I’m not really a dog person, but my kids are so we added a puppy to our family a few months ago. Hooper can be, as they say, a lot. With Brooks away and Marshall and Bradley at work, that left me on puppy duty. He loves rides in the car and walking adventures.

With Hoop in tow, I set out on an early January walk to the cut. The fog was thick and heavy but the air was October warm so I didn’t need to bundle up. My sweatshirt absorbed the moisture and my Bean vest repelled it. Although I thought I should feel chilly, my core was warm. I was not cold until I saw a Snow White and the Seven Dwarves parade emerging from the pond’s edge. It was Jessie Holtham, Lauren Lynch, Betsey Guest, Jeremy Berlin and their collective munchkins. Was it possible that they’d gone for a swim?

Lynne Silva stood by with a smile on her face as she watched her grandkids and sons polar plunge at Menemsha Beach. Ryan with kids River and August, and Reid with Owen and Rye, laid out their towels as if it were a typical summer day (minus the sun screen), took off their shoes, socks, and what have you, and boldly took to the water.

The tradition started five years ago at Lambert’s Cove when River and cousin Shay decided it would be, simply put, fun. In the years in between the first and this, they’ve found themselves at Quansoo, Seth’s Pond and Eastville. According to Lynne, the group agreed Menemsha was the coldest. Where will the end of 2022 take them?

From their home in Maine, Alysse Fischer and Dan Doty share word of welcoming a baby girl into their lives. Big brothers Duke and Jude are going to help guide little sister Wilderness Rose Doty through a truly spectacular life. She is welcomed by many aunts, uncles and cousins from the extended descendants of the Rena and Ozzie Fischer family.

For West Tisbury’s Rossi family, 2021 ended on a high note. Annabelle Michael Rossi joined big brother Jack, big sister Sloane, and parents Ellen and Ryan. Grandparents Dan and Jane are, as folks say, over the moon.

Lauren McDowell and Louis Santos welcomed baby girl Cameron Kāhea’auli’i Santos on Dec. 29. She joins not-quite two-year old big brother Colton on the island of Oahu where they make their home. Chilmark grandparents Shakti Reynolds and Scott look forward to wrapping their arms around this new little human.

In the early hours of Jan. 4 another baby boy was welcomed to the world. Although at the time of my writing he’d yet to have an official name, his parents couldn’t be happier with his presence in the world. Michael Manfredi and Susannah Buck: parenthood suits you. Just an aside that no, that has not been our skilled postal worker Michael darting around town in the mail truck this past week. He’s been at Massachusetts General Hospital alongside his bride awaiting this very special moment.

Mary, Perry and Gabe Ambulos hopped a jet and escaped for a few days of R&R on the island of Saint John. There may have been a few travel delays here and there but nothing that detracted from the sweetness of just being together.

Rumor has it Pam and Rodney Bunker had a little adventure themselves. Florida’s sun, warmth, fishing and family was calling their name. They managed to bump into Dick Vincent while in Naples. Who remembers the days of Flashy Lady Charters? Who remembers days with his dad Frankie, who was a remarkable house painter. He did, however, drive just about as slowly as Chester C. Vincent. It’s pretty amazing how the mention of one name can take you meandering down the path referred to as Memory Lane.