Season's Changes In Vermont

What is the most important thing to you about your life in Vermont? This is a question I get asked when my relatives come to visit, their inquisitiveness overloading with questions, inquiries, and wonders about Vermont. So, this one's for my relatives...To be a Vermonter is a great honor. I love my hometown of Fairfield, love the people in it. I love knowing faces as we drive by cars on the road, each new face smiling and waving hello, just passing by, commuting to their next destination. We all know each other. I love my town and my Vermont. The season's changes in Vermont are most the important things about Vermont to me.
Spring glistens, the snow softening and melting away, the yellowed grass underneath, waiting, soon to turn green, as well as blossoms to sprout and burst, bestowing pink, white, yellow, red and purple flowers, glowing radiantly in the flowing, morning light. Rabbits, deer, whistling birds, moose, bears, and foxes all come out of hiding to dance along the newly grown fields of grass, not worrying about anything, just calm, relaxed and carefree to be.

Summer is warm, not hot, like some would think, just right. The Fairfield Pond sparkles as the sun sets over the mountains, leaving a marvelous reflection in the rippled water. Fireflies zoom past my head, blinking nonstop, as if they are sending Morse code messages. Campfires at campgrounds warm hands, marshmallows, and hearts. Families bond over saving charred marshmallows that had been set ablaze in the fire. Siblings going for a cold midnight swim, seeing who can survive longer in the now chilly pond water, full of sleeping fish.

Autumn,a time for tidying up,dressing up preparing for the season arriving . Leaves of red, yellow,and orange flutter from undressing trees. Rakes sweep up the palette of leaves, so young children can jump into the hill of red,orange, and yellow, brightening parent's faces even though they will have to rake once more. Pumpkins for sale, tall and skinny, long and wide. Carving faces, evil and good, to protect the house from evil spirits while children collect candy and treats. Feasts of Thanksgiving, family togetherness, love,and thanks.

Winter, Vermont's favorite season. Snow flurries,glistening like tiny diamonds, with every swoop it makes on its flight down to the ground,burying the grass. The snowflakes lingering on my eyelashes, melting in a moment, but not before I notice the flake's intricate design, twirling, twisting, looping. Horse and cart maple sugar makers travel tree to tree, bucket to bucket, collecting sap to make the sweetest natural sweetener in Vermont. Pancakes, waffles, ice cream, and snow make as a vehicle for the syrup, sweet, delicious. Harsh cold and wind endured, maple syrup has been made by the men and women who have known how since they were small.

The most important thing about my life in Vermont? That's simple, the beautiful, poetic seasons that follow each other, endlessly in my gorgeous Vermont, wonderful, no matter what season we happen to be in.