Among other things, friends help celebrate the good things in life. Friends come to your wedding, your house for dinner, for a long walk, or a good movie. And maybe you've noticed that Vermont is a great destination, and your friends come to see you, but also to see Vermont while they're here.

Seeing Vermont is a good thing. Sometimes the special places around you blend in with the daily pressures, and you just never take the time to really experience them. If you live in New York City, for example, you may never visit the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, or the Guggenheim. So when friends visit us from out-of-state, we take the opportunity to slow down and celebrate Vermont, this wonderful place where we live.

Friends usually come with an agenda. It begins with the beautiful Central Vermont fall colors, and the adorable villages all around us. Each has its own personality, and history. Montpelier is always of interest, with the capitol's golden dome. Visiting the Farmers' Markets in the local area is a treat. Fresh produce and artisans' products are available, along with friendly conversation and some form or other of a cultural exchange. "You're from Kansas? Isn't that where Dorothy and Toto live?"

In both spring and fall, a drive around the state is a basic requirement. Lime green fuzzy trees with the maple buds' splashes of red are dazzling. Yesterday's double rainbows arching above the blazing hills against the dark clouds are enough to make a believer out of anyone. One couple from Texas had heard about Stowe. Stowe is always fun, with the bike path, good restaurants and browsing the interesting village shops.

On another visit, our friends from Arkansas wanted to see Shelburne Museum. What a treat! The lilacs were in bloom, and we visited several exhibits that favorites, such as the circus and the apothecary, as well as the motorcycles and the historic buildings.

The highlight of one visit was a trip up Warren Mountain, over to Lincoln Gap, followed by a hike up to the summit of Mt. Abe with friends from Massachusetts. It was a completely clear day in early fall, and the 360 degree view took our breath away. The trail-tender helped us with a geography lesson. At the Warren Country Store, we took home dinner sandwiches and lots of maple syrup.

It's not just out-of-town people who enrich the summer. Friends in Northfield and around the state have shared healing salve, cotton gloves, produce, and iced coffee at the Farmers' Market. We shared planked salmon and lots of garden plants at a nearby home. Together we built a rain garden in Plainfield, reclaimed a neglected perennial garden in Northfield, helped with a school garden in Roxbury, weeded library gardens in two towns, and made a woodland walking path. A friend helped find a new and loving home for a special dog, and we learned more about the good people in the Northfield post office with the help of another friend.

We went to the Fool's Festival on a sunny summer day and enjoyed the Farmers' Market in the 'big city'; and on Labor Day, the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra made for some good foot-stomping on the Northfield Common, with friends, of course.

Friends help you stay grounded in what's really important to us, Vermont, our nation and the world. From a friend, we learned of global climate concerns and 350.org. We attended a presentation at Rotary, and worked on a link between the Northfield schools, Norwich and the Northfield community for activities on October 24th.

Without our friends, we probably wouldn't have gone to the historic and charming Chandler Music Hall in Randolph to hear our Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Now in its 75th year, this orchestra continues to demonstrate superb quality. The program was excellent, and featured the world premier of "Odzihozo and the Lake" by Derrik Jordan, his interpretation of the ancient Abenaki creation story of Lake Champlain. We would have missed the adjoining gallery full of local artists' exciting works, and the accompanying gracious reception.

We have shared lots of politics and worked on fixing the world, enjoyed loads of laughs, and shed a few tears. Without our friends, we'd probably just sit and gaze, love-struck at this beautiful place. So thank you, dear friends, for a great summer - time with you helped deepen our respect and love for you, Vermont, and all who call it home.