Leslie Baker came to visit last week, arriving with a bunch of Tête-à-Tête daffodils in her hand. They went immediately into a vase placed on my windowsill, to be enjoyed for their fragrance and colorful cheer. My first thought seeing the snow falling Friday morning was that outdoor daffodils would soon be covered under a wintry blanket. One has to admire their hardiness, knowing they will reemerge once it all melts, although we are now expecting another three to six inches on Tuesday. I guess it might be awhile.
The snow has covered up all the “to do” projects in our yard. I can look outside and enjoy the landscape, freed from totting up the list in my head of everything that needs doing before yesterday, spared the pressure of getting ready for summer. I can pretend for a few more days that winter will go on forever.
I can’t stop myself from watching way too much news and reading the daily New York Times. I do plan, however, to get to Featherstone Center for the Arts to see its latest exhibition, called “Protest.” It opened on Sunday, and should provide a stimulating afternoon’s viewing. Also at Featherstone, check out a variety of classes for adults and kids. For more information, call 508-693-1850 or look at the website, featherstoneart.org.
There are lots of classes and goings-on. I’m always surprised when summer people ask what we do all winter. So here’s a sampling:
ACE MV is offering a variety of classes, ranging from bookkeeping to learning Italian, editing your own writing, and several computer and technology classes. Its website is acemv.org.
The Polly Hill Arboretum and Vineyard Conservation Society will take you on a walk through the arboretum to observe and identify trees in their winter state. It’s this Saturday, March 18, 9 am to noon. Call 508-693-9426 to register. It’s $30, or $25 for PHA members. Also at the arboretum, Tim Boland will present a travelogue on Wednesday, March 22, at 5:30 pm from his trip to Ireland. He visited County Kerry and the Ring of Kerry, where he saw “waterfalls, ancient oaks, and the rare Irish Strawberry Tree,” among other sights. The program is $5, free to PHA members. No preregistration is required.
Felix Neck has planned a “Spring Equinox Stargazing Evening” with Mark Lovewell this Sunday, March 19, at 8:30 pm. Programs planned through April and the April school vacation week include training to monitor osprey or horseshoe crabs. For more information, call 508-627-4850 or look on its website,bit.ly/wildlife-sanctuaries.
Of course, our West Tisbury library has lots to offer this coming week. There will be a Girl Scouts’ Talent Show this Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 pm. On Sunday, from 2 to 4 pm, a Green Burial and Natural Death Care discussion will consider our options and impact on our environment, part of the library’s “Explorations in Healthy Living Series.” Two programs on Monday are a Martha’s Vineyard Seed Library meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, and at 7 pm Dave Kish’s monthly jazz-themed documentary screening, with discussion to follow. Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm, the library and MVTV will screen an episode of “Martha’s Vineyard Signs Then and Now.” And there will be “Friday Games for Kids and Teens,” ongoing through spring, every Friday from 3 to 5 pm. Board games, card games, snacks, and pizza provided. Kids under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.
Martha’s Vineyard Partners For Health is offering a free one-hour class, “Diabetes and Sugar,” on Wednesday, April 5, from 3 to 4 pm, at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. It will provide an overview of natural and artificial sugars and their impact on blood sugar levels. The class is given in partnership with ACE MV, so please preregister on their website: acemv.org.
A reminder that the last day to register to vote in our upcoming April elections is March 22, next Wednesday. Stop into Town Hall, the town clerk’s office, any weekday between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm.
I am happy to announce the arrival of the newest resident of our neighborhood. Meghan Lee Rezendes was born at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on Feb. 23. She is home, well-loved, and well-cared-for by her big brother, Nathan, and her parents, Lori and Dana. Her grandparents, Doreen and Tony, are right next door. Lori’s mom, Lorraine Kieras, was here from Hadley. Also visiting were Lori’s sister, Linda Kenney, and her children, Leah, Lily, and Ryan. We expect her to be a regular on the bench on Alley’s porch and behind the counter at the Square Rigger, all in her own good time. Welcome, dear Meghan.
Mike has covered our dining room table with his tax papers, working on them on these snowbound days. It is a silent reminder that I have barely started on mine. My papers are all in orderly files (sort of), ready to be collated and calculated so I can fill in my dreaded Form C, the first and hardest step in our tax preparation. Once started, it becomes kind of interesting, making order out of chaos. But getting started, with that onerous task hanging over my head, always feels overwhelming. Best to put it off. But pretty soon, Mike’s patient silence will give way to quietly commenting on the date, how it’s getting closer to April 15.
I’m smiling as I write this. We have been married long enough to know how this will end. Mike organized. Me last minute. Mike panicking. Me reassuring him that I always manage to get it done. Every year I swear that I will start earlier and keep my files in a more orderly way for next year. My intentions really are to do better. But somehow March arrives every year with Mike totally done before I have even begun. I guess a similar dynamic exists on many other dining room tables across town. But I have to smile, thinking how we have adapted and accepted each other over these many years.