“I feel like I’ve died and gone to Hell.”
This colorful and apt description of weather/crowds/summer in general has made me smile ever since I heard it. In fact, I wish I’d said it. Hearing weather reports of 100+ degrees with no rain, maybe ever again, makes me want to give up right now. But I’m afraid my friend’s comment may be prescient. Meanwhile, I’m grateful for fans at night and early morning walks with Murphy.
I haven’t mentioned walking with the dogs lately because Talley has just had surgery to repair a torn ACL. She became increasingly lame over the winter, then couldn’t put any weight at all on her left hind leg. Mike and I took her to a very wonderful and skilled Dr. Kochin at Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists in Bourne. Talley now has a newly-trimmed tibia with a metal plate keeping her “knee” in its proper place. She gets her stitches out and has her first check-up this week.
I can’t tell this story without thanking our Steamship Authority for their kindness to us. The guys on the boats must all be dog-lovers, as they have put us in as airy a place as possible when we explained that our post-surgical dog had to stay in the car. Me with her, of course.
Ginny Jones sent me an email titled “Make Way for Ducklings,” (like the book) in which she recounted the harrowing crossing of a mallard family from Parsonage to the Mill Pond. Ginny stopped her truck in the middle of the road to direct oncoming traffic on State Road, averting an otherwise certain calamity. We began emailing back and forth, complaining about speeding traffic through town and my pet peeve, drivers who don’t use their turn signals, especially at Brandy Brow. Someone at the evening porch-gathering at Alley’s said that a state police cruiser parked in front of the Howes House resulted in a noticeable slowing of cars as drivers spied the possible speed trap. Maybe something for our local policemen to consider.
In that regard, consider what characteristics would be important in our new chief of police. The Police Chief Search Committee is holding a public meeting at 7 pm on July 13 at the Howes House to hear what you have to say. If you can’t attend, send a letter to the committee c/o Box 278, West Tisbury or email townadmin@westtisbury/ma.gov. Committee members are: Chairman Bob Wasserman, Hasty Runner, David Merry, Al DeVito, and Pierce Kirby. Let them know what you think.
Also at the Howes House, island Democrats are invited to speak their minds on Saturday, July 10, 9-11 am. Sydney Asbury, chief of staff to Gov. Deval Patrick, will be there to discuss budgets, policies, and hear your questions.
Afterwards, cool off across the street at the West Tisbury Church’s Ice Cream Social, from noon to 4 o’clock.
Marilyn Hollinshead attended the American Library Association meeting in Washington, D.C. While she was away, her daughter, Dana, and a group of friends enjoyed a girls’ weekend on Muddy Cove.
Tim and Eileen Maley suggested it was time to reprint my corn pudding recipe. We were at a party together last weekend where Eileen had traditionally brought the corn pudding. Another guest was referred to me as author of the recipe. It’s really Suzanne Hammond’s recipe, the highlight of a library party when she was a trustee. Totally delicious, can easily be doubled (baking time about an hour,) and welcome at any potluck. Here it is:
½; stick unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 16 oz. can cream-style corn
1 16 oz. sweet corn, drained
1 cup sour cream
1 9 oz. box Jiffy Corn Muffin mix
Mix together. Bake 35-40 minutes in pre-heated 375 degree oven.
I was VERY excited to learn that Dr. John Zeisel will be speaking at our library this week. His book about Alzheimer’s, “I’m Still Here,” is one of the best I have read. I can’t wait to hear him. He will be there Monday and Tuesday, July 12 and 13, at 5:30 each evening.
Wednesday, July 14, 5 pm, Alan Brigish will speak about his new book, “Martha’s Vineyard: Now and Zen.”
A reception for Jeri Larsen will be held at the library at 4 pm, Friday, July 9. Come meet her and see her color photographs. They are abstractions of elements of landscape, painterly and intriguing.
All my life I have loved motorcycles. There is nothing better than the total freedom of air blowing around you, the speed, the sound. Even visually, a motorcycle can be a work of art. Mike courted me on a motorcycle, and I have memories of riding with my brother, Mark, and his friends, all Harley riders, when we were teenagers and 20-somethings.
Last weekend, Paul Caruso rode down on his unbelievably fabulous huge Harley. Laura and their daughter, Morgan, spend the summer here with Laura’s parents, Glenn and Linda Hearn. Paul took me for a ride up-Island yesterday. It was fabulous. Exciting. And cool, a welcome respite from the aforementioned 100-degree heat.
