I use to carry a torch for Middlebury. This was back when Holly was looking at colleges. The small Vermont school had a lot to like. A top notch liberal arts education in a classic New England town surrounded by all manner of outdoor recreation. At only a little over an hour from home I figured it would be easy to see our daughter now and then. I imagined sneaking in weekend hikes, bikes and skis together.
This was before I fully understood the maelstrom of the college years. Before she heard the Bulldog's bark and debunked for New Haven, Connecticut. Four hours away was too much for me to fit between milking cows morning and night, so for six years I didn't see a lot of the kid.
But I still had Middlebury. It's a beautiful campus in a town that's vibrant without being overwhelming. And there's all those mountains, streams and backroads to explore. So I've continued to pay the occasional visit, sometimes driving up Rt. 22, other times taking Vt. 30. Both are scenic delights. The northern Taconics, the Greens and the Champlain Valley just feel comfortable to me.
My most recent trip to Middlebury was just a few days ago. Ironically, it was with Holly, whose college days are now in the rear view mirror. We had a busy Vermont agenda that included stops in Bristol, Montpelier, Barre and Rutland, but there was just enough time to squeeze an hour for Middlebury into the schedule. The plan was to check out the Urban Cadence exhibit at the college's Museum of Art. Alas, the student who was on Sunday museum duty partied a little too hard the night before and didn't show up to open the galleries. Despite assurances that she would be there "any minute now" we couldn't wait. So, no art this time, but on the way out I picked up a couple of free newspapers - Seven Days and the student published The Middlebury Campus. I'm glad I did because both publications mentioned an intriguing woman who I want to tell you more about.
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Her name is Meg Madden and mushrooms are her claim to fame. Or, more precisely, gorgeous images of mushrooms. Madden is a Middlebury local who says "being a renaissance woman, I have dedicated my adult life to the pursuit of knowledge and hands-on experience." That pursuit has included stints growing flowers, working as a carpenter and cabinet maker, creating jewelry and now focusing on all things mycological.
She leads mushroom walks thru-out Vermont, did a BioBlitz looking for fungi last fall, is working on documenting every fungus found in the Green Mountain State and has recently written This is a book for people who love Mushrooms. Obviously a busy girl.
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What fascinates me about Madden is her willingness to follow her inclinations, to turn a whim into a field of expertise and a way to support herself. Many of us have something we're passionate about but it's placed on the back burner as we focus on 'practical matters', our 'regular job', on 'making a living'. Not Meg. She just seems to go for it, trusting that her enthusiasm and creativity will carry her through. As she said in one interview "Embrace being uncomfortable." She may not be the best person to go to for a loan but, boy is she inspiring.
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