I’ve been stationed in Norwich, Vermont, and the time has been spent with people I adore being around. I am visiting my friend AP, one of the brightest, most successful, and funniest people I know. She is fiercely loving and honest, constantly screaming at me to have better boundaries and to grow a pair when it comes to advocating for the things I need.
I met her husband for the first time on this visit, and he is also fun and funny. He gave me the best compliment you could possibly give me, which is, “I can be myself with you.” Can you think of anything more wonderful to hear? It’s exactly how I want people to make people feel! It’s so, so lovely.
What I’m learning is that Vermonters are pretty no-nonsense and practical. I think it comes from being the older, more experienced part of the country. I’ve never been to New England, and even though it’s a literal geographic bookend to the Pacific Northwest, it couldn’t be more different. West Coasters love to think about the world as it should be, not about how it is. Everyone in New England seems to hold a stiff upper lip as if saying, “Complaining never helps.” And they make no qualms about stopping by unannounced. It’s wild.
The people I have met on this trip have all asked if I have made the trek to Dan and Whit’s general store. It’s the heart of this town and feels quintessentially Vermont – no frills and pragmatic. For reference, the world-famous King Arthur Baking Company is headquartered in Norwich too, but it has yet to be mentioned. Residents refer to this Dan and Whit’s with a sense of reverence and pride. The store’s tagline is “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it,” which is just about as Vermont as you can get.
The store has a little bit of everything – from fresh vegetables to kitchenware to snow shovels. It’s definitely not going to win any beauty pageants, but it’s a bit of a marvel with it’s creaky floors and shelves packed with the goods for living a simple life well. I even saw a can of kimchi in the Asian grocery section- which I didn’t even know was a thing. I think the lesson for me is that is that if the core mission is to serve community, everything else is a nice to have. It’s a business model we should all take some lessons from. I don’t think you could find a more beloved place. There’s a lot for me to think about there as I embark on writing a business plan.
It’s wonderful to be tucked away in this very big house in this very small town. We’ve cooked dinners at home and sat drinking wine around a roaring fire to wind down the day. There is a sense of peace here that I think I don’t get regularly back at home. I long for it but am not sure I am built for it. It’s really hard to say where I will land but the winds of change beckoning.
It may be 20 degrees outside, but there have been pockets of sunshine and cheer every day I’ve been here. We went on a long hike through the Vermont countryside, and I sit in wonder about how much better my body feels. I hope I never tire of the lessons I’ve learned from this whole anemia ordeal. How quick I was to criticize instead of be curious about what could be happening. It’s such time wasted.
I’m headed back to the West Coast tomorrow to visit the kids and spend the holiday in Seattle. It’s hard to find time to write while I am on holiday, but I will be back at it soon enough.
Love,
Giyen
