While scrolling through the PBS website looking for something that had been recommended to me, I came across the name Howard Thurman. I’ll admit, the name should have been familiar to me, but it wasn’t. So, of course, I Googled it. Amidst my internet browsing I found a quote by him that seemed fitting enough to share: “Whatever may be the tensions and the stresses of a particular day, there is always lurking close at hand the trailing beauty of forgotten joy or unremembered peace.”

This should be a time to reflect and appreciate the good in our family, friends, neighbors, community, nation and the world. While recognizing that we have a great distance to travel in order to overcome our challenges, there should always remain hope in our journey.

Sunday evening hunters will make sure their shotguns are cleaned, fresh socks are at the ready, boots have laces ready for tying, and early morning alarms are set. They will fall asleep with visions of 10-point bucks dancing in their heads. Monday morning will come quickly as will the excitement over filling their freezers with enough venison to last the winter and, perhaps, enough to pass along to friends and neighbor.

The season began in November with archery season, and now, from Dec. 2 through 14, shotgun season is underway. Primitive firearms follows so blaze orange should be the color of choice right on through Dec. 31.

Sidled up alongside deer season you will find many taking advantage of both family and commercial scallop season. A handful of familiar faces are out on the water catching their limits. Wayne Iacono, for one, mentioned he’s used muscles he hadn’t recently, but is satisfied with the ability to take plenty to market and stash away a few for family dinner.

I had an opportunity to chat it up on the phone with Karsten Larsen the other day. Although he’s not physically getting around much, visits from friends and chats on the phone bring excitement into his voice.

Bella Thorpe appeared in town earlier this week for a little R&R, quality family time, home cooked meals and, perhaps, a little laundry. Every college kid brings home laundry, don’t they? Although I haven’t had the opportunity for an in person face-to-face, I did manage to time my visit to her mom Julie Flanders’s house perfectly. A Facetime catch up with Bella and her horse Bella was just what the doctor ordered.

The lights clicked on at Susan, Jason and Sophie Balaban’s Wayside home over the weekend. I haven’t seen them in person, but it seems the excuse of a mid-week holiday allowed them to fill that longing desire to hop a ferry and get out of the city for a few days of beach walks and friends.

Dedication is something West Tisbury kiddo Alyssa Vieira has in abundance. She’s ventured off-Island weekly with her dad, Garrison, right beside her to play hockey with the Northeast Generals. Weekly trips from MV to Bridgewater are no easy task, but the desire to play was strong and her 92 per cent success rate as a goalie was the reward. Way to go.

Pizza Nights at the Chilmark Church have taken a breather for the holiday season, but doors will be open Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. for folks to enjoy the first of three Offerings of Music and Light. Enjoy music, poetry, storytelling and more with Sean McMahon, Missis Biskis, Adele Dreyer, Georgie Halliday, Loon Lane Players and more along with candle lighting and a few refreshments. As always, all are welcome.