BRAD WOODGER

508-627-4216

(ibw sgolf@aol.com)

I’m still writing the column as you can see.

So two quotes come to mind as I begin this week’s column. The first comes from Kevin Spacey in the movie The Usual Suspects: “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” The second comes from my Grammy: “Women are tricky.”

The skunks and crows don’t seem to put much stock in our “Golf Course Closed” signs. Nature is wonderfully oblivious to our petty requests. The ants go about their business underfoot, despite the enormity of our presence. The birds poop on our vehicles, no matter the car’s pedigree.

I drove by a small gathering of crows on our fourth fairway. They are accustomed to my existence so they rarely budge unless my shadow darkens their darkness. Something was up. Someone had said something to someone as they all stood at angles to each other — no crow looking at the other. They resembled a group of old men who had come to an irreconcilable dispute during a game of bocce (I’ve witnessed such a thing on a beach in Naples, so I know of what I speak). I paused just past parallel to the discontented group, and unrolled my window (we don’t have those fancy power windows here on North Neck like those Manaca Hill people have). “C’mon guys,” I called to them, “nothing’s worth losing a friendship.” One crow turned to me before flying off into a nearby tree. One by one the other crows took flight, joining the first crow in a huddle. Apparently united in their indifference to me, they cawed in a camaraderous mocking of the dumb guy in the little red truck that reads “Splash” on the side. Ah, junior high revisited.

Maddie Lecoq’s mom, Patty, is visiting her home on the hill overlooking Edgartown harbor (overlooking may be an understatement to anyone that’s seen the proximity of the Lecoq house to bluff’s edge).

Patty is not alone, however. She has Annie Heywood’s old cat Molly with her. Not sure when the exchange took place, or if Annie got anything in return. But Molly has settled in nicely, finding a hole in the floor boards through which she spent a one-day vacation spelunking through the beautiful and magical cat caves beneath the house. She returned through same hole — all smiles (and I think she brought Patty a T-shirt that read “My cat went to the dirt beneath my house and all I got was this crummy T-shirt”).

I know, I know. We live an awfully fast life over here on North Neck!

Ferry Capt. Charlie Ross finds himself at the Cape and Islands Rehabilitation Hospital in Sandwich these days, thanks to Guillain-Barre disease (although we don’t imagine August people helped his cause either). I spoke to Charlie briefly, and he is doing as well as can be expected. He would welcome cards sent from friends and acquaintances: Charlie Ross, c/o RHCI Room 251, 311 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537.

The Chappy road has segued into autumn mode — mostly populated now by trucks with all manner of fishing pole antennae. I ran the length the other day, and passed nary another walker biker or jogger. No reason to run shirtless anymore — no one to impress with my late forties physique.

I believe Rob Kagan was recently visited by aunts or ants. Or maybe both. Ferry parking conversations usually occur as people wait for me to unlock our truck. Yes, we lock our truck — don’t want Peter Wells trying to jump the harbor with it like he did with bikes in the old days.

Speaking of Pete, he asked that I relay his thanks to all the drivers who learned how to manipulate their headlight switches to the off position whilst driving onto ferry. No more blind captains — a good thing for all involved.

I’ll be hanging out in this column space for a while. I look forward to sharing some more of Brad’s Chappy with y’all.

In other news: Chappy potlucks continue at the CCC Wednesday evenings.

Chappaquiddick residents are invited to a movie marathon on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2, when free screenings of films from the 2010 Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival will be held at the Chappaquiddick Community Center. You can read about the films at mvfilmfest.com.