(July 4 – 10, 2012) Hou and I woke up early to help harvest lettuce and beans in the theater’s organic garden, then I walked around the uncut fields, staying clear of the tall grasses which abound in all kinds of territorial insects which bite you and leave your skin scaly and bumpy, itchy and sore. Michelle and I lathered on bug lotions and sprays to no avail. In a week’s time, the opportune acquisition of bicycles, and the need to evade the onslaught of cold-blooded arthropods, drew our instincts to sources of fresh water, independence and relief. But for now, we pack ourselves sideways into the hatchback of another intern’s car and ride into the nearby towns of Cabot and Barton, where the theater annually joins the parades.
As Printshop Interns, we were not expected to take part in the shows, so we had time to walk around town and be spectators. We stopped at a library/historical house for some lemonade and donuts, bought cupcakes from an eight-year old girl’s sidewalk stand, then went hunting in the local elementary school’s rummage sale for a solid pair of rain boots, a sunhat, and some festive red white & blues.
Cabot gives out a pretty good Fourth of July parade, and the whole town joins in the fun. Having grown up in the Philippines, where there are about 20 storms a year, I especially liked a home made float about the storm, Irene, made even funnier by the spray hose and the goodnight sign flanked by two flags.
After the parade, we packed up for Barton, and stopped at the local ice cream parlor. I only wanted a few scoops before lunch, and thought it smart to order a size they call, “BABY”. BABY turned out to be a giant scoop the size of a pint! It was as big as my head!!!
I couldn’t scarf that thing down fast enough so I made a quick exit for some real lunch. Michelle and I followed the railroad tracks along the nearby creek, and after some deliberations concerning the provenances of the words, brook and creek, (whether one babbled or the other dribbled…) we agreed to walk around the corner to Crystal Lake.
photo by Molly
Despite the overcast day, we melted in joy at the sight of the huge body of water! Michelle untied her sandals and cooled herself in the fresh water as I tried to reconcile in my mind the unnatural landscape of wind turbines lining up the peaks of Sheffield’s Granby Mountain and Libby Hill.
The rest of the week was spent hand-painting posters for the museum, and printing big masonite cuts on fabric!
On Friday, July 6, people packed inside the Paper Mache Cathedral to watch the The Possibilitarian Diggers & Levelers Show. If this is a sign of things to come, the theatre will have wonderful season!