Professor Sharon

This past Wednesday I went over to Pittsfield to Berkshire Community College to attend a seminar presented by  Dr. Stephen Brookfield on critical thinking.

After spending the morning at a local Head Start program, I carved out an extra few minutes (not as easy as it sounds as it’s a 1 1/2 hour drive each way from my place to the Pitsfield area) to stop by one of my favorite places:  Hancock Shaker Village.   It was a sunny low 70s early autumn day. Magnificent!

I know all of the rooms and buildings really well; so when I have only a few – that day I only had 40 minutes – I spend my time walking slowly about taking in the weather and the beauty of the village.

There was a lot of activity going on.  Apparently there’s a weekend crafts festival happening in the next few days and there were a lot of tents set up which actually didn’t take away from the beauty actually at all.  There were a couple of men up on top of the round barn scrapping the old paint. The village was quite busy with tourists – I noticed a bus in the parking lot and heard a lot of folks speaking German I think.  There was also a wood workshop happening.

I very much enjoy it when it’s busy – makes it easier to imagine when the village was alive with Shakers.   Even with the sound of electric sanders, the tourists reading maps and talking and the sound of handsaws, there’s something about the village that is just calming.

My adjustment back to teaching and administrivia has been challenging.  To walk about breathing in delicious air, especially in amongst the gardens and the small orchard near the main road, imagining those long ago living here just calms my heart and soul. Good preparation for using my brain at a seminar on critical thinking for 3 hours after my walk a lot easier to do!