The New Violin

Two years ago we received a phone call from my son - the Vermont organic farmer - telling us that a propane tank had exploded and the resulting fire had destroyed his greenhouses, barns, sheds and his house. "We are all safe, but we lost everything."

The next day I flew to Vermont with my daughter to see what we could do to help.  The destruction was devastating - the community amazing!  Support came from every area - clothes, food, clean-up, shoulders to cry on, even offers of replacement plants for the farm business...

I was able to provide child care - picking the kids up from school, transporting to birthday parties and then to school one afternoon for Kieran's violin lesson.  He was playing outside with a friend that day when his music teacher brought the new violin.  It was a lovely spring day, so she decided to have the lesson outside.  She helped him tune the new violin and then he played it for me (and her).

So, after rebuilding the barn and greenhouses, this summer they are planning to start building a new house.  This will be part of a house warming gift from us.