BETTYE FOSTER BAKER

508-696-9983

(bdrbaker@comcast.net)

These are the best of days on the Island when we can reflect quietly at sea’s edge, while dipping in a toe or swimming freely as we think about all that has shaped our time together this summer. It is a time when we can gauge what has been important and why — what photographic, conversational, or literary memories will stick in our minds; what words made us think about those important issues of the day; what happened in morning’s sunrise or evening’s moonlight that we will treasure in the days to come. What moments with friends seen for the last time until next season will we remember? As I leave the Island I will gently pack all of this in my memory and think about it until next year when I return in June, 2009, a year of immense importance in my life which I will share at that time.

This past Saturday we celebrated the 31st annual Tivoli Day in Oak Bluffs, a long-awaited festival which marks the end of summer, and though the weather was fickle it did not dampen the spirit of venders, artists and revelers who were bolstered by live music, and made the most of it. There were some real bargains to hoot about as businesses showed their appreciation to the locals and tourists alike for their support over the summer. Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish moved under Reliable’s canopy and didn’t miss a beat as people danced in the street. I stopped by some of the Circuit avenue shops on Monday to get their impressions of the day. Green-Eyed Daisy shop is new to Circuit Avenue this year, so I wanted to know how they fared. Jeannie Klibanoff wasn’t in so I spoke with one of the managers who said it had been a great day for sales. Lots of folk were enthusiastically perusing their wares while I was there.

Then I was off to Mary’s Linen Store. For sixty-years this shop has been in the same spot on the avenue. Ann Tuccelli was pleased with sales and braved the elements only briefly before coming inside. It is she and her sisters Celia Tuccelli and Elena Iacoviello who have kept Mary’s Linen Store alive since their mother handed down the business to them. The sisters live together in Malden with Elena and her husband, brother in law Louie Iacoviello during the winter. Laughing Bear was next on my list. Manager Elaine Allen said they stayed outside and covered their designer wear. There were many shoppers inside as well and it turned out to be a good day for sales. Finally, I checked out C’Est La Vie and Roger Schilling was also pleased with Tivoli Day sales as he carried on a lively conversation with two customers, Thelma Frazier, of Philadelphia and Theodora McLaurin, of Boston, with whom I talked as we left the store. Both have been summering in Oak Bluffs for forty-years plus and as is usually the case we knew some of the same people. That’s the specialness of Oak Bluffs.

This past weekend I ran into a friend who was spending four days with classmates from Cornell. Jackie Davis, who is a Boston-based decorator and life-style expert who appears routinely on HGTV was joined by Namelda R. Allen, of Wesley Chapel, Fla., who was a technical sales representative at a major telecommunications company, now retired; and Lela Keels, of Hillside, N.J., a jazz performer. All three squeezed in every possible activity on the Island for the four days they spent together. Lela even sang Willow Weep for Me. It doesn’t get any better than that.

This past Thursday, one of the most deserving groups of young people sang at the Tabernacle, the Watoto Children’s Choir Live Concert of Hope from Uganda. Children from the organization, USA Watoto were sponsored by the Faith Community Church of Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Since 1994, Ugandan children have toured all over the world to spread their message of hope for Africa’s children. All choir members have lost their parents to AIDS, war, and/or famine. They live in communities of five or six children with a single designated mother or grandmother who cares for them. There are 60 million orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa. Watoto’s goal is to care for 10,000 children. For more information e-mail the organization Watoto USA at usa@watoto.com. Or write at P.O. Box 1320, Lutz, FL 33548-1320. The telephone number is 813-948-4343.

This will be my last column for the summer. My friend Holly Nadler will take up the pen and I’m off to Pennsylvania. It has been a wonderful summer and I’ve enjoyed every person I met, wrote about and treasured. And remember, don’t forget to open your gifts over the winter.