by Marry Wakefield Buxton
Hot was the word for it. The hottest summer I ever remember. Either that or I am becoming more sensitive of heat as I age.
But I walked or biked each day. My trick was to get out early in Urbanna before the deadly sun was too advanced in its daily sweep across the sky.
The traffic was heavier than usual; lots of construction trucks and lawn mower equipment racing up and down Rappahannock Avenue. I often think we need a walking path through town to protect pedestrian traffic and bikers on narrow streets.
This year was my 60th high school class reunion in Vermilion, Ohio, so I headed to my hometown. The class of 1959 looked pretty good although a few of us were on canes or otherwise fighting aches and pains. One teacher, advanced algebra, was still alive and came to the party. It was so good to see him and I felt 16 all over again. The power of a teacher.
We started festivities with a tour boat that took us on the Vermilion River and through the famous Lagoons, which was a swamp in my father’s day but has been developed into an upscale residential area. The water level was so high many homes had flooded docks and front yards with water coming alarmingly near front doors. Residents couldn’t get to yachts tied up on flooded docks without the use of a rowboat. In spite of the high water, the prices of the elegant riverfront homes had not been reduced.
Afterwards, we enjoyed a fresh Lake Erie perch dinner at the Vermilion Boat Club. I love perch so much I ate it four times that week. I wish I could get that delicious freshwater fish in Tidewater.
A highlight of the trip home, other than seeing cousins and classmates, was a trip to the Aviation Museum at Port Clinton to view its fine collection of World War II aircraft, tanks and Jeeps. They even had old German motorcycles with side cars for sale. I can’t imagine who would want one or what one would look like scooting up and down Rappahannock Avenue to the post office with me driving and husband Chip in the sidecar?
The bad news of summer was our beloved Dr. Jim Robusto’s announcement that he is retiring. Jim has served faithfully the people of Urbanna and surrounding areas since 1986. He’s a great doctor and had taken excellent care of us over the years. We’re sorry to see him go, but we wish Jim and his wife Kerry a very happy retirement and suspect they will continue with their many volunteer posts.
I enjoyed learning how to line dance in classes that meet each Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Middlesex Woman’s Club in Urbanna. Two hours of instruction for just $5 makes it a super buy and it’s good exercise.
It’s fun to try something new. In that same category we enjoyed our first exposure to bluegrass music one Saturday in August at the Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department in Urbanna. The songs are pure Americana and seemed to revolve around one subject: grief for love gone wrong. The musicians were local and very good and I look forward to hearing more bluegrass.
I read a lot of Iris Murdoch, Kingsley Amis and Graham Greene, three of my favorite British novelists, listened to classical music on MC TV and fed the cats. We have trapped several and taken them to Gloucester to have them neutered. Hopefully, one day we won’t have a feral cat problem in Urbanna.
Mother raccoon had three new babies, and grumpy opossum shows up occasionally, too, for supper. I saw an albino skunk once but thankfully he moved on without leaving his calling card. I still talk about the mountain lion that I once saw; only a window screen separated us, on the roof in the cottage across the street where we used to live. For years no one believed me but now we know the big cats have moved east.
He was terrifying, a haunch that looked muscular enough to leap from ground to roof, a mean little face that housed two glowing ferocious eyes, neatly tucked in ears and a yellow tail that hung like a rope with a curled-up end.
He was after a raccoon that was hanging over the eaves trying to reach the birdseed feeder. It was winter and they were famished. I once saw an owl come in and pick up a squirrel on my roof at night. I can still hear the terrible beating of wings and terrified cries of the poor squirrel.
Well, enough of summer events and wildlife at my house! It’s so good to be back! ©2019
Note: Mary’s new book, “Tripping,” can be purchased at the Southside Sentinel or Marshall’s Drug Store or by emailing glongest@ssentinel.com.
