Yesterday’s Adventures

-my friend arrived later than she had planned to pick me up because she got behind a fancy and slow-moving horse and carriage that would not pull over

-we rode through many Vermont small towns we had heard the names of before but had never been to before

-we gawked at the beautiful shadows and scenery surrounding us even on a cloudy day — the clouds weren’t too shabby either

-we stopped for coffee at a place that looked as if they would serve bad gas station coffee and subpar cinnamon buns enclosed in cellophane

-the cappuccinos were some of the best we’d ever had and the pasty was heavenly

-more gorgeous scenery

-lots of laughing and talking about everything and anything the way one does on a car ride

-put up with a glitchy phone power cord that made our route mysterious at times

-uttered many “Oh-that’s-where-this-is” comments along the way

-missed an exit

-my friend drove and drove, and pulled amazing driving feats

-my friend went into a house “Beware of the Dog” sign to pick up her purchase

-she was in there long enough that I was worried she had been done in, in one way or another

-I saw a black squirrel, which I had only ever seen in photos before

-I startled a woman, who was out walking a tiny dog, when she suddenly noticed me in our car parked by the side of the road

-she explained in a 4-pack-a-day voice how she was frightened by my sudden appearance

-my friend returned and put her purchase in the trunk and we laughed when she related what had transpired in the house

-we stopped to buy a new phone cord

-we called the inn where we had booked a high tea and let them know we’d be a little late (horse and carriage, missed exit, extra time in the sellers’ house)

-hungry and tired we headed towards our tea feast

— the sun came out at some point like a gift

-the tea, sandwiches, scones, pastries, and chocolate dipped fruit were wonderful — the atmosphere was a mixture of “yes please” and “no thank you”

-we stopped at a giant antique store (more like a warehouse)

-we laughed at all the old toys with angry faces

-we said “Look at this!” so many times

-I bought an old noisemaker that looks like a top — it was difficult to not make it make noise constantly

-on the way out we noticed a racist illustration on an old wooden crate that drove home the need to not whitewash racist history but to also not display (and sell and send out into the world for new eyes to see) items (even if collectible) that glorify that racism

-we laughed about not remembering where the wonderful little place where we had purchased the good cappuccinos and pastries was and then we drove right by it

-we watched the hills soften as the sun began to set

-we drove home in the twilight with an eye out for foxes but the black squirrel was the only Beatrix Potter esque spotting for the day

-my friend dropped me off at home

Cinse Bonino
2023