NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(iklean@yahoo.com)

Field of Dreams! I recently experienced the dream of every parent and so many offspring — college graduation. I am bursting with pride because my son Christopher Leigh Clark graduated from Upper Iowa University on Saturday, May 11, and I was there to see it. Chris has earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He did it his way. Chris enlisted in the Marines just out of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. He enrolled in classes while he worked and trained at Henderson Hall in Washington, D.C. He even took classes online when he was in Iraq. He returned to his wife Lilly and two sons, Corbyn and Dominic, and continued courses at Rock Valley College and Upper Iowa University while he worked and raised his family. I flew out to O’Hare last week and took the very comfortable Van Galder bus service to Rockford, Ill. I hadn’t seen my son, Lilly, or the boys in almost a year, and it was over two years ago that I last saw my grandpets — dogs Hootie and JackJack, and cats Kitty Picard, FuzzHead, Jasper and Snowbell. All gave me a great reception.

Before we departed for Iowa on Friday to be at graduation on time Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending a party for Mother’s Day in Dominic’s kindergarten classroom. Lilly showed me the school, and the children had prepared cookies, songs and routines for our amusement. I was so impressed with their school and head teacher Ms. Junor, assistant Miss Patty and principal Ms. Kloss. From there we headed to Iowa to a hotel just 45 minutes away from the site of one of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams. I could not help but think how graduating college was a dream realized, but also hard work, study, and an introduction to new friends and experiences. Corbyn and Dominic were very well behaved throughout the long and delightful ceremony. We returned to Rockford that afternoon but partying didn’t stop then. Rich and Joy Anderson, Lilly’s sister and brother in law, along with their son, Ian, hosted a Garza family barbecue for Mother’s Day on Sunday. My son’s fabulous in laws, Ray and Pat Garza, attended along with Tim and Cheryl Funk, another brother in law and sister to Lilly. The food and family atmosphere was amazing. I only missed sister Jaime, her husband Chris, and kids Austin and Autumn who were busy in Wisconsin. This could very well be the best Mother’s Day of my life. Best wishes and continue on your path, Chris. My daughter in law, Lilly is studying math and physics, handling problems I cannot even comprehend, and I certainly hope to be attending her graduation, too. Well, that’s my report from the Midwest — call it my Rockford Files.

Confidential to Lyn K. who monitors my reading: I had the pleasure of being given two books for Mother’s Day while in Rockford. Chris and Lilly gave me Tenth of December by George Saunders. Terrific, I finished it. Rich and Joy gave me I Never Had It Made, Jackie Robinson’s autobiography. Also terrific and finished. I really lucked out at the airport. I was so relieved to see Robert Caro’s fourth book in his series on Lyndon Johnson, Passage to Power, was released in paperback this month. I have been waiting years for this! I was always afraid either I would die before he finished it or he would. This large tome will take me at least a week.

Any of you tracking the list of writers invited to speak at the Renaissance House program this summer should know Abigail McGrath has asked our own Holly Nadler to present a talk. Sign up soon!

A man for all seasons, great family man and very good friend Frank Elliott of Vineyard Haven, died on April 28. I hope you all saw the terrific photo of him in last Friday’s paper. It definitely captured him: handsome, debonair, charming, and with that lovely twinkle in his eye for all family and friends. There is too much to say about him and his elegant wife, Steffie so look up the story and take it to heart. Our condolences to his family.

Our library marches on with a mini monthly book sale tomorrow between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. when you can stock up for summer reading. If you need help and informal instruction with the CLAMS system for downloading audiobooks and using our overdrive service or learning how to make SonyReader, Nook, and Kindle work best for you, stop in tomorrow at the library from 10 a.m. to noon. And to take a creative break, be sure to see the show the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library have mounted for Art in the Stacks this month. Edgartown’s own Joseph Palermo, a self-taught artist who has been painting for 70 years, has produced Vineyard landscapes and coastal scenes among his many other works. Joe is 91 years old and usually produces one painting daily. Check it out. Art in the Stacks is viewable during all open library hours.

Betty Burton invites you to a Slow Food event on Sunday, May 19 at 6 p.m., at Howes House in West Tisbury. The free dinner features potluck finger foods and great camaraderie. Bring something delicious and certainly cooked slowly. I’ll see you there.

A very grand bouquet goes out to a very great couple celebrating their wedding anniversary on May 21, Allan and Judy Davey. Continue doing what you’re doing.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Jenna Bagnall, Martin Simoni, and Wesley Coelho Souza today. Tomorrow, May 18, is claimed by the wonderful Nonna, Iole Gardella, for her 96th birthday. May 19 is a party for Dot Eldefry, Tony Gramkowski and Zach Charter. On May 21, the sun shines on Rosie Bick. May 22 honors Bridget Tobin, Theresa King, Thomas Battistini and Pat Nothingal. And on May 23, Jim Gardella, Judy Crawford and Ambrose Seward take the cake. Many happy returns.