In the past, I’ve seen Edward Hopper’s Painting “Nighthawks” (below) recommended as an appropriate cover illustration for Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”:

… more below the fold …

Hemingway’s story is a conversation between a pair of waiters, one young, confident, and in a hurry; the other old and world-weary. The snippet below picks up mid-conversation with the young waiter:

“And what do you lack?”

“Everything but work.”



“You have everything I have.”

“No. I have never had confidence and I am not young.”

“Come on. Stop talking nonsense and lock up.”

“I am of those who like to stay late at the cafe,” the older waiter said. “With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night.”

“I want to go home and into bed.”

“We are of two different kinds,” the older waiter said. He was now dressed to go home. “It is not only a question of youth and confidence although those things are very beautiful. Each night I am reluctant to close up because there may be some one who needs the cafe.”

Sometimes, people just need a refuge – a place that provides some security against a cold world, a place like Hemingway’s “Clean Well-Lighted Place,” the corner cafe in Hopper’s “Nighthawks,” or even a shelter in which to sleep.

As many of you know, GMD front-pager Julie Waters passed away this week from complications of myasthenia gravis. Julie’s favorite cause locally was the Greater Falls Warming Shelter for the homeless in Bellows Falls, Vermont. The shelter’s mission: “to provide a safe, warm overnight shelter during the winter months for those in need.”

The shelter lost its permit to operate this past fall due, in large part, to funding issues, and Julie has been one of the many people active in the community attempting to raise funds to save people from the cold of a Vermont winter by restoring the shelter. While we barely had winter by VT standards this year, our version of “barely winter” remains dangerously cold for anyone without a place to go. Temperatures in the teens and single-digits are unkind to humans.

Here’s Julie playing at one fundraiser for the shelter:

Her wife Cyndi has suggested donations to the shelter in lieu of flowers.

Coincidentally, as of a few days ago, the Immanuel Epicsopal Church in Bellows Falls issued a fundraising challenge for the shelter. They’re offering $6000 in matching funds for up to $6000 in donations.

Wouldn’t a donation to restore the shelter be a wonderful way to say thank you to Julie for all she offered us during her time here?

If you would like to donate in Julie’s name, you can make a donation from the Southeastern Vermont Community Action (the shelter’s sponsor).

If you pay by PayPal:

On the second page in the process, click the “Add special instructions for the Recipient” link, and enter:

The Greater Falls Warming Shelter in memory of Julie Waters.

This will ensure the funds go toward the shelter.

Or, use the ChipIn “widget”:

Goodbye Julie, we’ll miss you. You made a difference.