KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

We have been enjoying lovely weather — not too hot so you are sweating, and not too cold, so you are comfortable in almost anything you wear. This is the type of weather we can all be happy with.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Ashton Bartok and Gabriella Carlos Silva, who celebrated their day on June 14; Jackson Crocker, Julia Crocker and Owen Hess on June 15; and to Robert Burns 2nd and Jackson Pizzano, who celebrated their day June 17.

Happy birthday to Jane Carroll and Kevin Searle, who celebrated their day on June 16. Special birthday wishes go out to Janna O’Shaughnessy, who celebrated a milestone birthday on June 14.

Congratulations to Carl and Joyce Sherr, who just celebrated their golden anniversary. Word has it that their family is here to make the event extra special.

Congratulations to all the graduates of the Class of 2010. I look at the pictures and am amazed how these children all grew up while we never aged.

Welcome home to Pat Tyra and her husband, George, who have returned from their winter stay in Florida. We look forward to seeing them around town.

Last week in Cindy Meisner’s Chronicle column, the article reflected back to 1960; it mentioned David Noble and his incredible trip to the mainland, a trip he had not made for 11 years.

Dave Noble was my uncle and the reason why we moved to the Island. Uncle Dave was my dad’s brother, and he had come to the Island many years before. He had rheumatoid arthritis and eventually became paralyzed. The only things he could move were his hands and his right arm enough to feed himself. Dad’s and Uncle Dave’s sister, Olive, came to the Island and she was Uncle Dave’s main caregiver for many years. After not being able to keep in contact with many of his friends, he was set up with a two meter radio that he talked on everyday at four o’clock to two good friends. He was then set up with a TR 3 which made him able to talk to many men and women on the Cape and all over the country. He was even able to talk to some servicemen and during the Viet Nam War he relayed messages to families from their unit. He was an amazing man and loved this Island and the sea.

Aunt Ollie died in March of 1963, and my parents came down for the funeral. After, they decided they needed to get Uncle Dave settled and get him where he would be properly cared for. So we came for a week. But after learning that Dave would not be able to have his radios and that he might have to go to hospitals and nursing homes, my parents decided to stay and care for him themselves. So here we are 47 years later. I have said many times that this has been the longest week I have ever spent.

I often wondered what our lives would have been like if we had stayed in Fall River, but I can’t imagine living any other place than the fair isle of Martha’s Vineyard.

Congratulations to the eighth grade class of Edgartown School, who graduate today, June 18. May your high school days be all that you want them to be — and enjoy them, as they go by fast.

Have a great week, and keep the home candles burning.