HOLLY NADLER

508-274-2329

(hollynadler@gmail.com)

Ever longed for free therapy, especially in the middle of the night? You can always leg it into town and stop before the closed-but-not-shuttered windows of Sanctuary on Circuit avenue, owned by Frank and Rita Imbimbo. As most of you already know, the window is aglow at night with thousand-points-of-light glass flowers, icons of all the grand religions and, most predominantly, signs to lighten our psychological and spiritual load.

My close friend and recent ex-husband, Jack Shea (yeah, I know, it didn’t work out to our precise human requirements for perfection and Nirvana, but what can you do?), last spring stood before Sanctuary on a chilly May night and received a call from a buddy in need of bucking up.

Jack found his gaze swiveling naturally to Sanctuary’s words of wisdom scrolled on small white wood signs. If you can imagine his friend’s lament blending unheard by passersby through Jack’s words of counsel, our man on the street sounded something like this, “Ya know, life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself . . . Um hmm, but learn from the mistakes of others; you can’t live long enough to make them all yourself . . . Yeah but don’t forget, in everything give thanks, great or small . . . I hear you and, realistically, in the end, it’s not the years a life but the life in the years . . . Look, I’ve always loved what Babe Ruth had to say about that particular conundrum: ‘Never let the fear of striking out get in the way,’ heh heh . . .”

At that point, Jack stopped himself just in time before reading out loud a sign that Frank and Rita had interposed near the door: “Please allow us to assist you with wall hangings.” He followed up the near-blunder with the rousing, “What you need to do is awaken to the light in your true nature.” He stopped himself again from reciting a sign meant for purchase, but nonetheless inappropriate for helping a friend: “Please take your shoes off.” He ended with a micromanaging message from Proverbs 3:5-6: “All you’ve got to do, bro, is trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Then he saw a shortened version which summed it up with the pithy: “Trust life!”

The friend, due to his self-involvement with his own side of the dialogue, never put it together that all the sagacity, if run together, would have sounded choppy, and it was riddled with non sequiturs. Instead he raved, “You give awesome advice, dude! I feel a whole lot better! I’m gonna remember every last thing you told me, especially that bit about waking up to my true nature. Okay, gotta go babe, gotta date at Sharky’s.”

At Sanctuary, the signs are constantly changing, even now in the off-season, so go get your shot of vitamin B-12 for the psyche in the window. Of course, when I’m walking Huxley at nine o’clock at night, he won’t give me a chance to imbibe the wisdom of the ages. No matter how late the hour, or how locked up the shop, he drags me to plunk his behind before the Craftworks door. It’s here, when the place is open, that he’s guaranteed four to six biscuits from the Dogs R Us All the Time Paula.

Talk about giving thanks great and small!

On a sadder note, a Celebration of Life will be held for the late Arthur Cormier, this Sunday, March 20, at the P.A. Club, from noon to 3 p.m. All friends, family, coworkers and students are invited to attend the potluck and to tell stories. Arthur spent 33 years at the high school teaching special needs, life skills and heading up the resource room. His colleague Margaret Stafursky says Arthur was beloved by all and was commonly known as “The guy laughing in the hallway.” Anyone in need of more information about the celebration is urged to call Margaret at 508-693-1656.

Claudia Bowser commemorated St. Patrick’s Day this week with another of her madcap themed bridge parties at her house on Penacook.

From the Oak Bluffs School: Many have noticed the artwork hanging on the back wall in the office. This month’s featured artists are: Tristian Gromoshak from Ms. Perry’s first grade class, Ava Vought from Ms. Perry’s first grade class, and Kaitlyn Hart, of Ms. Graber’s kindergarden.

Ms. O’Connor has done a great job selecting from our numerous, talented artists. This months theme is “Birdie on my Shoulder.” Stop by and check them out.

Many may have noticed that the school’s back door is now locked at all times. Previously, the back door was open from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. then locked when school is in session. In order to keep our students and building safe, the back door will be locked at all times. All students, parents and guests should enter the school through the main front entrance. We are also asking that all parents and guests check in the front office before walking around in the school building. Thanks for helping us keep our building safer and secure.