Starting off with two very important pieces of news I missed last week: Celeste Zyla was born to Edgartonian mom Tilma Zyla on May 4. A sweet new baby that was introduced to us during Porchfest weekend: What could be more local than that? Then a round of applause for Joan Connolly, who had a birthday on May 23, turning 96 years old — cheers to such a long, incredible life! Reflecting on community milestones like that make me sit a bit with the thought of a full arc of life in a small town like Edgartown, the way everyone knows each other, what it means to be born into or grow old in a place like this.
Memorial Day marks not only the unofficial start to the season, but it’s a reminder of this life we have; a moment to appreciate those that might not have had such a long life as Joan, because they made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and for that, I am thankful.
Looking back at Memorial Day weekend, the weather wasn’t what we all wished for, but there might be nothing better than a cloudy, rainy day in town for our retailers to rejoice — every visitor I saw last weekend was walking around with one, two, even three bags from local shops! Because it was not an ideal “beach weekend,” the next best thing to do is to hit the shops. Interestingly, rain can also influence your purchasing decisions. I did some research, and it indicates that rainy days often lead to higher-priced purchases. This might be because you seek comfort or indulgence during dreary weather, which makes a lot of sense.
You’ll note that this column is deeper into reading human emotions and experiences than my usual events listings, because it seems that the week after Memorial Day weekend is a slower one in terms of activities, so how about we talk a bit about the mix of emotions locals feel this time of year? Because two things can be true at once: loving the season and bracing for it at the same time. After having spent about 12 years working in the restaurant industry on-Island, and now living the life of a recovering hospitality worker who gets to actually travel during Memorial Day weekend, I do want to recognize everyone who goes above and beyond to welcome the crowds into town. From the VTA and taxi drivers, the front desk associates at hotels and inns, the waitstaff at restaurants and coffee shops, the retail associates, and everyone in between — thank you, thank you, thank you. The work you do is invaluable to this Island, and is the reason it continues to be a world-renowned travel destination.
With that, I leave you for now. As aforementioned, I’m off for two weeks traveling to Madrid and London to visit family — not something I could ever do before leaving the restaurant industry, so I’m grateful I can do this now. Make sure to thank someone in the hospitality industry this week! Happy birthday to Suzy Crowley (find her at Morning Glory Farm, always with a smile on her face) on May 30 and Julie Scott (find her on a field somewhere, surrounded by farm animals, any day of the week) on June 3. Cheers to you both!