Last week was a doozy for me. On Wednesday, I attended the monthly luncheon for seniors at the Town Hall sponsored by the Up-Island Council on Aging. Then, later that afternoon, I was privileged to attend a small group gathered by the Aquinnah Climate Action Group and the M.V. Commission. The meeting was called to reflect on findings from an Island-wide study on populations who might be disproportionately impacted by climate change, to update the town’s 2020 climate resilience plan priorities with a focus on social resilience, to identify seed-project ideas, and to prepare recommendations and next steps. The group was serious-minded, each clearly focused on the community, experienced, and willing to talk. It was a great opportunity to do some learning and some thinking together. Thanks to Bill Lake, Hilary Dwyer, and our facilitator, Meghan Gombos.
Thursday was a stay-at-home day for Charley and me. We both worked at our computers for many hours, then took a walk at Lobsterville, which was the only beach where the wind didn’t bite that day. Afterward, we ran into a friend who puzzled us when he asked if we knew how Virginia Robinson was. We hadn’t known that Virginia had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance earlier that morning. I’m grateful to report that she is back home now, having had a scare, taken revealing tests, and received some good tending. Please send her healing thoughts.
Then came Saturday.
All across this country you could find No Kings demonstrations. More than 8 million people took their hearts into their hands and went out, homemade signs and U.S. flags at the ready, to say that here in the USA, we began in 1776 by saying that we wouldn’t tolerate a king, and we still mean it. It was the largest demonstration in U.S. history. The 8 million figure represents 1 million more than came out to the previous No Kings Day. Here on the Vineyard, Charley and I were among the many hundreds who came to Five Corners to express anger and determination to make things better. They came with humor (my favorite, a play on Mary Poppins: “He’s a super, callous, fascist, racist, sexist, pedo POTUS”) or with simple truths (my favorite, “This all ends when enough of us say NO!”). Flags were waving, the music played, and hope was given a day. Demonstrations aren’t enough, of course. To keep up the pressure for change, momentum now builds toward May 1st. It’s promised to be a national day of economic disruption, with people asked to honor “No school, no work, no shopping.” (I would add, “No shopping unless it is small and local.”) Plan out your day of picnics, potlucks, or privacy, and know that millions of others will be doing the same. It’s sad but true that as we affect the purses of the billionaires, we affect the hearts of our politicians. It’s yet another way to shout NO MORE. So get ready, folks.
That evening, the Aquinnah library hosted a town potluck and dinner at the Town Hall. It was an evening of good food, good music, and great conversation. It was comforting to be with neighbors. It was great to see people from all sectors of our town breaking bread together. It was a shock and a delight to note that many of the dozen or so little kids that used to run around community events had now grown into a long table filled with teenagers. I’m grateful to the library staff and trustees for this breath of fresh air. I’m grateful to Chef Deon for his delicious soup and sandwiches. I’m grateful to Rose Guerin, Buck Shank, and Lydia Fischer for the music, which was just right. After this full day, we went home tired, but heart-filled.
Please send birthday greetings to Ahsun Coby Vanderhoop and Amy Vanderhoop on April 3, and to Na Daizja Aiguier-Bolling on April 6.
Writing a weekly column is a real commitment. I want to publicly thank Kay Mayhew for being such a great inspiration for me. She’s been at it for a long, long time, always keeping her humor about her and her love for her town first and foremost. Thank you, Kay. Your example shines. I’ll hold it close.