July is a picnic and a red canoe and a sunburned neck and a softball game and ice tinkling in a tall glass.
July is also the 4th of July. Among the red, white and blue, the parades, the picnics and the pool parties is the patriotism that might show up as a few tears when we listen to the patriotic music. It’s good to be an American and celebrate our heritage together.
Like every other small town across our country, Killington has a lot planned for the Fourth.
Starting at 9 a.m. the annual book sale at the library will precede the parade and BBQ hosted by our firemen. Please make a salad to share and drop it off at the Rec Center sometime in the morning. Then fun at the pool all day long with games, belly flops and music. Live music starts at 7 p.m. and the glorious fireworks start about 9 p.m. It’s a full day and a happy day.
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? I would like to share a bit of history with you: Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, 9 were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his grist mill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning to find his wife dead and his children vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your Fourth of July and silently thank these patriots. It’s not much to ask for the price they paid. Freedom is never free. We thank these early patriots as well as those patriots now fighting to keep our freedom.
Senior lunches
The weekly senior lunches will continue on Thursdays until further notice. However, the first Thursday in July is the Fourth and there will be no senior lunch on that day. So starting July 11 and every Thursday thereafter we will meet for lunch at the Lookout at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 11, the seniors will also have the first of our “Summer Nights.” We will meet at the library at 4:30 p.m. on the front porch and have hot dogs and potato salad. Then we’ll move around back and enjoy the outdoor concert. Please bring a chair, a drink and a sweater. If you’re really inspired it would be nice to have some finger sized desserts to enjoy after. I would like to know by Monday, July 8, if you will be joining us.
Library hours, events
Sherburne Library hours will change starting Monday, July 1. The new hours are Monday-Friday 10:30-5:30 and Saturday 9-1. This will make it easier to remember since every day is the same. The summer concert series has started and is held behind the library starting every Thursday at 6 p.m.
Thursday, July 18, the library will present Adventures in Gaming for Seniors. This will give those of us of a certain age an introduction to gaming. Book Ends Book Group will meet in its usual slot of the last Wednesday of the month. This month’s selection is “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell” by Robert Dugoni. Sam always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell.” His mother, father and two misfit friends got him through it. Forty years later, Sam finds that nothing was by design. Pick up your copy at the library.
The Historians will gather on Saturday, July 13 at 10 a.m.
Are there movies this month? Of course, there are Monday movies this month. They start at 1 p.m. and there is also popcorn and air conditioning.
Sharing space in nature
I am a city girl. I like street lights and paved roads. Although, I have come to appreciate the Vermont sky without the intrusion of artificial light. Last week while walking my dog, a beautiful loon flew down about 10 feet in front of us. It stared at us and we certainly couldn’t take our eyes off him. Where did he come from? Why was he so close to us? Where was his family? Well, after a few minutes it was time to move on and, as we started back up the sidewalk, there was a big black bear walking right behind us. I had no idea I could walk so fast while dragging a dog behind me. When I got back to my condo and realized I had not been eaten up, I finally appreciated the situation. None of my friends in New Jersey have ever been so lucky to see either a loon or a bear in real life. It is a privilege to share our space. Although, the icing on the cake would have been me stepping on a snake. That would have ended my newfound relationship with nature…
Life at 100
How do you live happily past age 100? Lucky for us, someone thought to ask some of the oldest people alive today and turned the interviews into an article in Business Insider. Today’s centenarians grew up in the 1920s and 1930s when the world was quite a different place. World War II had not happened yet and indoor toilets were a luxury. People today have a much higher chance of living to 100 than other generations. Genetics and luck certainly play a part but personal choices are important, too. They all seemed to give the same advice starting with diet. Eat well with a diet of fresh, non-processed foods. Keep busy by having a hobby that you love. One person interviewed actually had a pet monkey. Stay physically active with gentle yoga or walking and do these activities with friends in order to stay connected. Practice moderation in everything we do and last but not least have a sense of purpose. I have read many of these articles and they all have the same thing in common. The suggestions for aging well all seem to be the same. They are all doable so let’s give it some thought.
Checking in
An app called SNUG has recently come to my attention. It is available on your cell phone and there are three versions. One is free (the one I have,) one is $99/year and one is $299/year. The premise of the app is that you check in every morning. If you do not check in, a contact, pre-determined by you, gets a phone call. I have been using it for about a month and each morning between 7-7:30 a.m. I get a reminder to check in for the day by 10 a.m. That is the time I picked for my convenience. Now, it is not for everyone. Before sharing it with the whole group I asked a few to “test drive” this and for most it is working fine. I find it valuable for people who live alone. If you should fall during the night it might take days for someone to realize something is not right. The only information they have is my phone number and my email. Each morning you also get a delightful little quote to start your day. I consider it another tool in the safety toolbox for those of us who live alone. Go to the app store, read about SNUG and see if it might be a good fit for you. Before you ask, I assure you I am not making a commission!
Remember, reach out to each other and be grateful. Love who you can. Help where you can and give what you can.
