In the summer of 1968, I was finishing a week teaching archery to children at the World Archery Center in Roxbury, Vermont when I decided to drive to Stowe, Vermont to visit the Trapp Family Lodge before I returned to college at the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore, Maryland.
I love the movie, The Sound of Music and since Stowe was an hour away; I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. I arrived in the evening, checked in my room and rested up for the next day activities.
The next morning, I was having breakfast in the dining room when Maria von Trapp entered, wearing her Austrian dress.
She walked around greeting everyone. My mind slipped into a version of the ‘Hills Are Alive’ and I entertained that thought for a while.
Maria came to my table and in a cheery voice said, “Good Morning. I am Maria.” It took me a short time to find my voice and I can see myself voicing hello in a soft tone.
“Do you like to horseback ride?” Maria said. I recall confirming a yes and then she told me her son Johannes was at the stable gathering a small group for a morning ride. “He will be taking a group up the hill and through the woods in 15 minutes,” Maria said with a bright smile.
I thanked her and quickly left in search of the stables. But before I left the lodge grounds, Maria came outside and I asked her if I could take her picture. She agreed and took a regal pose and then I proceeded to the stables.
I saw a group of four people standing by the fence and joined them. Johannes greeted everyone and before long we were off on our journey.
It was a magical time, riding through the beautiful Stowe, Vermont countryside. When we reached a meadow, in my mind’s eye, I saw Julie Andrews, spinning around and singing, ˜The hills are alive with the sound of music.”
For about Maria at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_von_Trapp
By Pat Rayman