructing their commute, but I don’t mind, in fact, I am often hopping out of my car to stand right along side of them, framing my shot of the early morning mist lifting off the river, or the electric brilliance of the deciduous trees in their glory, or the freshly hayed field against the dark stand of pines. The list is endless actually for Vermont is…

First published in June of 2011. True then. True now; and I hope you think worth a re-read too!!

As a teacher of high school seniors, come June, I am reminded daily of the almost–here graduation-day swiftly moving toward us. There is no them and me or me and them at this point, for we have all been riding on this roller-coaster of great expectations and harsh realities for an entire school year together. All over the country 18 year olds are experiencing this free-falling sensation and I for one think it is a feeling worth catching on to, but I did not start out with this appreciation. No, I most certainly did not, in fact, I did my best to stay uninfected with what I, as well as most adults, labeled senior-itis.