It’s a familiar annual ritual. On the third Thursday in November, folks travel from near and far to gather to break bread.

Aging. It can zap you of the energy you once experienced as a child, brittle your bones, clog your arteries, wrinkle your skin, and, at some point, nudge you into the category know as elderly.

They may or may not be the ones we were born into, but if you’re truly a member of a community, you’re there because you belong.

One thing I love about Halloween is its unique ability to gather people together.

I’m not a travel blogger nor do I plan to be, but I’ll share that I fled “the rock” for the Rocky Mountains with my remarkable daughter and steadfast 87-year-old mom.

For many, after the competitive energy subsides, the essence of camaraderie extends far beyond the closing bell of the 80th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.