Happy Fourth of July, or Independence Day, America. Will you celebrate this holiday, or observe it? Lately a lot of the books I have been reading have been about occupied countries during World Wars I and II. I just finished reading “Of Windmills and War.” This takes place in Holland during the ’40s, and tells the hardships they endured. Their crops were confiscated; they suffered through cold winters with no heat; Jewish citizens, men, women, children, and infants were murdered ruthlessly, and their bodies tossed aside. Despite this, barely existing on a found rotten potato, tulip bulbs, or garbage or any four-legged creature still around, ragged clothing and no shoes but rags around their feet, Dutch citizens risked their lives hiding Jewish citizens and downed Allied soldiers and smuggling them out of the country to safety. When in the spring of 1945 it became apparent that Germany was losing the war, many of the dykes were destroyed, wreaking more havoc on the citizens. Between April 29 and May 8,1945, Operation Chowhound was launched, with English and American pilots flying almost 6.000 missions, dropping more than 12,000 tons of food and supplies for locations in western Holland. Rotterdam suffered more casualties during the occupation than any other city in the Netherlands.
I was 5 years old when war broke out. I always thought that we here on this Island had done our part by having to use ration stamps for purchase of gas, butter, shoes, etc. And the sound of an air raid warning was enough for us all to head for shelter. My father was an air raid warden, and after making sure we were safe in the house with blackout curtains secure, he would make his rounds checking on other houses. But now, since reading about those many countries who suffered so much starvation during the war, when I am rinsing a plate to be put in the dishwasher or peeling a vegetable, I think how precious that bit of peel would have been to those people. And the sight of half-filled plates being removed from tables in restaurants with so much food wasted makes me aware of how much or too much we have. Forever grateful I will be to all those who gave up their lives or part of their lives to protect us from tyrants and give us the gift of freedom. So celebrate the holiday, but observe as well, and don’t carelessly dismiss what we have.
Did you receive your CodeRED call? I did, and the first one thoroughly confused me, as it was addressed to citizens of Tisbury. I called the number listed for the Oak Bluffs Fire Station for assistance, and soon had registered. But a big hand of appreciation to Oak Bluffs Fire Chief John Rose, who that afternoon sent out an announcement to Oak Bluffs residents with explicit, easy-to-understand information. And thanks to the Oak Bluffs Police Department for responding to my request for help for increased traffic control on Alpine Avenue. A portable traffic light now shines as a reminder to all drivers that they are in a 25 mph district.
The act of random kindness award goes to all those people, friends and strangers alike, who have offered a hand or arm of assistance when I am having difficulty descending stairways or curbs while shopping in town. You make my day and make me smile. What a great town.
Our own Oak Bluffs library is obviously not on vacation this summer, with all the wonderful programs they have planned. Weekly Teen DIYcrafts will take place on Tuesdays at 3:30 starting July 9 with a different craft each week, and Galaxy Candles is scheduled for next Tuesday. Teen Library Lock-In for ages 12-plus will take place on Friday, July 12. Teens get locked in the library after hours from 5:30 to 7:30 pm when they can enjoy activities and pizza. Registration by a guardian is required. Come and dance the salsa with Christina Montoya on July 11 from 9:30 to 11 am on July 11. Salsa Suelta Cubana is a form of salsa dancing from Cuba that is danced without a partner. Often danced in small or larger groups, Salsa Suelta Cubana commonly incorporates various forms and styles of Cuban dance, including Afro-Cuban traditions, and more recently, elements of African American urban dance styles.
We send birthday smiles to Pam Gibson and my neighbor Barbara Fehl on July 6,
Erin Pachico and Karen Hunt Torrence on the 7th, Nicholas Mathias on the 9th, Hope deBettencourt, Fronzie Conlin, and Josh Correllus on the 10th, and Colleen Farrissey on the 11th.
Enjoy your week. Peace.