Rumble Strip

Write to me if you want to contact Hilary and Steve about the roosters. You can email me at [email protected]

A story about a haunted house that really takes place in a whole lot of barns and outbuildings and also in a cornfield. And there were people with chainsaws. It was fricking terrifying. I made the story for Vermont Public years ago and since its Halloween I'm airing it again here but with all the profanity back IN, because times like these are what profanity was made for. 

A couple weeks ago I drove around with Forrest Foster while he was delivering round bales, and he gave me an update on his barn. This is the update.  

This is a show about a game my son used to love that I never understood. It's called Magic: The Gathering, and it’s a card game that's sort of a cross between Dungeons and Dragons and chess. It involves spells and enchantments and creatures and math and strategy. The game was born in 1993, and millions of people play it around the world, and even though I don't understand the game, I appreciate that it happens between real people, in person. I used to take my son Henry to Friday night games in Montpelier, Vermont. One night I took my recorder and talked with some of the players.  Happy birthday Henry. 

Rob Mermin and Bill Morancy lived in neighboring apartments in Montpelier, Vermont. They were best friends.  And when Bill was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he asked his best friend to help him die. In 2013, Vermont passed the The Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act, or Act 39…our version of Death with Dignity. The legislation allows eligible Vermonters with terminal diseases the option to be prescribed medication that will hasten the end of their life. In 2015, Bill elected to use Act 39 to end his life, and he asked Rob to help him. This is a story primarily about their friendship--and the months, days and moments leading up to Bill's death. To learn more about Rob Mermin and his illustrious career as a mime and the founder of Circus Smirkus, visit HERE. The music for this show was made by Vermont musicians Brian Clark and Mike Donofrio. And you heard from the original film soundtracks of South Pacific and Carousel, both by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The piano licks in this show were made by Charlie Lander and Vermont pianist Marie Helene Belanger