I can’t remember where I read this, but clearly it was somewhere and it made me chuckle audibly to myself:

What gives people a feeling of power?

Money? No.

Status? No.

Growing a tomato? Yes.

It’s July in New England and the tomato plants have tiny, happy, green tomatoes and I can’t wait until one of my Lydia Fischer sungolds is, well, golden. She will be the first to hear when I savor the flavors of my first one because I do not have even the palest of green thumbs so it will be a true accomplishment on my part to get those little orbs to completion.

Steven and Cathie Seward, along with their teens Jake and Ben, ventured to town from Telluride, Colorado to catch up with family and friends for get-togethers, fun and relaxation. The highlights were, of course, good times with parents, siblings and cousins, including Marie and Stan Mercer, Doug Seward and Suzie Pacheco and Liz Seward, Kevin, Solon, Barrett, Delilah and Hollis Oliver.

Harriet Goldberg and Don Weitzman are back in town for their month-long visit. They escape the fast pace and heat of the city of Brookline and have called Chilmark their home away from home for as long as I can remember. Daughter Lily, a librarian in Brookline, will put her best foot forward and attempt to shuffle her schedule and venture south to visit her folks during the upcoming weeks.

The crew at Station Menemsha has been awarded the Coast Guard’s Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal. This is a significant accomplishment and one that all should be proud of. Created in 1973, this award is issued for “meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds or valorous actions.”

Robert and Stephanie Shalhope made the trek from Colorado to spend a week visiting with Robert’s folks, Emma and Bob Shalhope. Committed to summer jobs and other various obligations, teens Claire and Jack stayed out west but sent lots of love to their grandparents via the arms of their folks. Claire will be headed off to Montana Tech in the fall to study nursing.

Ann and Hal Noyes are another fine pair who have traveled to town from Colorado. Steamboat Springs to Chilmark is a bit of a trek but to see their grandkids Adelaide, Thea, Ella and Lathrop Keene makes it all worthwhile. Their home atop Harbor Hill is nearing completion of its renovation. Welcome to town.