Went for a drive this morning and the fall is upon us---not totally but we came across this bush that's in the process of changing. This pictures doesn't show the deep red color that it actually was but it's a good contrast to the one next to it that hasn't changed yet!!! A good number of trees have changed and the leaves are falling. Someone told us to go up to Vermont and see the leaves. So we'll plan to do that--maybe this weekend. I guess lots of travelers come and stay the weekend of Columbus Day (which is this coming weekend) just to see the leaves.
We feel really blessed to be in this area. A couple from our group in the MTC went to New Delhi and their blog would make you cry. The abject poverty and their living conditions are such a stark contrast from what we have. We have lots of wealth around here. We took some side streets this morning and thru the thick forests you can't even see the houses. You only know there's a house because there's a mailbox on the road. The homes are beautiful and big.
But we also know there's poverty here too. After spending a week with "Brother Joe" from New York we've had the opportunity to talk with 6 of the 10 stakes we serve and they are having their challenges. We traveled to Rhode Island and went all around the Cambridge area. Today the leader of the New England region will be here to bring us "boxes" of stuff (as he said). Tomorrow we're going up to New Hampshire to meet with a stake employment specialist that really knows her stuff. Hopefully we'll learn from that!!!
Here you see the Cambridge Chapel where Dick was baptized in 1965 and next to it the apartment we lived in during that time-----a 4th floor walk up. We don't remember anything about the Cambridge chapel and didn't recognize the location but we did remember the apartment. But it seemed less spacious outside and of course 45 years worth of tree growth. But it brought back good memories!! Now we have to find the hospital where Scott was born since we never took a picture of it while we were there.
We went to all sessions of conference in the ward building. Alot of people watch it on their computers, I guess because there was only us, the two Elders and one other person there on Saturday. Sunday was good as there was a dinner between sessions.
So next week we should have some missionary news to report. We're still trying to get email addresses and notes out about the upcoming training session for stake and ward leaders. A lot of people need to be called before that!!
A word about the area also....there's a Dunkin Donuts on every other corner!!! And they are busy!!!! Driving around here is different. With the narrow roads and few stop lights you just have to pull out into the main stream and hope no one hits you!! The insurance lady here termed Massachusette drivers "aggressive". And they tailgate something horrible!!! The semi drivers come within 5 feet of the car ahead of them going 70 MPH!!!!! And no one obeys the speed limits. 65 MPH is the fastest we've seen here and everyone on those roads goes 80!!! But we are thoroughly enjoying the New England accents. It's hilarious!!!
That's it for now!!
3 comments:
In high school I visited a friend in New York who's dad was serving as mission president there. I remember him telling me that people go as fast as they can until the come upon something that makes them slow down (someone else's bumper). If that something never comes, the sky is the limit on the speed. Sounds the same there! Fun reading your blog!
Hmmm now wait a minute....I seem to remember an old picture of you standing outside a brick building like that and on the back of the picture you wrote "The Lump" as you were pregnant with Scott! Very weird to be back there 44 years later!
I have a friend who is an insurance adjuster in Townsend...you might need her services with the drivers around there! And she says I must come visit!
How exciting to live back there and enjoy all of the "old Americana". Love it!
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