By Aria Vickers
Recently, teacher Annemarie Ralph launched a young authors’ project at the West Tisbury School, and asked the MVTimes if we would be interested in publishing the works of middle school writers. The Times will, when possible, run these stories in print, and will feature them regularly online. This week, Aria Vickers, a sixth grader, writes about finding a home on Martha’s Vineyard.
Recently my family and I moved to Martha’s Vineyard. We had lived in Seattle, Wash., for most of my life. Moving to Martha’s Vineyard meant there would be a lot of adjustments and differences. But to my surprise, I learned quickly that even though the two places are so far apart, some things are the same, regardless of the geographical distance.
In late August, my family and I drove across the country, waited for a ferry, and finally arrived on the Island. My dad said our first stop would be Menemsha. We parked our car and headed over to Larsen’s Fish Market. We got some lobster bisque and strolled down to the beach. While we were walking, I saw a statue of a man with a spear catching a swordfish. It was on a small sand dune, right by the beach. I stopped to observe it and realized that on Martha’s Vineyard, just like in Washington State, fish play a big role in the culture, traditions, and community.
Martha’s Vineyard is similar in so many ways to what I grew up with in Seattle. Back in Washington, it was all about salmon. I learned about a salmon’s life cycle at school, and we later visited salmon hatcheries. My family and I would go to Pike’s Market on the weekends to see “flying salmon.” We celebrated the salmon during October at a fair called Salmon Days, located in Issaquah, Wash. More than 150,000 people show up for this amazing fair. The best part of it is that millions of salmon are right in the spring of the river, completing the life cycle by getting ready to spawn. Sometimes, there are so many salmon in the river that the water appears red.
And here on the Vineyard, people love fish too! This fall, I quickly learned all about the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. Many people from near and far participate in the competition — even a few of my classmates. In the mornings, when we share stories in homeroom, some of my classmates tell amazing stories about fishing. A fellow sixth grader even came in in first place in one of the Derby divisions this year.
Even though it’s my first year here on the Vineyard, I see everyone is fish crazy, just like in Seattle. I look forward to fishing the Vineyard waters with my dad sometime soon, and maybe next year I’ll compete in the Derby.
I love being part of a community that loves the ocean and fish; it makes me feel right at home.
