Commentary
Christmas 2007
The sound of December has been the scrape and rumble of the snowplow along Island roads, accompanied by the howl of the Montreal Express. The winter solstice is tomorrow and cold weather has arrived with a vengeance. Island homes are hung with wreaths and white lights abound, warding off the darkest season with cheerful winks and twinkles through pine boughs, bare branches and ship masts on the harbors. In the inky night sky, the moon is waxing and due to be full on Christmas Eve.
M enemsha was all hunkered down
’Twas quiet like all Chilmark town
In winter when it’s cold — and snow
Is falling as all folk do know
And Dutcher Dock is still — except
For Scott McDowell who’s so deft
At making copper fish to sell
For he must pound and tap as well
To make his fish come out just right.
His cod and sole are quite a sight.
Few boats are tied up at the dock
And so it came as quite a shock
To Santa Claus to see bright lights
The miracle that is Red Stocking has happened again. Through a tremendous effort on the part of hundreds of donors, volunteers, vendors and Red Stocking committee members, we distributed food, clothing, books and toys to 334 Vineyard children from 230 families. The piles and piles of wrapped presents that filled Grace Church last Thursday were cheerfully and efficiently sorted and organized into a sea of numbered bags ready for Friday morning’s pickup. This represented an increase of over 50 children from last year.
In 1963 Pat, my husband was sent to Paris on business and I went along too. Our daughter Christine was with us. Pat was scheduled to go to Stockholm and since Chris and I had Eurail passes we thought it would be interesting to accompany him. It was Christmastime and as it turned out at the last minute Pat’s assignment was changed to London, but Chris and I decided to go to Stockholm anyway and we did.
HELPFUL ISLAND
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
One of Six
From the Vineyard Gazette editions of December, 1982: