I’ll be honest because honesty is the best policy. I wasn’t sure I had it in me to compose a column this week. I sat down at the computer, pulled the keyboard a bit closer, looked at the screen, took a deep breath and here I am typing.

It has been a stressful week. I think folks are feeling the end of summer fast approaching and all of a sudden feel obligated to hurry and cram in everything that comes along with the Vineyard’s salt spray, sunsets, sand between the toes, Flying Horses and more. I’ve been sworn at, tapped by a passing car as I crossed the street and given the finger. I’ve also been hugged, granted words of admiration and appreciation, fed dinner, serenaded, been given sweet notes and brought flowers. Although it’s sometimes hard to overlook the negative, I’ve tried very hard to take it in stride, let it go and focus on the latter — the good stuff.

Katie Loveluck, a former summertime Texaco staffer turned gainfully employed, college graduate, med school-bound adult, made her way to town with her new pup Boomer. It was great to see her as always. I enjoy her dry wit and matter of fact way of life. We’ve had the pleasure of her younger brother Andrew’s company this past month while he was in town with folks Michelle and Juan at their Pepperbush home. Buzz and Suzanne Catullo have also been visiting from their Florida home. They’ve managed to catch up with a lot of folks that Buzz used to pal around with in his earlier times when he captained the Banjo. A highlight was catching up with daughter Joy. She is a gardening, yoga-practicing extraordinaire that lives up to her name for sure.

The sound of the tension in the line pulling a reel set at full drag is a thrill when it happens for those who head out to the Canyons in search of tuna. Paul MacDonald and his crew on the Shearwater had a successful trip as did Tim Walsh on the Helen L.

In the 11th hour before Quinn Keefe departed for his off-season home in Steamboat Springs, Colo., he rallied with good friend Tucker Simonsen and hopped aboard Kevin Conroy’s boat and made a 3 a.m. departure out of Menemsha for one last 2018 offshore adventure. Kevin plays the role of fishing father to these young men and rallied to hit a high note before they had to hit the books. A successful trip was had, tuna was consumed for dinner and Quinn is back at school contemplating senior year.

Fishing was productive for Dardy and Sean Slavin’s boys. Quinlan and Corrick Slavin wet a line and both managed to reel in keeper bass. It’s always fun to go fishing and it’s always a thrill to hook up. It’s a euphoric moment when you realize that what’s on the end of your line is a keeper. Way to go team Slavin.

Although I don’t know any details at the time of my writing, I was saddened to hear about the death of David/Davio Danielson. He was the son of the late Hope Francis Flanders Bailiff, the eldest of Robert and Gladys (Mayhew) Flanders’s five children. My love goes out to his children, Maria, Lucia, Jason, Ben and Robin.

Katy Smith has been in town visiting her folks Bill and Kathy and doing shifts for Tri-Town Ambulance. She had Sunday off and was joined by her beau, Josh Markievitz.

Jessica Campbell has made the move to Denver, Colo. where she will strive for her master’s degree at the graduate school of social work at the University of Denver. It seems like just yesterday she and her sister, Mariah, were either running around with my daughter Bradley pretending to be horses or putting on musical performances in my living room. It makes me proud to see just how far this 22-year-old posse has come. Bradley will celebrate her birthday on the fifth. May it be a happy and joy-filled year, daughter of mine.

Chilmark news can be sent to squidrow@vineyard.net.