Ken Libertoff: A small-world connection, courtesy of Vermont maple syrup

This commentary is by Ken Libertoff, who retired after 30 years directing the Vermont Affiliation for Psychological Well being.

“Did I overhear you say, actual maple syrup?”

We regarded up from our empty plates. Simply quarter-hour or so in the past, our breakfast feast was stacked excessive. In response to the query, we nodded and engaged our weary, sleepy-eyed, middle-aged waitress in what grew to become a surprisingly significant and heartfelt dialog.

In November 2021, we arrived in New Mexico initially of an adventurous 12 days within the nice Southwest. Following an extended day of air journey, flying from Burlington to Albuquerque, I used to be prepared for an early, hearty breakfast. I’m a superb eater, and there may be nothing fallacious with fundamental diner fare again residence, however now I anticipated a particular Southwestern meal. I’m a loyal fan of spicy Mexican meals, like huevos rancheros, ready with pink and inexperienced chili, which warms my coronary heart and palate.

Touring is a favourite exercise and our current journey mixed household visits to New Mexico and Arizona whereas additionally touring such various locations as Santa Fe, Sedona, the hilltop outdated mining city of Jerome, and the desert-like surroundings of Lake Havasu close to the California border. It has at all times struck me that when touring, one learns so much about oneself, to not point out touring companions. 

Drafting plans upfront is useful for us; the anticipation of an journey fuels the spirit and soul. However normally, there are some variations in priorities, ranges of consolation, and, in fact, the prices related to leaving residence. Discovering a compromise will not be at all times simple.

I’m inclined to hunt out easy, frugal lodging whereas my spouse, Sarah, appears to benefit from the thrill of an overpriced room in a extra upscale lodge that’s spotless and in good order. In addition to not desirous to waste cash, I desire rubbing shoulders with the grittier facets of life on the street the place one meets actual individuals versus plastic, uninteresting robots who typically are bland and finish a dialog with needs for a superb day with out trying up from their fancy lodge entrance desk pc display. 

To steadiness our variations, on this journey, we took turns deciding on sleeping quarters on this journey. I had the primary alternative, which is how we ended up on the San Mateo Inn in Albuquerque. Even I needed to snicker with muted amusement on the brilliance of naming this facility an inn since, even to the uneducated eye, the power was an outdated, shabby and rundown motel that had seen higher days. However who’s to quibble when the each day fee is $69.

Our room introduced us with some points and challenges. The central gentle fixture close to the beds didn’t work, and the entrance desk people admitted that it wanted consideration. 

After a day and a half of a relatively gloomy, darkish ambiance, this malfunction was corrected, though a number of makes an attempt failed, making us marvel why they gave us this room to start with. Sarah once more uncovered her lofty requirements when reporting that the rug in our room was unsatisfactory, claiming it was sticky. 

Pondering positively, I believed maybe the inn utilized some distinctive formulation to maintain older patrons from tripping and falling. It may need been the inn’s dedication to frugality and maintaining issues fundamental that discovered our abode missing stoppers in each the lavatory sink and bathtub. And after a short search, we agreed that the room didn’t include each amenity . . . like a field of tissues. My suggestion to substitute rest room paper for tissues didn’t go over nicely. Not daring to remark, I did detect a selected odd stale odor that permeated our little love nest.

After we engaged with employees on the entrance desk, they have been, nevertheless, extraordinarily sympathetic, heat with concern, and usually caring, even when they struggled to resolve most issues. Sarah, regardless of her reservations in regards to the place, gave them excessive marks for “making an attempt” and for being “engaged” as we realized a lot in regards to the life historical past of a number of entrance desk employees who shared particulars about rising up within the Land of Enchantment, figuring out native hotspots and offering suggestions for affordable meals. They identified one tangible asset of staying on the inn: particularly its proximity to a close-by Denny’s restaurant that’s steps away.

For the primary three mornings, we walked out of the entrance door of the San Mateo and virtually landed on the entrance door of Denny’s restaurant. Whereas the gorgeous Sandia Mountains loom tall over town, our view from the inn was restricted to the again of the restaurant, which, whereas not inspiring, tell us when the huge rubbish bins within the again wanted consideration. I used to be uplifted, nevertheless, to study from the entrance desk employees that our San Mateo key afforded us a ten% low cost on meals at Denny’s, inflicting me to take consolation that we have been saving much more cash. 

We each wished a stack of pancakes, however at this native Denny’s, to get the pancakes, you needed to order the Grand Slam, an “All American” meal. Our waitress rattled off the deal, which, in fact, began with two nice and good-looking pancakes, accompanied by two eggs, two items of bacon, two items of sausage, a serving to of potatoes, and, final however not least, two buttered items of toast. 

As a bona fide “good eater,” I had little to complain about — besides that I refuse to eat pancakes with pretend syrup, which normally is available in a big plastic container with no figuring out labels. Whereas my culinary requirements are low, I refuse to eat this breakfast deal with with out good, outdated Vermont maple syrup. 

Being a loyal and patriotic Vermonter, I at all times carry a small container of maple syrup bought at Morse Farm up on County Highway outdoors Montpelier after I anticipate a pancake restaurant deal with away from residence. After making derogatory remarks in regards to the pretend stuff, I produced my cherished Morse Farm container. What pleasure and what pleasure to slyly open my liquid gold and smother our pancakes with the actual factor. 

Even Sarah, who years in the past discovered my conduct to be “uncommon,” needed to agree that my method had some advantage as I took pains to remind her that it was a sound financial technique with hints of frugality, since many eating places, particularly high-end eating places, present actual maple syrup however solely when including an additional exorbitant payment to the invoice. 

With a stack of lovely pancakes all buttered up, I fumbled in my jacket pocket and pulled out my enticing glass container from Morse Farm, and poured the syrup with anticipatory glee. And for that second, the shortcomings on the inn melted as Sarah too labored her method by means of the stacked pancakes, enhanced and graced by ambered coloured Vermont syrup.

“Did I overhear you say actual maple syrup?” our waitress requested as she slipped our invoice on the desk. This stranger, this hardworking, respectable girl who regarded like she had been serving meals since earlier than dawn that morning, got here nearer to examine the enticing syrup bottle formed like a maple leaf.

To our shock, tears welled in her eyes, and she or he momentarily couldn’t discuss, choked with emotion. This stranger with moist cheeks, dabbing her eyes dry, collected herself and associated in a halting voice how her expensive, deceased mom at all times glazed the household Thanksgiving turkey with nice Vermont maple syrup. That recipe was now a part of her vacation custom. 

She fondly instructed us how her mother splurged over this particular Thanksgiving deal with, hinting at modest household means. Seeing our maple syrup bottle clearly triggered a series response of feelings that keyed on her affection for her mom and nostalgia for household Thanksgiving gatherings throughout her youthful years. 

As she composed herself, all three of us have been moved. We thanked her for sharing this slice of her household historical past. Impressed by her story, we advised that after we ready our Thanksgiving turkey later in November, we additionally coat it with a dollop of maple syrup in honor of her mother.

We paid our invoice and headed out. Due to the San Mateo Inn and the close by Denny’s, our likelihood encounter in New Mexico reaffirmed the goodness and shared humanity that may movement from connections with complete strangers, giving hope for household reminiscences and the long run.