Monday, October 31 - Hallowe'en

It has been a few weeks since I posted. Sometimes life becomes so busy it's hard to stop and take a breath. I try to; I do not like to be overly booked or so busy I cannot take time for a loved one or friend or my hobbies. I love to read (it is a passion of mine) and like to spend at least a few hours every night doing so. And "life" stuff happens. I am busier now than I ever was when I worked for so many years. Not sure how that happened!

Chores, spending time with family, visiting is some of it. I am a member of the Town Cultural Council, and have obligations there as well. We get our annual grant requests at this time of year and meet in a few weeks to decide on them. Limited funds to try and stretch to cover valuable and needed community programs that will enrich and enhance lives of our local citizens. Art, music, science, theater. Programs the schools and library could not put on without our help. I also volunteer at the local library with some of their programs.

Paint and write in my spare (ha ha) time.

And tonight is Hallowe'en. I do not get trick or treaters up here in my apartment. I really miss that. When I lived in Webster I got a TON of kids every year. Went through 4-6 bags of candy! Plus I got to see a ton of cute and original costumes. I loved it :) And I gave out the "good" candy that parents hate but kids love - Snickers, M&Ms, Reese's, Milky Way.

Hallowe'en.... when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. Its origins date back over 2000 years ago when the Druids and the Celts celebrated the "in between" of autumn and winter with a huge bonfire and feast (to keep it simple - it is far more complicated than that). It was their New Year, and a time to remember the departed and ward off evil spirits.

The Church got involved in the 9th century when it was trying to convert people and rout the pagans. As in many other instances, the Church started its own traditions based on Celtic and Druid festival days. Pope Gregory (700s) moved All Saints Day from May to October 31 as one example.

The origins of Hallowe'en (Samhain, pronounced Sow'een) lie in Ireland and the UK. It is still celebrated by Christians, Pagans, Druids, Wiccans, etc. to this day. Pumpkins are carved, candles are lit, treats are shared. Thanks is given.

Enjoy your evening, folks! I am going to light a few candles of my own and celebrate :)

October 12 - Massachusetts

Awe.

Awe is that soul-stirring wonder experienced, sparked by a number of things. The night sky lit up with endless stars. Majestic mountains rising up and dominating the landscape.The ocean, full in its fury or calm.

Webster's defines it as respect, wonder, and fear. It is, all of that, and more. I know this for a fact first-hand.

I read an article in the paper last Sunday about awe which was so aprapos. Especially after my trip to Canada. My past travel experiences - the mountains, the oceans. I have seen and experienced Nature at her best and worst.

I have re-read the article several times. I was struck by its relevance at the point I am in my life now. I will quote a bit from the article, written by Paula Spencer Scott:

"Awestruck - altered in an instant by an electricfying emotion scientists have only recently begun to study. Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast or beyond the human scale that transcends our understanding of things" [Dacher Kelmer, head psychologist of UCal Berkeley's Social Interaction Lab].

"Kids and grown-ups alike have fewer chances these days to find such transformative moments".

Too much chatter; too many electronic devices interfere. I am guilty of the same at times

Awe is "a wow of astronomical proportions...our thinking shifts".

Awe is when we realize we are part of something so much larger it almost hurts to take it all in.
I think back on all my trips and realize how extremely fortunate I have been. To have experienced, taken in, and yeah, recognized that kind of Awe.

The kind that almost brings you to your knees.

All of the mountains - the Alps in their sunny glory or in a blinding snow. The Rockies, so brilliant under a late-winter sunshine. The White Mountains I love so dearly in any season.

The edge of the sea in Canada, even in the rain. Maybe even especially in the rain.

It is an amazing treasure  and not one to be taken lightly.

I, for one, do not.

Recognize those moments and hold them. Ponder them, and hold them closely.

September 30 - October 2, Martha's Vineyard Inn Review

Apologies for the delay - I have been under the weather with a bad cold since Friday night.

The Inn was awesome! Not far outside downtown Oak Bluffs. I am (selfishly, I realize!) keeping the name to myself as I scored big time on a couple of very large rooms, both with kitchenettes and easy access for unloading and loading :) for a good price.

Hotel rooms on the Vineyard run $300-$500 a night as a rule. These were well under $200! Not to mention the size and the cleanliness!!

Brother's room was a bit smaller than mine, but he did have an end unit. Hardwood floors throughout, both of us had eat-in tables (to take advantage of the kitchenette), and all the amenities. No complimentary breakfast, but it was not a hardship. In-unit full size coffee pots and cook tops, to keep in mind for that return visit in the Spring!

I really felt quite at home! I had a full-size fridge in my room, and enough space for 3 more of me :)

Here are the pix I took. Enjoy!!

Outside office

From porch

The pic below - well it struck my odd sense of humor. The hotel was very clear about no smoking inside, etc. In fact,the whole island is (where you can smoke, or mostly cannot, how far away from the buildings, etc.). I think if the powers that be had their way the Vineyard would be entirely non-smoking.

Still, the hotel felt it had to add that sign? Made me chuckle :)

Really???

From porch - yeah it poured Sat. night!

Room

Picture in room

Kitchenette