When I was young a few dollars was all I had for a carnival — and all I ever needed. This year our granddaughters set priorities for their spending money. The fair had some pricey rides for the children to choose. First the girls selected the ones they really wanted and then established they were not going on any rides separately. That took some off the list. The nine-year-old was too tall for Teacups. Scratch that. Last year the seven-year-old was too short for the Ferris wheel. What an exciting challenge. But both girls claimed they wanted to do the bungee cord most of all. That cost $7, a high price in my eyes. They made some hard choices and even had cash left over to buy a magic trick.

I was impressed with the bungee cord event because the girls had a wonderful time. But even more important was that the workers, all of them, were extremely careful to watch all the kids all the time. If a young one did not have enough bounce, the worker would give him a boost. If the safety harness needed adjustment, that was done immediately. The kids bounced high into the air off a really huge but softly inflated cushion, delighting all ages.

We hope you are enjoying the offerings of the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival which continues through Sunday. Can you believe the new Film Center is only two years old?

Main Street was packed with memories and antique cars on Sunday. There were some real antiques, older than I am, from the 1920s and 1930s. Model A Fords, even a 1931 Chevy panel truck in bright yellow and one from 1940 in orange. Most were those 1950s dream convertibles popular with my teenaged friends in funny colors like aqua, mango orange, pale green. There were Corvettes and Buicks and Mustangs and Barracudas. Did the yellow Camaro belong to our fire chief?

Delightful shiny red convertible dream cars included a 1953 MG and a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger, a ’68 yellow Buick, a ’67 and ’69 Barracuda and a Mustang, a ’77 Camaro, even a 1991 Ferrari in red. You could compare a white ‘55 Jaguar with one from 1977. Names not heard lately were Willys Jeepster, Morris Minor, Ford Falcon, Nash Metropolitan, and Dodge Dart. I did admire the ’55 blue Austin Healey and ’77 white Mercedes Benz convertibles.

I had a teenaged boyfriend who built a Model A from parts, and my first car was a British Morris Minor baby blue convertible with red leather seats. Remember getting into the MGs? This show brought back a lot of memories.

Remember that the Tisbury Senior Center has lots for you to do. Try a Music Appreciation class with Charles Blank on Monday at 1:30. He will talk about Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Learn more about this audience favorite and you will never listen to it in the same way again.

Afternoon Tea and Poetry are offered at the Tisbury Senior Center next Thursday afternoon at 1:30. Annette Sandrock and MV Poet Laureate Lee McCormack will read selected poems. A tea will be served as they talk about their experience with the Cleaveland House Poets. Both events are free. The Center would like to know if you plan to come. Call 508-696-4205.

Writers of poetry, prose, and children’s books are welcome at the Tisbury Senior Center for an organizing meeting on September 16 at 10 am. The writers group will begin meeting in October, monthly or as they decide. You will have your writing critiqued and learn how to get published. There is no fee, though membership is limited. Call to register, or just show up.

Get BUZZD, and A Taste of Honey on Tuesday evening at 7 pm at the Vineyard Haven Library. Hear from author Michael G. West and sample honey provided by Monica Miller. This is the story of corporate greed, mercenary killing, and a new agricultural chemical that endangers our Martha’s Vineyard’s ecosystem. The director reminds you that all programs at the library are free and open to the public.

A film at the Hebrew Center on September 7 makes clear some history from WW II. Saved by Deportation, an unknown odyssey of Polish Jews, will be shown at 7 pm.

Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out tomorrow to Melissa Gold and Janet Stiller. Wish the best on Saturday to Mike Ciancio. Happy birthday to Craig Sias on Tuesday. Wednesday belongs to Deborah Giuffre.

Heard on Main Street: School is open. Watch for little ones who are too excited to look both ways.