Thanksgiving is a week away but I’m thinking today of the person to whom I am thankful for bringing Martha’s Vineyard into my life, and the lives of my family.

My mom, Maude Louise Littlefield Freeman.

Born March 11, 1907 in Waterville, Maine but raised on MV and through her we’ve all come to love the Vineyard.

 

Mom and me 1946.

 

   Little did she know when she set me down on this beach in Oak Bluffs  for the first time in 1943 what an important and life defining moment it was.  CLICK HERE for more about my mom.

Same beach 2010

Passing the Vineyard to new generations is a tradition for lots of families and mine is no different.

  Here at State Beach in Oak Bluffs in the early evening one May is my daughter Deb and her dog Chappy.

My daughter Patty and son-in-law Mike at Aquinnah.

  The next generation appears.  My grandchildren Tiffany and Tyler at Edgartown lighthouse in 1996 during their first trip to the Vineyard.   It was the month of May, not swimming weather but good for collecting shells and rocks and seeing the ocean for the first time.

My entire family has been to MV with me at one time or another but never all of us at the same time. That’s okay though as the Vineyard is a different experience depending on who I’m there with.

I hope she knows how grateful we all are to her for the gift of the Vineyard she gave to us…. thank you Mom

This post was prompted by a ‘small world’ cyberspace meeting this week with someone with ties not only to the Vineyard but to my mom. Thank you B for urging me to dig out old photographs and stories to share.