I remember what I was wearing 50 years ago. Unlike this year, with its balmy bright fall days, the season I recall was exceptionally chilly on the Vineyard and we were bundled up in woolly winter gear.
My heavy coat was from L.L. Bean. It was a man’s navy blue pea jacket, double-breasted, with four big buttons. It was my husband’s old coat, and it was the only thing that wrapped all the way around my big belly. We were temporarily in Boston awaiting the birth of a child.
The child took her sweet time but arrived on a raw and cold November day, so long ago. That was Chloe, who looked when she got here as exhausted as I felt.
Chloe was born (taking her sweet time) with autism, but she now spends her weekdays in a happy place, the Island Autism Center, and she probably couldn’t be more content.
For all of us, there is little that is more satisfying than having grown-up offspring who are content, if not jumping with joy.
One joyful West Tisbury resident we know is Sundy Smith, who was in attendance in Iowa on election night when her daughter and granddaughter both succeeded in winning for the blue side. Sundy’s daughter Rachel Smith won her second term as county attorney for Johnson County.
And Sundy’s granddaughter Zoe Smith, the youngest paid staffer on the campaign for the governor’s race, is still ecstatic over Rob Sand’s success. Mr. Sand will be the first Democratic governor of Iowa in 25 years, with an 11-point victory over his opponent. Iowa has been known as a deep red state, until now.
I ran into David Finkelstein in the cereal aisle up-Island the other day. He informed me that he and Molly had recently returned from a trip to Florence, Italy. Their oldest granddaughter is taking a semester abroad in that historic art capital and with skill and knowledge she guided her grandparents through the classic treasures of the Renaissance. David beamed with pride as he reported the vacation.
A big thank you to West Tisbury’s fire department for installing a new white spruce at the junction of State Road and Old County Road. The tree replaces the one that began to suffer from a spruce disease, and had to go. It was the tree that greeted us all with its Christmas lights for the past generation. And of course the new tree will soon be asparkle with all those welcoming holiday lights. More thank yous go to Norman Lobb and Peter Wells of L&W Tree Farm, for donating the gift to the town.
Another thank you to our thoughtful town clerk, Tara Whiting-Wells for providing chairs at all the voting stations, knowing that we would need to take more time at this election.
Happy birthday Friday, Nov 13, to Thomas Mayhew. And Judy Mayhew will celebrate her big day on Sunday, Nov. 15. Macguire Carlomagno, who heads the day program at Island Autism, will share a cake with our daughter Chloe when they both enjoy their birthdays on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Thursday, Nov. 19, is the big day for both Sam Hart and Hunter Athearn.