School vacation week is here and everyday life for many families has been put on a temporary hold. School and work have been cast aside in exchange for opportunities outside the classroom. For some, basking in the sunshine and wandering barefoot on warm sandy beaches is a highlight. For others, layering up to get out and enjoy fresh powder on the slopes is where the excitement lies.

Hawaii, Bahamas, Vermont, New Hampshire, Florida, the Caribbean and more sent out invitations and you answered with a resounding yes. To those of you who ventured off, I look forward to hearing the highlights and, perhaps, you’ll let me pass them along here in print so your neighbors can live vicariously.

Ida and Booker Weisner swapped out winter parkas for shorts as they traveled to visit family in the Jensen Beach area of Florida.

Kristen Brown spent a little time on Manasota Key in the Fort Meyers area of Florida’s west coast. Her cousin Traci Monteith joined her for a little R&R.

Gryphon and Latham Kurth are off improving their already-impressive ski skills with parents Katy and Ryan. The impeccably-groomed Burke Mountain is home away from home.

Dardy Slavin celebrated her birthday surrounded by family, including husband Sean and kids Quinlan and Corrick, on the island of Maui. West Tisbury’s Thomson family — Rebekah, Josh, Leah, Moses and Taeko Rose — are also there. The Aquinnah Bolognas, Taylors and MacPhails are also adventuring on that island in the Pacific.

I myself went on a quick little walkabout to New Hampshire to see aunts and uncles. I’ll share with you a funny little “it’s a small world” aside. My Uncle Wink befriended a couple a bit older than him whom he helps with some day to day chores. John, the husband, has Alzheimer’s but is still high functioning and enjoys talking about his childhood days. He was born in 1938, grew up in Arlington and attended the Parmenter School. My mom, also born in 1938, spent her first grade year living with her grandparents in Arlington while my grandfather was in England working for Massachusetts Institute of Technology during World War II. Long story short: my mom and John went to first grade together. Isn’t that such a funny coincidence?

Sad news has traveled around town about the loss of West Tisbury’s Michael Flynn. Michael, along with sisters Karen and Jackie, was one of the friendly, familiar and consistent faces manning the fryer at The Bite for nearly three decades. He always would greet me with a “Well hello, Kate!” that was typically followed by running down a list of folks he’d like to be updated on. He’d ask about my kids, my mom and various other townsfolk he perhaps hadn’t seen in a while. As you may know, he struggled with diabetes so contributions in his memory can be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 or at www.diabetes.org.

On that very same day, the community on Stonewall Road was forever changed. At the age of 82, Miles Jaffe died, leaving a hole in the hearts of his loved ones. He always seemed to be in a hurry because, perhaps, there was just so much to fit into life and Miles was one of those people who wanted to try it all.

Justin Roberts has departed from Station Menemsha. After attending school in Elizabeth City, N.C. his new assignment will be in Florida. He wrapped up his time here by earning Sailor of the Quarter and the station’s Golden Wrench Award. He is excited to become an aviation maintenance technician.

She may live in Aquinnah but big congratulations go out to charter school senior Putu Crowell for her multiple college acceptances. The daughter of Lily and Ollie Crowell, she so far has Hampshire College, University of Hawaii and Roger Williams University to choose from. This time of year is both nerve-wracking and exciting for high school seniors. Strong work, Putu.