Grape. Lime. Orange. Root beer. Cherry. Raspberry. We all sat around a rustic kitchen table in John Dewey’s birthplace (1859) on Summit Street in Burlington. Five boys, 10-13; two instructors; Blanche and I, trying to figure out what those words have in common according to the third instructor leading the activity. Give up? Popsicle flavors! Each July the Stern Center provides Camp Compass, a unique, off-site, activity-based, social learning experience for children with difficulties navigating their way in social situations. Through fun, cooperative learning experiences, social coaches give individuals the social thinking tools to deal with the challenges of social interactions in multiple contexts. A couple of weeks ago, Blanche (Stern Center president) and I visited for an afternoon and participated in activities with the kids. I had a blast. It reminded me of the best times when I was a principal: great teaching, learner focus, warm relationships, and exciting results. Hats off to Nancy, Mary, and Janella for their roles in making Camp Compass such a success! And John Dewey? He’s thrilled that his home is being used a few weeks each summer to create a learning experience founded on and dedicated to social interaction and its relationship to education and personal growth.

I participated in the two opening sessions of the Stern Center’s new Learning at Lunch series at Three Tomatoes restaurants in Williston and Lebanon. The topic for this initial pair was Executive Function, which it turns out is simply new jargon for old, essential concepts of organizing, planning, priority setting, time management, self-monitoring, adaptable thinking…things we all need, but many people do not acquire without direct instruction and practice. These are the skill set of our brain’s CEO, and unfortunately we begin needing them as children in school, way before our brain is developed sufficiently to actually apply them. Clearly this is an area we should be incorporating into school curriculums. While the kids aren’t likely ready, we can at least help them by our own better framing of assignments, projects, expectations. Sometimes, they really are just acting their ages! Recent brain research has revealed that the frontal cortex, the vehicle for this CEO, is not fully developed until we reach our twenties. And of course, since I was one of the few men in attendance, there was much discussion about men’s brains developing slower than women’s….you get where that was going! But, seriously, the bottom line here is that most of us misplace mail, forget an appointment, misjudge how long a project will take or simply lose track of time….occasionally. However, when those challenges truly interfere with our daily life, our work, or our relationships, that’s an indication we might need outside assistance in working on the cognitive muscles necessary to develop better executive function.

Epiphany might be the word, but it somehow lacks the full bodied joy I felt last weekend. Four straight days of family, friends, fun, food, festivities all around Lindsay and Joe’s wedding. For nearly forty years I’ve cultivated an approach to life that had left me largely an observer, often an enthusiastic one, but never an immersed participant. I’d installed lots of windows allowing me to see others and for others to see guardedly released glimpses of me, but I kept the windows shut. Until this past weekend. Lindsay and Joe’s unbridled joy, exuberance, affection, and love did more than open those windows, it smashed the glass. Father-of-the-bride was so much more than underestimating the cost of the gown, or helping choose the band, or lettering the place cards, or trying not to cry walking down the aisle, or crying while dancing with the bride. This father-of-the-bride finally jumped in and splashed around in the wonder of people sharing great joy. Going forward, I will continue to be a keen observer, but now I won’t just watch others having fun, I’ll join it!

Fourth of July in Vermont…unpredictable. Last year it was so cold and inclement that the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s annual concert at Shelburne Farms was cut short in order to protect the valuable instruments (audience members simply layered with wool and plastic!). Last night, however, was the post card version…brilliant sunshine, temps in the mid-80s, a spectacular sunset which then brought a cooling breeze. Our private party was even better because not only were Jill and I with our girls (though Marissa was working as Inn co-director) but Joe, Lindsay’s fiancé (this Saturday is the wedding!) joined us, as did Jill’s parents and mine. Mary and Ann arrived and found space right next to us as well. Gentle breeze, warm sun, glorious sunset, intimate conversations, inspiring music, striking fireworks. A family evening for the ages. Sousa punctuated the night with Stars and Stripes Forever! He was right, and last night reminded us that family is also forever.