Martha's Vineyard 2012



"Be a storehouse of happy memories." -Gretchen Rubin

Menemsha Inn, photo courtesy of the Inn's website

              Family Reunions.  Images of perfection or drama and trauma.  Thankfully, when much of my Family decided to meet on Martha’s Vineyard in June, it was the former.  My Sister and her Family, which includes 2 children ages 10 and 7, try to come home from their magnificent home in Lake Tahoe once a year or so.  Since they live near one of the most beautiful lakes in our country, they want ocean when they come back East.  Martha’s Vineyard has stolen their hearts (as it does so many). 

             Around twenty five of us, ranging in age from 7 weeks to 80, descended on  Menemsha Inn for 4 nights the last week of June (the day we left the rates almost doubled).  It was sublime.  The grounds and accommodations are truly beautiful.  We stayed in traditional hotel rooms (all of which include small fridges) to one and two bedroom cottages.  (My Brother appropriately had the 2 bedroom cottage titled the Castle.  If you knew and loved Him as I do, you’d fully understand!).

             Our group was headed by the “Aunties”, my Mom and Aunt, Sisters who have been best friends our whole lives.  Consequently, our combined families, my generation consists of 10 now ranging in age from 55 to 36, were raised almost as one.  Our children, Cousins many of whom who see each other only once a year, quickly became BFF’s immediately, as only kiddos can. 

             It was awesome to watch.  Two young tweens who are “Gingers”, as my Daughter calls them (red-heads), were thick as thieves and very busy.  Following closely behind them were two little Sisters, ages 5 & 3, who thought the Big Girls were the cat’s meow.  Their Baby Brother was the center and focus for much of the time being an easy and awesome little trooper.  The Boys, ranging in age from 7-10, did what they do best, played pickup games of waffle ball, gently! encouraging each other along, sometimes allowing the Girls to join.  The teens were very happy being just that, teens, barely showing their faces to us, and getting dressed up with nowhere to go (which my own Daughters, 30 and 28 years old, also did one evening for dinner down the road at the Homeport Restaurant, owned by the Inn).

Breakfast, photo from the Inn's website

Each morning at breakfast (included in the room rate, and quite nice with fresh fruits, yogurt,cereals, breads, and home-made pastries, scones, juices, etc) Everyone would bump into each other and make plans for the day.  The mornings consisted of what I mentioned above.  Many took walks, bike rides (some brought theirs, but the Inn rents them as well), played tennis, did Yoga, fished (my Brother in Law is an avid Fly-fisherman, is a Guide as a matter of fact in California, so one Cousin’s Husband and Son happily joined him), or simply relaxed.  

Lucy Vincent Beach, photo courtesy of MV website

            Mid-day we’d all meet up and ferry to the beach (meaning Mom ferried so that she and Auntie could have her car to meander the Island, have lunch, shop, and as my Cousin said, talk about all of us!).  Day one we went to the Lucy Vincent beach, the second day the beach near Gay Head.  The Inn has passes for some beaches, as unbelievably, many, if not most of the beaches on the Vineyard are private. 
            
                From Alexandra Styron’s article “Walking Martha’s Vineyard” in the August 12, 2011 New York Times:  “…Coastal property law in these parts is a convoluted affair.   Relying on a Colonial-era ordinance, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has managed to skirt the federal Public Trust Doctrine, which holds all land between the high and low tide lines “in trust for its citizens”.  Walkers in virtually any other state could traverse the ocean flats largely unimpeded, but on Martha’s Vineyard (and on Nantucket), most beaches are private.  One can expect to be blocked by an industrious beach guard (my note: we were) or overzealous hedge-fund manager at least every couple of miles.  (If you like your movie stars histrionic, try trespassing to the west of Chillmark’s ucy Vincent Beach.) (my note, again: we didn’t try due to the above-mentioned guards).

             Coming back to the Inn, we’d have munchies time, which included all sorts of stuff…we had progressive cottage to room visits.  Watching the sunset was the big event as Menemsha is famous for the sunsets (much like Mallory Square in Key West, without the carnival like atmosphere).  And, if you know me, I’m all about sunsets!  Word to the wise, much, if not most, of the Vineyard is “dry.”  So, planning ahead is a must, if you enjoy your glass of wine at sunset as I do.  (All restaurants allow BYOB, most with a corkage fee, of course.)
          


Patio @ The Beach Plum, photo courtesy of the Inn's website

                   The second evening we all descended onto the patio of the Beach Plum Inn next door, also part of the Inn.  Again, the setting was perfection.  The restaurant is considered one of the best on the Island, apparently, and it is not cheap (actually not much on the Island is cheap..)  Desperately needing real food, we ordered some salads, and healthy appetizers.  Very good, but pretty meager in the portion size (did I mention, not cheap?!). 
         We had arranged for a bon-fire in the Beach Plum’s fire pit (to the tune of $50!).  Marshmallows appeared (not wanting to get into the mess and hastle of the whole smores thing).  It was worth it, a delightful couple of hours, singing, laughing…(sorry for the People who spent the big bucks on their expensive dinners as the restaurant was pretty close..did I mention my Family is anything but quiet?!).  Not sure who had more fun that night the adults or the kids..but that’s the point, right?



Sunset @ Menemsha Harbor, photo from MV website

            The weather prediction for the week had been iffy, but as Mark Twain said:  “If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a minute.”  I have learned to stop planning my life based on weather reports, you just have to “do it.” (thanks, Nike).  The weather was perfect.

           It was truly a wonderful “get-together”, especially so for me as both of my Ladies were able to come.  My Brother has already reserved his Castle for next June.  The rest of us are waiting a bit to see how our year plays out.