I want to thank my friends and family who held an impromptu barbecue for my birthday last Sunday. Tamma Willoughby outdid herself with making green salad, potato salad, hamburgers and hotdogs. She brought a cake that was so sweet I was sure I would go into sugar shock. Hunter Thomas visited with her friend Tommy. All of us women, including Nonna, just gazed at him dreamily while he ate his picnic plate. What a man! Angela Murphy visited with daughter Mary Afton. I personally went down Lenny’s Loop to invite Shane Vanderhoop; it would not have been a party without him. One of my best presents was getting friend/housemate Teri Praskach back from a family thing off-Island. Nonna and I could barely cope without her. Special shout-out to John and Betty Roberts. Betty always remembers my birthday with a card. I have been negligent in informing you that August 3 is John Robert’s birthday, too. Marge Howes and daughter Julie came over to chat and eat cake, same time last year. I had the best day!

Speaking of the Howes family, Javier Gomez-Blanco has joined his wife Juloia and kids Aidan and Livvy after staying in New Jersey to work on his master’s degree. The clan is headed back to East Brunswick next week, so they are cramming in all the fun they can. Neighbor Wes Stokes, who is like the Pied Piper to our neighborhood kids, took them fishing. Tonight they are having porgies Aidan and Livvy caught. Javier is making a clam chowder from the clams they raked. Last year he followed a recipe that was overwhelming with bacon, so I have specifically asked him to use a different recipe this year. Paul, Javier, Aidan and Julie have now attended their third Sharks game and truly enjoyed it. When I last spoke to them they were headed for Bend in the Road Beach for Aidan to do his annual bridge jump. They leave next Tuesday when I will be returning from Boston. I already miss them.

I’m also missing Wanda Denton, who returned to her home in West Hartford yesterday. Wanda has just spent a month with her daughter Laurie Marotta, but business in West Hartford beckons. Many of our crowd are great readers, but Wanda may hold the championship title.

We are expecting all our motorcycle men this weekend in the annual Run to the Rock. Last time Nonna was photographed on one of their Harleys she was 94. Now, at 97, she is anxious to take another ride around the Island. These photos usually end up as my most popular Christmas card. I call it Biking to Bethlehem.

Fan Tuttle Schroeder and her family visited from Wayland last week but are now back on the Cape. I was hoping to see them, but the stay was too brief. Fan, come back!

Other return visitors include the presidential entourage this weekend. Whether you voted for Obama or not, stay tuned to his golf games, Bunch of Grapes visits, and so on so you can avoid the traffic tie-ups.

Confidential to Lyn K: Nonna has been reading several James Patterson books, which she finds very exciting. Now she is reading Gracie: A Love Story by George Burns. I still remember watching Burns and Allen on television with my parents. And that should give all of you who tried to find out my age a clue.

Big Steve Dunham is back from his sojourn in Arizona and working already. In addition to his many construction jobs, he has a personal project for his mom, my friend Martha. Window replacement!

I make a day of it when I have appointments at the hospital. I enjoy the salad bar there, seeing all my friends, reviewing the art work and stopping in Windemere. Anna Duarte looks well-rested and beautiful. She is sporting a new hairdo. I forgot to ask her if anyone has remembered to get her takeout yet from Copper Wok. Virginia Blakesley is always so charming and welcoming, I love to stop by her room. I’m sure if you thought about it you would remember you have many friends at Windemere.

Lobster rolls continue on Tuesdays from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at my American Legion post 257 on Marvin Road, and at Grace Church on Fridays at the same time. I have not gotten Nonna over to the Legion yet, but I must book a Tuesday night for it. We were so busy last summer that we missed out. I enjoy seeing all my friends and the Legion members there.

Get well wishes go out to Trude Hart and Hunter Thomas.

Anniversary bouquets are sent to David and Liz Gardella today. Flowers go out to Bill and Deb Little who celebrate on August 14.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Michael Robinson, Anne D. Grandin, Milly Berman and Danae Finley today. Tomorrow smiles on Sal Alfano, Riley Chalifoux and Annette J. Sandrock. August 11 honors newly married Linda Powers (formerly Linda Caroll) and Clare Ann Harrington. And on August 12, Karen Kassius, Emma Keppeler, Sharon Robinson and Anne Breslin take the cake.

Many happy returns.

Send your Vineyard Haven news to: iklean@yahoo.com.