What a whirlwind of the past couple of weeks! Not only are we holding more events than ever on our little Island, but the weather has been absolutely brutal. I’m one of those people who stubbornly make sure not to complain about cold winters because — I just can’t handle the heat in the summer. And this beginning-of-July weather has had me reminding anyone who will listen: The current weather this summer is not the same Martha’s Vineyard summer as 20 years ago.
With more people, more cars, more ticks, and more extreme heat warnings than ever, I have been having so many conversations lately around the importance of rest. If all you did was wake up and spend the day at the beach, that alone will take a lot more energy and effort than it would have years ago.
Take your time. Be present. Slow down. Rest when you can.
If you know me outside of this column, you may have heard I’ve had a couple of tumbles this summer that are forcing me to slow down too. It’s like a reminder that even if you feel totally fine, your body might be telling a different story on the inside. Something as simple as sitting and listening to the birds, waking up without setting an alarm, receiving a bear hug from a friend, or choosing to bike and feel the wind on your face instead of driving around and sitting in traffic can make a huge difference during the summer crazies.
Last Wednesday was Tisbury’s 355th birthday party, complete with all the necessities of a good street fair: yummy street food, live music, and people walking up and down our Main Street with goodies picked up along the way. If you braved the crowds yourself, you may have seen me in front of Act Two, slinging First Friday Ts and representing Visit Vineyard Haven.
And then just a few days later on Saturday, July 11, Owen Park Beach was transformed into an outdoor movie theater showing “Jaws” on the water. I may have snuck in for the beginning of the movie to see how the space was transformed — people waiting at the bus stop near the Steamship Authority could hear just enough of the iconic soundtrack and other clips heard over the water to wonder what might be lying in wait for us out in the ocean …
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum is celebrating its 103rd birthday with a free Museum Day event Thursday, July 16, 3 to 5 pm. Also on Thursday is Main Street photographer and community staple Michael Johnson’s “Inkwell Folks!” artist reception over in the Oak Bluffs library downstairs meeting room, 5 to 7 pm.
Then on Friday, July 17, from 5 to 7 pm, stop by the Louisa Gould Gallery for an artist reception welcoming new work by world-renowned bronze sculptor Gwen Marcus, and Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists realistic oil painter Paul Beebe. Both of these bigger-than-life artists will be showing their bigger-than-life-size artwork through August 31.
A very happy birthday to my dad, Bruce Stone on Thursday, July 16!
Do you have an upcoming birthday, event, or just something you want shared in a future Tisbury column? Email me at tisburycolumnist@gmail.com with your own stories of our town, or upcoming events you’d like to see spotlighted here.
