Betty Birney’s Blog

…a world where adventurous hamsters, musical saws, cheerleading princesses and seekers of wonders come to play! I consider myself a lucky person, to be able to spend the best parts of most of my days in my backyard office, weaving stories, just the way I’ve wanted to since I was seven years old.

I recently returned from Middlebury, IN (almost on the Michigan border) for a fantastic Seven Wonders event. Communities have been adopting my book, THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SASSAFRAS SPRINGS, as an all-community read and searching for the wonders of their own cities and towns. This has been completely spontaneous, not spurred on by the publisher or me, but a wonderful development!

The Seven Wonders of Middlebury were announced while I was there (and even made the front page of the paper). Two lists were made: one from the seventh graders and one from adults. There was some overlap but the adult list didn’t include Yup’s ice cream stand. I think I’d vote with the seventh graders there. I was lucky enough to see several of the wonders. In fact, I stayed in one: the Essenhaus, which is a hotel, a complex of shops and a huge family style restaurant. I saw Yup’s as well, and Krider’s Gardens, with its whimsical windmill and giant toadstools.

But, just as in the book, the true wonders of the community are the people and their stories (I heard some dandy ones, too). The friendly welcome I received from librarian Terry Rheinheimer and the students, teachers, library workers and readers of Middlebury was astounding. The library event was a special treat for me because they had a local, David Vermilyea, on hand to play Amazing Grace on the saw, just like Calvin Smiley played it in the book. I was close to tears, especially since my mother loved that song so much.

There was also a table loom (but no Aunt Emma to weave the truth) and I was presented with a book of wonders from third graders and a copy of the book, my book, where the middle school students wrote in their comments. We even drank Sassafras tea, thanks to a creative teacher, Kim Commenga. I liked its slightly root beer-ish flavor but some wanted sugar added.

Terry drove me through the countryside with beautiful Amish farms and lots of horses and buggies, and to Shipshewana, a charming town with popular flea markets twice a week. Rowena Miller and Teri Schmidt took me to lunch and on a walk to some charming old stores on Main Street. When I mentioned I’d never been to Michigan, Terry drove me over the border! (I will see much more of Michigan when I am in Farmington next spring.)

What really struck me, though, were the lovely big porches on almost every house I saw in town and on the farms. Porches are not a regular feature of homes in L.A. (except the Craftsmen houses) and I could just picture Eben sitting there with Pa, Aunt Pretty and Sal, reading about Wonders and dreaming of the day he’d leave Sassafras Springs and see the world. And I remember the happy times on my grandparents’ front porches where I’m sure some Sassafras-y stories were exchanged. Here’s a pretty porch: the farm in New Baden, IL where my father spent his early childhood. He’s the little boy, with my Aunt Irene, Grandfather, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother.

Thanks to Middlebury for including me in their wonderful celebration and providing the chance for me to visit such a friendly, charming town! Next stop…. Victorville, CA, Wednesday June 6 !