Vermont, Part 3, in which I receive an offer of marriage...of sorts...

After spending all day Wednesday on a train, I was anxious to see some of the lovely Vermont countryside. Joe's Pond is in the region known as Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.

What's that you say? Who cares about geography...you want to hear about the marriage proposal? Patience, patience. All in good time.

Back to the scenery - the leaves were at their peak, and it was absolutely beautiful. It was cloudy and rainy, and if the sun was out the mountains would have looked like they were on fire with the reds and golds and oranges, but even the muted colors were breathtaking.

Mom and dad had a visit to Gardener's Supply and the Vermont Teddy Bear Company planned for Thursday, so off we went to shop and explore. You can't start off with an empty stomach, though, so we went to a local breakfast place that specialized in pancakes. Big pancakes. Really, really big pancakes. It's hard to tell from this picture, but this pancake is served on a platter, and it is so big that it overflows the platter onto the table.
You can tell from the presence of bacon that it's not my breakfast! Dad managed to eat the whole thing. Mom also ordered a pancake, but only ate about half of it, and played with the rest of it, carving out a piece of pancake in the shape of New Jersey. (Doesn't that count as playing with your food? We used to get yelled at for playing with our food. I'm just sayin'....) I had the french toast, and didn't come close to finishing it. Vermonters must eat a hearty breakfast!

Enough about the food? You want to hear about the marriage proposal? Ok, ok...

Mom had some cards to mail, so we stopped at Hastings Store - the local general store/post office/deli all rolled into one.

I offered to run in and drop off the mail since I wanted to pick up some souvenirs for my coworkers. As I took my purchases to the counter, the conversation went something like this:

Store-guy: Souvenirs? You picked a lovely time of year to visit.

Me: Yes, my parents are staying at _______ on Joe's Pond this week, and I came up on the train last night.

Store-guy: Your folks have been in here and said you were coming.

Me: They said you can get just about anything in this store, and they were right. I'll bet if I needed a tooth pulled you could take care of that, too.

Store-guy: I wouldn't do it myself, but I know of a few dentists in the area... I'd be happy to marry you though. I'm a Justice of the Peace and have married a few couples right here at the counter.

Me: Really?

Store-guy: Yep. One time I married a couple and nine months later they had a set of twins!

Me: Thanks anyway, but that would be a deal-breaker. Besides, you would have to supply the groom, too. Do you have a list of grooms to choose from?

Store-guy to the Postmistress: Hey, D, do you know of any grooms in the area for this girl?

Me: (turning 50 shades of red) No, no, no, I was just kidding!

Postmistress: How about Marcelle?

Store-guy: Yes! Marcelle!

Me: Hahaha, I'm too old for this stuff, but thanks anyway.

Store-guy: Nonsense - how old are you?

Me: 47, and besides, I'm a package deal. I come with three dogs.

Store-guy: Not a problem, I'm sure.

Store-guy to Postmistress: How old is Marcelle?

Postmistress: I'm not sure. I was kind of saving him in case something happens to my husband, but this could work out!

To be continued...