To those who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas. To those who have lost people this year or in the recent past, and for whom the holidays (especially the first one without someone) can be difficult, may the winter quiet bring you some peace. For those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas and/or don’t like it, bear with us; it will all be over soon. And remember, everyone, that now that the solstice has passed, the days will be getting longer, which is such a relief.
Pam Glavin has set up Carl’s wishing tree at Carl Widdis’ gravesite in the Aquinnah cemetery. It will be up today through April. Come and put a decoration on the tree in honor of Carl and make a wish. In the true spirit of Carl, as you make a wish, promise to do a good deed for someone else, and follow through. This is the second year that Pam has done this, and it’s such a wonderful way to honor and remember Carl.
The Christmas Gallery at Pathways is open through today from 11 am to 6 pm. If you are looking for some good local gifts, stop in. There are items from Chilmark Pottery, some really cute shirts for babies (and some for grownups) from Vital Signs and lovely handmade jewelry. There will be no evening events at Pathways until their New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 31.
The Gay Head Baptist Church will host services on Christmas Eve at 5 pm.
The Aquinnah library is closed on Christmas Eve, and open regular hours on Saturday. On Saturday there will be a Pokémon trading party from noon to 2 pm. The library will be open on New Year’s Eve until 5:30 pm.
There was a lovely Christmas party at the Aquinnah library this past Saturday. People brought Christmas cookies and cider. There was a wrapping-paper and holiday-card-making craft setup. Elissa Stahl was there with her two kids, and so was Heidi Vanderhoop. Elissa’s daughter Lucille and I sat next to each other and decorated wrapping paper. Lucille made sure that hers was very purple. A bunch of small boys gathered around the computer and played computer games; they would have been there all day if their moms had let them.
Claus Smith celebrated his eighth birthday on Sunday at the bowling alley in Oak Bluffs. He and his friends scored high, and I heard the birthday cake was delicious.
This past Saturday night was the spectacular holiday party at Berta and Vern’s. I could not attend, but it looked like a swell time from the pictures I saw. This past Monday there was a service at the Gay Head Light to honor William Waterway and all the work he did to save our lighthouse. Richard Skidmore told me that it was William who stopped the lighthouse from being torn down in the ’80s, a fact that I did not know. I knew he was devoted to the lighthouse, but I had no idea he played such a big part in rescuing it.
Happy birthday to Christina Montoya, who celebrates on Christmas Day. Lang Gerhard will celebrate on the 28th. Olive and Violet MacPhail will turn 10 on Dec. 30. Welcome to the double digits, ladies. There’s no going back now.
