Beautiful shadows from the bare trees on the smooth, freshly fallen snow. Icy pathways and driveways requiring conscious, careful movement. Air that makes noses tender. Birds hovering, waiting for someone to come and fill the feeder. Oh my, this is a beautiful time.
We live in a lucky community, for sure. Vineyard residents 18 years or older who don’t have access to dental care otherwise can get their teeth cleaned for free. Appointments are available on different dates at various locations on the Island throughout February; the closest to us is on both Feb. 20 and 27 at the Up-Island Council on Aging in West Tisbury. To register, you can text Polished Dental at 508-394-0068, or email polishedvhca@gmail.com. Your teeth are important to your health, not just your beauty, and here’s your chance to take care of them. Thanks to Dukes County Health Care Access/Vineyard Smiles and the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation and Island boards of health for making this possible.
Pam Glavin called to remind us that the Wishing Tree on Carl Widdis’ grave at our cemetery is there, as always. She urges you, if you can safely get over the ice and snow, to hang a heart ornament on the tree together with a pledge to do some good for someone in Carl’s spirit and in tribute to Valentine’s Day.
Let’s give a cheer to Joan LeLacheur, who has weathered a major surgery and is now safely back home in Aquinnah. Joanie is a bright spirit, a creator of beautiful things, a soul who delights in good books and great music, and greets all she meets with warmth. She surely deserves only the best. Heal up, dear Joanie.
Don’t forget to bring the kids to the library on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 12 to 3 to celebrate Valentine’s Day with crafts, cookie decorating, and an indoor scavenger hunt. While you’re thinking Valentine’ Day, don’t forget to say “I love you” to your beloveds.
Rumor has it that the Aquinnah Variety Show is going to happen on Mother’s Day weekend in May. I’ll let you know the date for the casting call as soon as I hear. Meanwhile, practice up and get ready.
I learned two new words this last week. The first, “thistlebottomed,” was from Barbara Davis, proofreader extraordinaire at The MV Times. She used it to describe cranky, prickly people. The other, “fissiparous,” from a rather wordy article in the NY Times that addressed the political world we are currently living in. It means “inclined to cause or undergo division into separate parts or groups.” I, personally, am tired of thistlebottomed, fissiparous people, preferring instead the cheerful optimists who look to find peaceful solutions to real problems in an inclusive, positive fashion. Monday, Feb. 16 is Presidents’ Day. I’m wishing for a president who is neither thistlebottomed nor fissiparous.
My birthday list shows that H. Nicole Vanderhoop celebrates her birthday on Valentine’s Day. I wonder if her birthday cake is heart-shaped. Please send me your known list of Aquinnah folks birthdays; I’d like to give them a shout-out here.
Stay safe.
