Walking down Main Street in Brattleboro is like running a wonderful gauntlet. You don't make it too far before you invariably run into someone you know, and a wonderful conversation ensues.
It happened to me in spades on Monday when I bumped into, simultaneously, Dede Cummings, Myles Danaher and Zeke Hecker.
Dede always something up her sleeve, and we promised to meet for coffee to discuss her latest ventures, which include emceeing a poetry reading on Thursday night at the Catherine Dianich Gallery. The reading is just one of many in our area which have taken place during National Poetry Month, which most people know as April. Hey, it could be verse.
Myles has a lovely show of artwork at the Dianich Gallery. I'd met him once, but we'd never chatted until Monday. We found ourselves walking in same direction on Main Street, so we chatted, and he extolled the virtues of life in Brattleboro, a favorite topic of Brattleboreans, who I think feel unceasing delight in having found such a funky, wonderful place to live and work.
Myles said he grew up in Burlington, and Brattleboro reminds him of the Burlington of his youth. Let's hope it stays that way.
Moving on to Zeke, it's been a good year for him. In January, the Windham Orchestra premiered his second symphony, and next weekend, the Vermont Theatre Company premieres his musical play, "The Lift."
Zeke said rehearsals are going well for it - his baby is in good hands. He proudly displayed the poster for the it, which he had just had framed. It's a beaut.
That was the extent of my encounters on Main Street, but it's not bad, considering how brief my jaunt on Main Street was. Five minutes running the most interesting gauntlet I know.