I’m not sure why I’m writing this letter. Perhaps it’s meant to be a reminder that cherished friends are to be visited more often. I just learned that my friend Mait Edey died on Dec. 30. It has taken me some time to realize that I will no longer enjoy his company. We will no longer have lunch together at the Black Dog Tavern. We usually found a table off to one end or the other where the noise was the least. We were both very hard of hearing. Mait was a gentleman, a philosopher, a sailor and so much more. Our conversations were a treasure to me. He enjoyed rowing a simple dory out of Tashmoo and into Vineyard Sound. I met him frequently out there afternoons or evening on my way to middle ground for a bluefish on my old downeaster Scuttlebutt. We would raft together a chat. Well, it’s over. Mait left us.

So I guess the message here is to remind us all, how important good friends are. Keep in touch. There may be a day you no longer can.

Phil DeCamp Fleischman
Vineyard Haven