When life seems crazy and when I feel tired, discontent or a little bit ornery, I like to curl up on the couch for a few hours and go to Mitford. I know Mitford isn't a real town, but I want it to be and I want to live there! Visiting this mountain town and it's residents is like a breath of fresh air to me. I get completely caught up in the lives of Father Tim, Cynthia, Dooley and Puny. Then there's Miss Sadie, Uncle Billy and Rose Watson, Emma and Esther. I love them all! This book just makes me smile...
That's why I suggested it for a recent book club meeting. I wanted to read it again and I wanted all my friends to get to know these characters for themselves. I knew we would have a great time discussing the book and there would be so many options for refreshments. There's a lot of good eating that goes on in this town! In fact, there's even a cookbook that has recipes for all the delectable Mitford fare. I thought purchasing this would help me decide what to prepare and since I have a slight weakness for cookbooks, it was amazing how quickly I talked myself into it. It is a great cookbook though and it's almost as much fun to read as the novel.
After this latest reading, I've been trying to decide what it is I love so much about this series. Oh, did I mention there's nine books in the series? (Yes, and I've read them all. ) Here's what I've come up with.
*First of all, Father Tim is adorable. I love his sweet, kind manner, his desire to serve his friends in Mitford (those who belong to his parish and everyone else too), his humility and graciousness. The first page finds him arriving at his office, uttering the prayer that he's offered at it's door every morning for twelve years, "Father, make me a blessing to someone today, through Christ our Lord, Amen." Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all said that same prayer each day? This book is full of people showing love to one another and meeting each other's needs.
*This make believe town is small enough that people can walk to their destinations. In fact, Father Tim gave up his car for Lent and for seven years, walked everywhere he needed to go. I once lived in a small town in Vermont and because we were young marrieds and poor, found myself in a similar situation. We only had one car and Mark drove to work most days. If I wanted to go somewhere, I put Travis in the stroller and we walked. Our quaint little town had a village green and the longest covered bridge in Vermont. It was really wonderful. Gosh, I could go back and live that time over again.
*People correspond with each other through letters. With life moving at a hectic pace, to receive a handwritten letter is truly a gift. Father Tim's Bishop sends him hand written letters and the joy with which they are received is touching. I feel excitement when I pull a card or letter from my mailbox. I know someone has sacrificed time on my behalf, when it's so much easier to send an email or text. Those forms of communication have their place, but a thoughtful hand written letter can be enjoyed over and over.
* Friends in Mitford entertain each other around the dinner table. Having a dinner party is another simple pleasure that seems to have gone by the wayside in our busy lives. Taking the time to plan and prepare a meal and sit down with friends to eat is one of life's greatest pleasures. A pot of homemade soup and a loaf of bread can be a feast with the right company. I want to do more of this.
*Time in nature is seen as necessary and restorative to the soul. When Father Tim needs a much needed break, he takes a walk in the woods or visits his friend's farm where he can be outside and enjoy nature. We miss so much when we don't step out of our doors and breathe in fresh air and turn our faces to the sun.
* Faith in God is central in the lives of the folks of Mitford. Even though some might find this story too sweet and idyllic, there are a number of difficult and real life issues that some of the people are struggling to overcome. A child and his siblings who have to be placed in separate homes because their alcoholic mother can no longer care for them, a woman dying of cancer, a lonely widow and a thief who is running from the law are just a few of the situations in which Father Tim finds himself involved. He seeks inspiration on behalf of each of them and helps them turn their problems to the Lord. I love the constant reminder that God is in control.
*People make time for each other. Whether it's lunch at the local diner or a visit on the front porch, people take the time to talk with one another. Today's "friends" are becoming names and pictures on a Facebook page, while real friends are genuinely interested in each other's lives and having face to face conversations. Again, I think busyness is the enemy to relationships. It takes intentional effort to step outside of our agendas and spend real time with someone else.
*Reading is valued. Father Tim loves C.S. Lewis, Oswald Chambers and poetry by Wordsworth. He likes to hang out in the local bookstore and discuss great books. He keeps a commonplace book where he records his favorite quotes and thoughts from others. I don't think there's one mention of anyone watching tv in this series, although I'm sure they do. These folks are into living life, not watching others live life on the screen.
*Hard work is considered a virtue. People in Mitford don't expect a handout, they work for what they get. From Father Tim's hard working housekeeper to the young Dooley who works after school to earn money for a much desired bicycle, everyone is hard at work on something.
*The folks in Mitford take care of their own. One of my favorite parts of the book is when every church is represented at Homeless Hobbs shack for Thanksgiving, bearing gifts of food for the poorest in Mitford. The sick are visited in the hospital and the elderly are ensured comfortable homes. The folks look out for one another, just as they should.
I don't know about you, but I would love to live in a place like this. I guess I enjoy life a little on the old fashioned side. I know, I know, this is just make believe, but couldn't we try harder to make our own towns a little more like Mitford? This is what we talked about at our book club meeting and I for one plan to work on each one of these areas. After discussing the book, we sat around my dining room table and indulged in Esther Bolick's famous Orange Marmalade Cake. As I spent the afternoon making the cake, I thought it couldn't really be good enough to be worth all the trouble- three "from scratch" layers, soaked in orange syrup, layered with orange marmalade, with a whipped cream frosting. But the first bite proved me wrong. It was definitely a delicious cake worthy of Mitford fame.
