Julie Mackaman and Rick Dovey are probably about the coolest people I know. I was lucky enough to meet them while I worked at the Abbey last semester, they lived there and took classes with the students - Julie is Doug Mackaman's cousin, and Doug is the director of the Abbey Program. That's your introduction...
I was an hour late arriving at Albany Airport in NY, but Julie was there waiting for me, all smiles - she's the happiest person on earth. We caught up on life and Abbey stories during the hour and a half car ride to their house in the Green Mountains (Vermont = Vert Mont = Green Mountain in French).
We entered Vermont finally, but then entered Mass. for a short while, before we re-entered Vermont where Rick and Julie live as border ruffians - they are residents of Vermont however "their town" is actually in Mass. So I traveled from TX to NY to VT to Mass. back into VT in one short day! I can see your jaw dropping....
We enjoyed a late supper, accompanied by a delightful bottle of red wine straight from Pontlevoy (where the Abbey is located) - it was Julie's last bottle. Sigh...so delightful. Their house is back in the woods, and could not have been more peaceful and relaxing. Booboo and Kozmo (their cats) took to me immediately, but wouldn't sleep with me...sigh....I got over it eventually.
My first day there we went to a birthday party for Rick and Julie's dear friend Viola - it was held at an independent movie theatre in town. After bagels, fruit and cake, and merry-making with all of their delightful friends, we watched "Alice Neel", a documentary about a portrait artist - Viola's favorite. The film is not on the market yet, but Vi's daughters were able to meet the film maker and after sharing their story of why they wanted to show his film, he willingly gave them a copy!
That afternoon I enjoyed a short nap - and then we headed to Jack and Carla's house for a BBQ. More friend's of Rick and Julie's who actually made it over to France where I met them first. I helped pick vegetables out of Carla's garden and cut some flowers with Julie to take home that night. It was a delightful evening.
I did have my first "run in" with a "rude" Northerner...one friend who joined us for dinner, was introduced to me and after a while it came up that I am from Mississippi...
"Oh god I'm sorry - I just hate the south," she said, "never have taken to anyone from there, haven't ever liked anyone from there or any parts of it."
Julie kind of jumped in and questioned why she felt so strongly about "the South" and I was intrigued. You know me, I'm all for expressing opinions, but I want to know why you feel the way you do....
"What about the South do you not like?" I inquired.
"I just hate the way they treat their animals"
"Their animals?"
Without addressing me, she vented on - "They are just so uneducated and it is so disturbing the way they handle animals down there - just don't like it at all, never will, have no desire to try...."
"Wait, like, pets? The way Southerners treat their pets?"
"Yeah!"
"What do you mean?" desperately trying to understand where this is coming from I explained, "we've always had lots of pets and treat them....well, like anyone else does - they've always been spoiled..."
Cutting me off - "yeah well that's because you're educated. It's the uneducated that beat them, or take a shotgun to them! It's just disgusting." This whole time she looks so appalled and is shaking her head, not even trying to let others jump in to question or comment.
"Oh, I see what you're saying. Animal brutality - but that happens all over this country, not just in the South...." I wasn't allowed a chance to even finish my sentence before she cut me off shaking her head, "no, not up here. It's just in the South, yeah...no...."
It was SO BIZARRE. How do you respond to that? Aside from that introduction, the rest of the evening was comfortable, very enjoyable. I avoided conversing with her again.
Monday, Labor Day, we visited two museums - spending some time with "the unknown Monet". The Clark, a museum and restoration facility where Julie works, was hosting some of his earlier work, from before he was famous. It was AM-azing. We hiked up the small mountain outside the Clark as well - because it was a beautiful day, but we didn't see the cows that lived in the pasture - and deduced they must have been hiding in the woods beyond our path. I kind of wanted to take a picture with them. Oh well.
It was a fabulous weekend - even if I did have to travel far to get there - and then spent 6 hours traveling to my next chapter in Burlington, VT by plane when it would have only taken 3 hours to drive up Route 7. Hopefully I will be back in VT in the spring and will be able to see Rick and Julie again.
