It makes me wonder how truly hungry the first person to eat an oyster was. Admittedly, they are not for me yet, genuine “Menemsha Oysters” were something I developed a fondness for.

Fifteen or so years ago, my father-in-law, Emmett Carroll, jumped head first into aquaculture. He’s what I call a farmer of the sea. I remember when his very first babies arrived and how proud he was of them. Those tiny little specs of what seemed like nothing would be grown, tended, tumbled, sorted, cleaned and sold as delectable, name-branded, Menemsha Oysters.

Times have changed and now we have many farmers up in the pond. Each has their own unique signature and each of them deserves a little notoriety for one reason or another. Although Emmett has hung up his sea shepherd’s crook, his Menemsha Oysters were the first and I will always be proud of him for paving the way.

What had me strolling down Memory Lane with Emmett’s oysters was hearing about Jeremy Scheffer’s Vineyard Spearpoint Oysters. He has been doing a CSA of sorts. Email him at info@mvspearpoints.com for more information and keep your eyes peeled for a possible pop-up opportunity or two.

Although they require some talent to open, and what you see on the inside, in my opinion, isn’t visually appealing by any means, what you actually get out of their consumption is calcium, iron and protein. Pretty impressive for a little glob (I can’t really think of a better word) that grows in a shell.

Ali and Sarah Flanders are doing a stellar job with their Saltrock Chocolates pop-up shop Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Menemsha Deli space. I say it every time I mention them and I’ll say it again, I’m so proud of my sweet, not so little anymore, flower girls.

Colin Ruel and Nettie Kent have had their Ruel Gallery open weekends so folks can browse artwork and jewelry for holiday wish-list items or maybe something for that special someone. Grandma Roberta Morgan has had some of her famous beach plum jelly for sale from time to time. I can say from experience that it’s the bees knees.

Speaking of Roberta, she’s feeling much better and is out and about running errands here and there. Often her travels bring her to a parking space alongside the Texaco where friends often stop to chat. Her nephew John Larsen and friends Wayne Iacono and Chris Stein are a few of her favorites. She may, from time to time, even enjoy her chats with me.

The USCG helicopter swooped in to Station Menemsha this past Sunday with, you guessed it, Santa on board. There’s usually a party-like atmosphere when he’s in town, but this year, although just as fun, was a little more restrained. Albert Fischer captured some sweet shots that you’ve just got to see.

The Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter’s Association is collecting toys for the Red Stocking Fund. You can drop them by the Menemsha Crossroad station Sunday, Dec. 13 between 10 to 11 a.m. or you can leave them with me at the Texaco on Friday, Dec. 11 or Sunday, Dec. 12. Anything little kids might enjoy other than electronics would be great.

Tracy Thorpe, our wonderful events promoter at the library, shares that Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. there will be a Zoom Winter Solstice celebration. Poems, music, skits and more will be shared by friends and neighbors including Mary Sossong (if you ask teen Matthew Day her claim to fame is being his grandmother), Arnie Reisman, Valerie Sonnethal, Mark Lovewell, Nancy Jephcote, Spencer Thurlow and many more. Reach out to Tracy for the Zoom link.

The first autumn snow fell gently and silently on Dec. 8. I think we sense the purity of snow when we wake up in the morning and the streets, which are so often filled with grime, are all covered with a white blanket of snow. It wasn’t much but it provided, for me, a sense of order and a sense of hope. A friend’s child started his day commenting on it by saying, “See, mom? 2020 isn’t so bad.”