“America is a tune. It must be sung together.”—Gerald Stanley lee
The month of July is the height of summer, bringing a spirit of celebration to all of us. Our town of Killington may be small, but we know how to celebrate the 4th of July. We start early with the annual book sale at the library. We line River Road with our chairs to watch a parade where we wave and cheer on our friends and neighbors. By that time, we’re hungry, and our Killington Fire and Rescue provides hamburgers and hot dogs supplemented by salads and desserts made by us. Then it’s pool time with fun and games all day for everyone. This year, there will be a pie baking contest. So, if a pie is your specialty, please enter and share your recipe. Finally, we gather together at dusk and enjoy the fireworks. Independence Day is a federal holiday that commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence, ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1778, establishing the United States of America. The delegates declared that the 13 colonies were no longer subject to the Monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and individual states. It’s an honor to wear our red, white, and blue and show our gratitude.
The beginning of July is also a reminder that half of 2025 is over. It seems like I was just complaining about snow, and now I’m facing the second half of the year. Some people check out their New Year’s resolutions to see if they have managed to keep any of them. I came across a poem by Catherine Pilsifer that suggests it’s not too late to consider 2025 a success. We still have time to accomplish goals and be a better person, both for ourselves and others.
Allow yourself to dream,
And when you do, dream big.
Allow yourself to learn,
And when you do, learn all that you can.
Allow yourself to laugh,
And when you do, share your laughter.
Allow yourself to set goals,
And when you do, reward yourself as you move forward.
Allow yourself to be determined,
And when you do, you will find self-confidence.
Allow yourself to believe in yourself,
And when you do, you will find self-confidence.
Allow yourself to lend a helping hand,
And when you do, a hand will help you.
Allow yourself relaxation,
And when you do, you will find new ideas.
Allow yourself love,
And when you do, you will find love in return.
Allow yourself to be happy,
And when you do, you will influence others around you.
Allow yourself to be positive,
And when you do, life will get easier.
Are you trying to throw away things you no longer need or want? Or maybe you have already done that and need to re-organize. Perhaps it’s such a challenge you don’t even know how to begin. Join us on Wednesday, July 9, at 1 p.m. when Kris Harmelink will present “Down and Dirty Home Organizing.” She will offer suggestions on systems to make daily life easier, including downsizing, decluttering, and packing and moving, in case that is in your future. This event will be held at the KPAA building, located on Route 4, directly across from the Access Road. There is plenty of parking. Remember, your home is living space, not storage space.
As usual, there is more going on in town than one possibly has time to enjoy. I’ll start with the library and remind everyone of the Monday afternoon movies. They begin at 1 p.m., and there is air conditioning, comfortable chairs, and, my favorite, popcorn. The volunteer group will resume meeting on Tuesday afternoons at 1 p.m., starting July 15. The focus for the next couple of months will be the Fairy Tale Festival held in September. Even though this group accomplishes a lot every time they meet, it’s a great social time where we talk about anything and everything. You’ve heard of story time for kids… well, we have story time for adults. Save the date: Tuesday, July 22, and join us for an interactive story just for adults. It’s fun, and everyone can participate. On Wednesday,
On July 16, the “Thoughts on Aging” group will meet. We will enjoy the “Grandma” drink that was featured in the Mountain Times Summer Guide, along with some snacks and general conversation about the state of getting “old.” Book Club meets the last Wednesday of the month at1 p.m. This month’s selection is “The Wishing Game” by Meg Shaffer. The book narrates the uncertain journey of a young woman striving to adopt a little boy. Copies are available at the library. The Senior Group meets for lunch every Thursday at the Lookout at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $5, and it’s an opportunity to meet other members of the group. All are welcome. We eat a lot and talk a lot!
The River Road Concerts begin Thursday, July 3, with The Loonz performing. Bring a chair, a snack and, of course, a sweater since this is Vermont. It’s a beautiful setting and wonderful to just relax and enjoy being with friends. The concerts take place every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. They coincide with the Killington Active Senior “Hot Dog and Potato Salad” nights. The first one of three will be Thursday, July 10. We will meet at 5:00 p.m. at the library, and depending on the weather, we will either meet outside on the front porch or inside the meeting room. We provide the hot dogs and potato salad, and you provide a drink and a chair. You can also bring something to share, like a snack or a dessert. These special nights were very popular last year, and we ended up with homemade chili one night and absolutely incredible desserts. So, mark your calendars and plan to be there.
Have you ever wondered if you are likable? Likable people are a gift to those around them. They elevate others and draw people together. They pull people into conversations. The result is that likable people usually have a lot of friends. A recent article suggested some things that will make all of us more likable. Be in a good mood. It’s true that life can be challenging, but do any of us enjoy being around people who regularly complain about their problems or are pessimistic about the future? Do your best to maintain a cheerful attitude without being overly bubbly and happy, as that can get old, too.
Just let people know you are glad to be where you are. People like talking about themselves, so encourage conversation and be ready to share your own stories. You will find as much pleasure in getting to know a person and their uniqueness as they do in sharing and being known. People like being the object of your genuine interest. Dale Carnegie once said, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
In the spirit of the preceding paragraph, I would like to share a story with you. My household includes a two-year-old goldendoodle named Chloe and two black cats. About a year ago, the smallest and youngest of the two cats ran out the front door and was gone for eight weeks. No one knows how she survived, but that’s another story. You can imagine how careful I am so that doesn’t happen again. I looked up the other day, and there she was, prancing along the balcony railing outside of my living room. Needless to say, I ran out and chased her in with a fly swatter. I discovered she had torn the screen along the frame so that it was barely noticeable. A day or so later, Chloe came to me, pawing at my leg and barking. Following her, I discovered the cat on the balcony again. Now, I’ll never know if Chloe was concerned for her little friend’s safety or if she just enjoyed seeing her chased with a fly swatter. No one should doubt that animals are very smart and definitely know how to communicate!
Remember to reach out to each other and always be grateful. Love who you can. Help who you can and give what you can.
Happy July 4th!
Gerrie
