All posts by Helen C

Solstice, Winter

What a Goodly Thing

I took our friend, David, to the dress rehearsal for this year’s Christmas Revels production by Revels North. David is the former artistic director of the show so we had special sentimental reasons for being there (and many friends amongst the cast). It was a terrific show. I know we Revels people say that every year, but it was. Truly!

The theme was music, stories and dance from Appalachia. I have to admit, my initial reaction to the theme was “not so much” and that was part of the reason I didn’t go to auditions (that and not being sure I could live through another production week). That all flew away once I was in my seat in the Spaulding Auditorium.

The title of this post, by the way, comes from the peace round sung with the entire audience during every show: “What a goodly thing / if the children of the world / could dwell together in peace”.

The new directing team did a great job with all aspects of the show. I loved the set, in particular the beautiful quilts hung on either side of the stage. The cast was energetic and sang their hearts out — in a good way. The kid’s chorus was exceptional. And the dancing (which involved a lot of clogging) was great, too.

There are six performances this weekend, starting tonight at 7 PM. Call the Hopkins Center box office at phone: 603-646-2422 for tickets or see the web site link above.

Every Christmas Revels closes with this blessing from the Sussex Mummers Carol, sung by the chorus while encircling the audience:

God bless your house,
Your children too,
Your cattle and your store.
The Lord increase you day by day
And send you more and more
And send you more and more

For me that heralds the start of the holidays more than anything.

Uncategorized

I (heart) the Vermont DMV

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Is it possible to love a government agency? I say yes, yes, yes! The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles is terrific.

First, they have a good web site where you can conduct a lot of your tedious motor vehicle related business. If you prefer to deal with real people, your town clerk can handle simple DMV tasks, such as car registration renewal. Sometimes, you need to see a real DMV person, to get a new photo on your license for example. In those cases, they have mobile van units that appear regularly at a VFW post near you.

Sometimes, a person does something truly backward, like let their car registration expire. For over a year. In this case, a trip to Montpelier is required.

I have prior experience with the DMV in three other states and none of it was what you might call positive. New York was the worst — long snaking lines, gray-faced bureaucrats. They had it all. That was a long time ago. Perhaps things have changed. I’m pretty sure they didn’t have a web site in 1979.

On Wednesday I took a friend up to Montpelier to renew his car registration. We got a late start and were pleased to discover they are open late on Wednesdays. The drive took about an hour and we arrived after dark. I wasn’t sure where the office was located, but I figured State Street had to be near the big domed state house and, sure enough, the DMV was right across the street. Bonus — we got movie star parking right at the foot of the stairs.

Once inside the building, we realized we had left my friend’s wallet (and identification) at home. The clerk who greeted us ascertained the nature of our business, gave us the appropriate form to fill out and assured us we didn’t need the ID. We did have the expired registration and were able to complete the paperwork quickly. I got a numbered ticket from the clerk (A75), turned around and saw A75 was being called to Window 8. If I had to complain, I could say it would have saved time if she had just told us to go to Window 8.

At Window 8 another pleasant DMV employee quickly processed the paperwork, printed the registration and handed it over. It took less than 3 minutes. In fact, we were walking out through the beautiful Vermont marble lobby (built in 1949) less than 10 minutes after arriving. I had put a couple of quarters in the parking meter thinking I could always come back out and put in more if necessary. Ha.

All in all, it was much more rewarding than your average administrative chore. Now I’m trying to think of a reason to go back.

Family, Philosophy

Giving Thanks

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It is a week past Thanksgiving and I’m finally getting around to posting something about it. Most of my family was here. We had a good time, ate a lot of good food, and had at least one hysterical laughing jag. We have much to be thankful for.

It’s easy to be thankful for one day. It’s much harder to maintain a consistent attitude of grace. Yes, it’s lovely to have a four-day weekend, but then too soon it is Monday morning and the furnace is busted, the coffee machine spewed hot coffee and grounds all over the counter, the email has piled up, and the phone starts to ring. Suddenly that glass is half empty again and it’s hard to remember how good we have it.

So we muddle through and think sullen thoughts about how short that weekend really was. Until something brings it back into perspective — a beautiful choral concert or a visit with a friend calmly facing the start of chemotherapy next month.

I’m jolted back to the realization that I can get that damn furnace fixed or even replaced if I have to, the coffee is all cleaned up now, and I’ve managed to wade through those emails and phone calls. They don’t count. All that counts is the quality of this moment. Right now.