Keeping the Faith
I am a priest by profession, and I seem to hear themes of hopelessness expressed more and more frequently with almost each passing day. And it’s getting harder and harder to listen to now, as I know I am feeling it within myself as well.
But today I read Sophfronia Scott’s story about her son, Tain, a survivor of the 2012 tragedy at Sandy Hook [“Hope on Any Given Day,” March/April]. It was one of the most moving and beautifully written articles I think I have ever read.
No one in our country, especially a child, should ever have to go through such a horrific experience. It is a very, very tragic story—but, ironically, it is also one filled with hope!
Thank you for publishing Ms. Scott’s most inspiring article. It has actually helped to change the way I am looking at our world right now.
Rev. Jim Morris New York, New York
Family Sharing
The March/April Yankee arrived in our winter Honolulu mail locker on the day we headed home to New Hampshire. Family had advised that my nearly 96-year-old father had taken a downward turn. The night before we left Hawaii, I read aloud to my husband an old Edie Clark essay on maple sugaring with plastic tubing versus sap buckets.
As my dad lived his last few days, I read Yankee aloud to him, too.
When others wanted their private time with Dad, we went out under a brisk blue March sky to enjoy maple producers’ open houses. We kept driving familiar back roads, searching, until we found a farm with metal buckets hanging on their old front-yard maples. We opened the windows, turned off the car, and listened, soaking up the sounds Edie described, of the fresh sap dripping rhythmically.
Every few years I try to cancel my ancient Yankee subscription, but I always come back. Here’s to you. And as my departed parents would often say, Keep a-goin’.
Rebecca Kimball Faunce Epping, New Hampshire
Sweet Sentiments
Knowing we’d be busy in March and April in our little log cabin sugarhouse we built over 40 years ago, I picked up the spring issue of Yankee, as its focus on maple sugaring was an instant draw. My husband and I enjoyed all the articles, reading between firing up the arch, paying attention to the pans, guiding our on-farm resident grandsons (ages 7 and 4) in this year’s sugaring procedures, and, of course, sampling each batch to grade it properly.
What also prompted me to write was a funny anecdote: The magazine was on the same bench where we do the bottling, and some syrup dripped out of an unsealed container right onto the cover photo of yummy-looking waffles. I guess they were “asking” to be topped with real Vermont maple syrup!
Thanks for a fine issue, and given that we had to restrict visitors this year due to the virus, we were happy to have the reading material on hand. Let’s hope New England, along with the rest of the world, can come out of viral hibernation before too long.
Sandal Cate Montpelier, Vermont
The Power of Places
Today my husband and I drove the Mohawk Trail just to get away from the world for a little bit; this week we intend to go sit in the parking lot in front of our beloved Nubble Light. Our personal touchstones are always important, never more so than when we feel a little anxious. Getting out and seeing part of our community is important for the soul and helps put a bit of perspective into our hearts instead of so much sadness and fear. As always, I look forward to more wonderful storytelling from Yankee, and along with it, great ideas for places to see once the world rights itself.
Lori Joyal Sudbury, Massachusetts
A Vote in Our Flavor
I am a Southerner who lives in Georgia over the winter and summers on an island in Maine. Down here, we love our barbecue, so with some trepidation we tried the recipe for maple barbecue ribs in your latest issue [“Good as Gold,” March/April].
Absolutely the best ribs we have ever served—and a big thank-you for that and the nice magazine you publish. Yankee and Southern Living are the only magazines we now subscribe to. Keep up the great work!!
Pete Joslin Dahlonega, Georgia
Photo Credit : Indian Hill Press
Beach-wise advice Beware the bathing suit you trust
To stay around your waist or bust…
Elastic breaks and rivets rust
So buy a new one, if you must.
—D.A.W.
Write us! Send your comments to: editor@yankeemagazine.com. Please include where you live. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
