Date: 2003-08-28
From: Great Barrington Mass.

To: Shopping?
Miles today: 0.0

start Great Barringtondestination all the little shops and eateries I could get to in a day!!I woke up starving to death this morning. Chafe and Bob and I made fast tracks to Martin's for breakfast. I started breakfast off with orange juice, milk and water. After much agonizing over the menu, I decided on their Belgium Waffle.It was thick and soft, piled high with sliced strawberries, bananas, and loads of fresh blueberries. All of this was topped off with real whipped cream! Yum yum!!! I finished the meal off with hot raspberry tea. It was a delightful morning meal. Chafe volunteered to do our laundry for us, so we left him with it and did our various errands. I walked from one end of town to the other. I had to go to the shoe repair shop, then to the outfitters. Then I saw a advertisement for a wild bird shop, so back down through town I go. After all this walking and window shopping I went in a store advertising a sale and found two outfits on sale. Sorry, Papermaker, sometimes a woman just has to shop. The three of us met up again for lunch, then went back to our room. I tried to talk them into going to The Guthrie Center, or as the locals call it, Arlo's Church, for a folk singing tonight, but they both declined. We went to eat dinner and afterward I called a cab to take me to the center. Mudbutt had called just as we were leaving for dinner, and said she would pick me up at the center when she got in. She is flying into New York City, then taking the train to Fishkill and picking up my car. The Guthrie Center is an old church that Arlo Guthrie bought and it is used for local talent to perform concerts.The place was packed when I got there but I managed to find a chair in the back. It is not a very large church. Tables and chairs replace the pews, and the pulpit area is the stage. Local musician, David Grover was the talent tonight. He did songs from the 60's and 70's. From time to time he was joined on stage by other local singers and musicians. One played the bass guitar, another played a mean harmonica. My feet had started to throb from all the sidewalk hiking I did today, so I took my boots off and propped my feet on the seat in front of me. I was really into the music when I noticed Mudbutt motioning at me from the hall. My hiking partner was back at last!! I went over to her in my bare feet and hugged her closely. While we talked she kept moving closer and closer to the front door. Soon we were standing on the front steps outside. She glanced around the corner and said, "Carnethy Bob, are you out there?" I thought she had picked him up at the motel on her way here. From around the side stepped my husband!! Now if anyone ever wanted to see me speechless, that would have been the ideal time. I could not say a word. I just stared and stared. I had just talked to him earlier today and he was headed home after work. At least that is what he said. It was a joyous reunion. He picked me up and twirled me around while I cried. Once again I had been duped!! He and Mudbutt had planned this over the last few days. We went in and listened to the rest of the concert. Our favorite songs from our teenage years. I kept touching Papermaker to make sure it was really him! Back at the motel, I went into my room and introduced Papermaker to Carnethy Bob and Chafe. Mudbutt had gotten the very last room available, so Papermaker joined me in the room with the guys. I must say it was very hard to behave ourselves, but we did. Tomorrow night will be a more memorable!! I fell asleep in my favorite place in the whole world. Snuggled up next to my man.