Congratulations to everyone who helped build the Chilmark Preschool building. School starts for both the Chilmark School and the Preschool on Sept. 8.
This week brought the terribly sad news of Marty Nadler’s death. He was a true mensch who could make a quip about life that threw me out of complacency into a side-aching belly laugh, the kind where you are trying to catch your breath, and your hands are torn between holding your sides and wiping your tears.
When we hit Philbin or Lucy Vincent Beach, we cannot help but remember Marty’s “60 is not the new 20, especially if you’re nude.”
He was famous and generous with his time. I encourage you to read his fine obit, written by his son Charlie and still beloved friend ex-wife Holly Nadler, in this paper.
Marty taught me by example and words what it meant to, as Dolly Parton advised, “Find out who you are and do it with purpose.” He also said, “Don’t ever sacrifice who you are, your principles and your morals and your values, to just try to get ahead in business. It ain’t worth it.”
May their memories be a blessing.
Carly Simon’s new album, “Comes in Waves,” is out, and it’s terrific. Plenty of songs with lyrics and tunes that stay with you in the best ways.
The refrain from “Howl” comes in handy:
“Well, you win some, and you lose some
But philosophy won’t help you now
So get it out of, of your system
Bang your fists and beat your brow
Howl like the wind, roar like the river
Wail like the rain, cry, shout, and shiver
Shake like a dog, hiss like a fire
Scratch out the moon …”
The song “Love Has No Ending” featuring her children, Sally and Ben Taylor, is the one I want to play for my children and grandchildren.
This Saturday, Sept. 5, from 3 to 4:30 pm, Harriet Bernstein hosts a reception of her big painting inspired by dance in the Chilmark library. It will be on display with her other work until Sept. 26.
Thank you, Sig Van Raan, for faithfully reporting the Chilmark Softball games: “This week’s game was, for practical purposes, the season-ending game, although as in the past, there was talk of trying to put a lineup together for Labor Day weekend. Again, a well-played game and a great mix of older and younger players.
“Eight-year-old infielder-outfielder Beckett Heller, grandson of longstanding first baseman Keith Heller, played another great game of defense and offense, and was awarded this year’s Rookie of the Year trophy and was unanimously applauded.
“Traces of conversations — from Hamas-Israel to Yankees–Red Sox, to cognitive decline, to
majoring in political science to ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ versus Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ for movie night, to hearing-aid malfunction, to glorious late August sky and ‘soak it all in as time flies’ … the conversations, the support for each other’s efforts — a kid getting an award — the older guy making a great defensive stop — it’s Chilmark Softball, originated in a backyard almost 100 years ago.”
