This is Katama/South Beach and Katama air field on Martha’s Vineyard.
https://citysonnet.wordpress.com/2019/08/01/august-colors-and-letters/
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Illumination Night On Martha’s Vineyard…
Every few years I post about my favorite summer event on Martha’s Vineyard…
Illumination Night
Illumination Night this year is Wednesday, August 14, 2019
It has always been my favorite event of the summer… going to Illumination Night is a thrill for me no matter what my age.
I think I was 2 and 1/2 the first time I went to Illumination Night. I’m embarrassed to say that even with my annoyingly good memory, I don’t remember it. My first memory of Illumination Night involves wearing a particularly pretty dress so I’m thinking I was around three or four, which would have been around 1946.
My dad, mom, god-mother and I would have an early supper and then walk to the Campground. My dad and I would stroll around looking at all the beautifully decorated gingerbread houses while my mother and god-mother would chat with friends and relatives.
At 8 o’clock the Vineyard Haven Band would begin playing and the always fun community sing would start. Patriotic songs like, America The Beautiful, Yankee Doodle, Battle Hymn of the Republic are always stirring and emotional. It took me a couple of years to learn the words to all the songs and I still get messed up on a couple of the rounds like John Brown’s Baby. The band playing the Star Spangled Banner and the rousing Stars and Stripes Forever are always a crowd pleaser.
But as much fun as that was it was only a precursor to the main event. The Tabernacle and Campground go dark… the crowd cheers. The lighting of the first lantern and then all the gingerbread houses are simultaneously aglow with Japanese lanterns.
Everyone oohs and ahhs and stream out of the Tabernacle to walk through the magical fairyland the Campground has become. My dad would carry me on his shoulders so I could see everything… I felt like I could touch the stars.
After seeing all there was to see we’d head out onto Circuit Ave to either the Frosty Cottage for ice cream or Darling’s for popcorn, a tasty ending to a perfectly enchanting night.
No matter your age, Illumination Night is fun for everyone, I myself morph into an 8 year old.
Illumination Night as described in the Vineyard Gazette:
If you’re on the Vineyard this Wed, Aug 14, 2019 you should go and experience Illumination Night. 
Wake…
Fear…
of heights and flying.
In 1988 we took a cruise that went to Alaska and one of the things I absolutely wanted to do was walk on a glacier but to do that I had to over come my fear of the above mentioned two things… heights and flying in helicopters. But it was worth the angst and I would do it again. The helicopter landed on the glacier and left us there for about a half hour to explore and take pictures. The glacier was bitter cold and we were fitted with heavy boots to keep our feet warm and jackets if we needed them. We did. When the helicopter came back for us it then flew us to the top of the Mendenhall glacier, what an awesome sight.
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/rdp-wednesday-fear/
Photo A Day Challenge: Start With ‘F’…
Front Porches
(all porches are on Martha’s Vineyard except last one which is in Cape May, NJ)
https://citysonnet.wordpress.com/2019/08/01/august-colors-and-letters/
Reflection…
Photo A Day Challenge: Boats…
The ferry Islander, my favorite boat of all time.
Even though not sleek or graceful, for 57 years the Islander brought her own special beauty to the waters surrounding Martha’s Vineyard. The Islander will continue to exist through paintings, photographs and in the memories of those who loved her.
The beloved work horse of a ferry, the Islander plied the waters between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard for 57 years before retiring in the winter of 2007. There was just something about this tub of a boat that endeared her to all who sailed on her… she wasn’t a great beauty but there was something regal about her.
https://citysonnet.wordpress.com/2019/07/01/july-photo-a-day-challenge-2/
