Until recently, the history of seventeenth-century America has never quite intrigued me. I privileged the stories of our patriots over those of our pilgrims, and dismissed Puritanism, along with other realities of seventeenth-century life in the colonies, as wholly uninteresting. But to live in Massachusetts is to be regularly reminded of our country's roots, and to explore its old environs is to be left wanting to know more. In the remnants of our villages, the small can suddenly become significant and an interest is sparked. I'm slowly cultivating my own interest, and chose Patriot's Day to visit Plimoth Plantation. Though the admission fee is a tad pricey, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, most especially to the English Village. There was a beauty to the rusticity that left me feeling enchanted, no doubt helped on by the bright azure sky and sea. There was also an honesty about the reenactors that was refreshing, even if there were few of them present to share their stories.
Those who were present were happy to talk about how their current spring was progressing-the spring of 1627-and what brought them to the New World, either on the Mayflower in 1620 or on a later voyage. I would have enjoyed even more exchanges, as the ones I had were both amusing and enlightening. But what I appreciated most of all was exploring the simple interiors of their homes, which had a quiet elegance all of their own.
