Island Light: Quietude
Bath houses at East Chop Beach Club await warmer weather.
Bath houses at East Chop Beach Club await warmer weather.
Pulled ashore for the winter.
Pulled ashore for the winter.
Plenty of seats available.
Plenty of seats available.
Ceaseless waves rise and fall at Katama.
Ceaseless waves rise and fall at Katama.
Ripples of rain drops in Eel Pond moorings.
Ripples of rain drops in Eel Pond moorings.
Misting rain at Memorial Wharf.
Misting rain at Memorial Wharf.
Warning of jellyfish in February might be a little over cautious.
Warning of jellyfish in February might be a little over cautious.
Rowing gig reflections in the Vineyard Haven harbor.
Rowing gig reflections in the Vineyard Haven harbor.
The right time of year to skateboard in Oak Bluffs.
The right time of year to skateboard in Oak Bluffs.
Moving sand.
Moving sand.
Arriving in her slip.
Arriving in her slip.
Spending the off season on a cradle.
Spending the off season on a cradle.
Downtown stone wall in Vineyard Haven.
Downtown stone wall in Vineyard Haven.
Foggy night at the high school.
Foggy night at the high school.
On the Island, we measure and treasure the months of quietude, the resting period before the approach to the summer season begins, and it causes us to come up short to realize that February is more than halfway done and spring is little more than a month away.
So far the Vineyard winter has been manageable — hardly mild, but certainly less intimidating than some in recent memory. The pleasures of the season, in fact, have been unmarred by crippling storms. There's been some cold, but a New England winter would seem a cheat if it lacked all bite. Our sly satisfaction now is that the days are beginning to lengthen, and by more than a minute or two. Nights still are longer, but the annual triumph of light is beginning, and the perception alone can cause spirits to rise.