Island Life

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I know how lucky we are to own the home that we do on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, seven miles off the coast of Cape Cod. (Holmes Coffin House.) It is well-situated in the Historic District of Edgartown. We walk to almost everything. But getting to the island can be challenging, particularly this season, as there were MANY ferry cancellations due to mechanical issues with the ships, or crew shortages. If one person called in sick, that entire ferry’s service had to be scraped for the entire day, and this was a busy summer. So no one who had reservations on those boats was guaranteed passage that day and had to scramble. During the peak of the season in July and August, this could be terribly inconvenient. What if you were trying to get to a doctor appointment, or flying out of the Boston airport later in the day? Tough luck.

As a home owner, I am allowed to make up to 10 reservations in January, when the reservations for the season open up, and I do make mine then, but plans change. (I normally am on the island from late May through the first of October; then I learned that my 50th Brandeis Reunion would be the last weekend of September, so I changed my reservation. A Rose Museum opening and lecture earlier in that week caused another change, and now I incurred a change fee. When something came up on that Monday, there were no ferries off. And it was like that for the entire month of July and August; we could not get a ferry off if we wanted to). On an Islander Facebook page, someone complained that he had a doctor appointment later that week, but the ferry website showed NO FERRIES available for weeks! This is unacceptable. Everyone griped about it all summer. The website frequently showed nothing available. Even if one calls the reservation line, the operator looks at the same information that we do. Evidently the trick is to go in person to the office – something that a person off-island cannot do. The people in the terminals have real-time data, but that doesn’t help those of us who are trying to get or change reservations from someplace other than the island.

And storms would cause ferries to be cancelled or diverted from Oak Bluffs to the more sheltered port of Vineyard Haven, but if you didn’t check, you might not know, leaving you high and dry.

Constant notifications this season from the Steamship Authority

Businesses said their revenues were down because people couldn’t get to the island. (Somehow, car traffic seemed almost as bad as usual during the height of the season, however.)

Because we live so close to the water and frequently dine on the harbor, we do get to see some spectacular yachts in port. After dinner, we’ll walk over to gawk.

Yacht in Edgartown harbor, 2017

Yacht is Tisbury, 2024

Many of these are available for charter. Dan looks them up. The fees are beyond comprehension, but we do like to look at them. Years ago, when we owned small boats, we’d take them out for close inspection and to watch some of the races taking place in the inner harbor.

One foggy September morning, as I left the island to come home for chorus practice, I got a lovely shot of Vineyard Haven harbor before a surly dock hand told me I was too close to the edge of the ship. Being on the water has its own charm. I find it relaxing to see nature in all its beauty. I just want the Steamship Authority to run smoothly. It is clear that the fees for ferry tickets for passengers as well as vehicles will increase next season, as the SSA ran a huge deficit this season and the manager announced that he will step down next year. Costs go up, reliability and service decrease. And this is our lifeline to the mainland. What are we to do? I hear calls for the Steamship Authority to be taken over by the state and become a public utility. Then I look at how badly managed the T (our subway) is and think better of it. There must be someone who knows how to manage the place!

Foggy morning, as seen from the ferry

 

The Last Drop

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My mother was out on some errand, and Susan asked if she could have a cup of coffee.  That seemed important to her (we didn't understand the caffeine imperative yet), so my older sister and I, who had never actually made coffee, tried to rise to the occasion. 
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Shot Glass

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Shot Glass

Ever wonder who buys those shot glasses sold in tacky souvenir shops?  I confess I do,  and have quite a collection.

I’m not sure when I began collecting shot glasses,   but probably on a vacation when looking for a souvenir of the trip,  or a gift for the cat-sitter.  In any case we now have several dozen with the names of favorite travel destinations over the years,  and we both use at least one of them every day.

(Oh, not to measure our vodka or gin  – we’re not big drinkers.  They’re just so handy counting out our daily pills.)

RetroFlash / 100 Words

– Dana Susan Lehrman

Some Of My Travels

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Retrospect: Some Of My Travels

By Kevin J. W. Driscoll (c) 2024

I‘ve been around the block more times than a city bus, mostly due to my stint as a computer trainer, a job that seemed to require me to be everywhere but home. The US, of course, was my stomping ground, a vast and varied landscape that never failed to surprise and disappoint in equal measure. But it was my trips abroad that really opened my eyes.

Japan, for instance, was a revelation. I mean, I knew it was clean, but it was like they had a secret army of tiny ninjas whose sole purpose was to sweep up every speck of dust before it even had a chance to settle. And the food? Forget the sushi, I’m talking about the salads. I had a salad in Japan that was so fresh, I swear I could hear the lettuce giggling. And the people? Well, let’s just say they weren’t exactly waving “We Hate America” flags. In fact, they were so polite, I half expected them to apologize for the weather.

Then there was England, or as I like to call it, “The Land of Fish and Chips and Endless Apologies.” London, in particular, was a fascinating melting pot of cultures. People from all over the world, living side by side, mostly getting along. It was like a real-life episode of “Friends,” but without the annoying ones.

I remember one particularly memorable experience in London. I was walking down the street, minding my own business, when a complete stranger stopped me and said, “Excuse me, but I believe you dropped your wallet.” I thanked him profusely and checked my pocket. Sure enough, there it was. I couldn’t help but laugh. In the US, someone would have probably picked it up, kept the cash, and then donated the wallet to charity.

So there you have it, the shortened version of my global adventures. From the cleanliness of Japan to the politeness of England, I’ve seen a lot. And while I’ve certainly had my fair share of mishaps and misunderstandings, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. (Ha ha.).

After all, what’s life without a few good stories to tell?

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The Words, Punctuations & Exclamation

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I’ve always been a bit of a word nerd. I love the way they sound, the way they feel on my tongue, and the way they can paint vivid pictures in my mind. But I’ve also learned that words are a double-edged sword, capable of both great beauty and great destruction.

One of my earliest memories of the power of words was when I was a child and said something particularly stupid to my best friend. I can’t remember exactly what I said, but it was something along the lines of “You’re as dumb as a rock.” My friend burst into tears, and I felt terrible. I realized then that words could have a profound impact on people’s feelings.

As I got older, I became more aware of the different ways that words can be used. There are words that can inspire, words that can comfort, and words that can destroy. There are words that can be used to manipulate, to deceive, and to control.

I’ve also had my fair share of misunderstandings with foreign speakers. Once, while traveling in Japan, I tried to order a coffee, but the waiter misunderstood me and brought me a plate of octopus. It was a hilarious situation, but it also taught me the importance of clear communication.

In recent years, the way we use words has changed dramatically. With the rise of social media, we can now send our words around the globe with a simple click. But this also means that we have to be more careful about what we say. A careless comment can be shared with (too?) many people in an instant, and the consequences can be problematic, to say the least.

So, how have words figured into my life? Well, they’ve been a source of joy, frustration, and everything in between. They’ve helped me to connect with others, to express myself, and to learn about the world around me. But they’ve also taught me the importance of using them wisely and with respect.

As Pearl Strachan Hurd reminds us, “Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atomic bombs.” It’s a wise piece of advice that I try to keep in mind every day.

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