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The
Martha's Vineyard Times is a weekly publication.
March 10 - March 16, 2005 Edition
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EDGARTOWN
March 10, 2005
By
Gail Craig - 508-627-3754 - gail@vineyard.net
I hope
everyone had a wonderful school vacation week! It's only a couple
of weeks until spring. Word has it that crocuses are popping up around
town!
The Edgartown Public Library is having information sessions on Tuesday
and Thursday nights, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm from March 15 until Town
Meeting on April 12. If you would like to know more about the proposed
library expansion project, stop by one of the sessions.
Mike Smith attended his son's graduation from the Naval War College
in Newport, R.I. on March 9. Lieutenant Commander Patrick Smith, a
Supply Officer in the United States Navy, had just completed a year
of studying National Security Decision Making, Strategy and Policy
and Joint Military Operations. Having satisfied the requirements in
the curriculum, he was awarded a master of arts degree in National
Security and Strategic Studies. LCDR Smith is an 18- year veteran
who has served aboard cruisers, ballistic missile submarines and overseas.
His last assignment before being selected to attend the Naval War
College was the base comptroller at the Saesbo Naval base, Japan.
His next tour of duty will take him to Norfolk, Virginia at Operational
Test and Evaluation Force. A graduate of the University of Virginia,
he received his commission through the Navy ROTC program.
I'd like to break with tradition a bit and write about a close friend,
Felicia Cheney, who lives on Chappy. Felicia and I became friends
sort of by default, when she began dating my friend, Bob Fynbo, 10
or 12 years ago. Over those years, however, our friendship has evolved
because Felicia is such a great person. She is what my mother often
referred to as “a quality person,” paying her the highest
compliment possible when she once confessed to me that she wished
Felicia were her friend!
When my mother became ill, Felicia was there for me, no matter what
I needed. Last July, on a Saturday at the height of summer on Martha's
Vineyard, Felicia and her husband, Bob, were the ones to help me when
my mother was flown off-Island to Boston, where she passed away. They
dropped everything they were doing to cover one of my jobs for me.
Their exact words were “Just go. We'll take care of it”.
And they did. And they did it as they usually do, quietly and unassumingly.
A few months ago, Felicia lost her mother, a woman who had battled
mental illness for years. Felicia is a strong woman but the death
of one's mother is often a life-altering experience for a person,
one that raises questions and thoughts and she and I have discussed
these things often in the last few months. Felicia shared the following
poem recently, written by a close friend in response to the news.
Some live their lives in rainbow hues
When they leave this earth it's big news
Their colors had been displayed across the sky
They are missed by many who ask why
Others live their lives in a forest of trees
A whisper of sound in the breeze
A shaft of sunlight hitting one place
For a moment of time in that space
While maybe not bearers of extravagant color
Their presence is felt and lives made fuller
Although your mom was not someone I knew
I'll celebrate her life because she made you.
In a few short sentences, a good friend was able to capture the difficult
life of Felicia's mom, Kathleen Cheney, the reason for her life, and
provide comfort to Felicia. What an incredible gift to give someone
at such a difficult time. I think all Felicia's friends would agree
that by bringing her into our lives, Kathleen Cheney changed the world
and made it better.
Have a great week everyone. Get me your news.
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