On Wednesday, October 5th MV Obsession will be 9 years old. NINE. Nine years of obsession about the place that I love most in the world, that’s a lot of obsessing. Today’s post will be number 982 and it all began with these words…
Hi, my name is Joan and I’m a Vineyard-a-holic… ‘
Followed by…
‘In the beginning…..
My obsession/love affair with Martha’s Vineyard started early in my life. I was around 2 and a half in this picture and this was already my second trip.
My connection to MV was through my mother who although was born in Maine was raised on MV. She went to Oak Bluffs high school (there was no regional high school, each town had its own back then) and after graduating moved to NJ where she met my father and quickly converted him into an MV fan.
We stayed with my godparents in Oak Bluffs every summer. Life on MV was so different from Newark, NJ where I spent the other part of my existence. My mother and I would take the train from NY to Woods Hole in June, my dad would arrive for the entire month of August and we’d all sadly leave the beginning of September.
My summers were filled with trips to the beach in Oak Bluffs… endless rides on the Flying Horses… ice cream at the Frosty Cottage on Circuit Ave… popcorn at Darling’s… fairs and parades… at least one trip to Gay Head (Aquinnah)… visiting relatives in Indian Hill… movies… setting pins at the bowling alley in Oak Bluffs… endless hours at the Oak Bluffs library… Bible school at the Tabernacle… Illumination Night… and one especially painful memory of my first and only dance lesson at the Tivoli ballroom where the Oak Bluffs police department now stands.
These are just a few snippets of memories and stories I’d like to share. Hope whoever reads them finds them as enjoyable as I did experiencing them.’
MV Obsession isn’t strictly about the Vineyard anymore but like the header says it’s ‘almost all the time.’
Feel free to wander through the category links along the right side, visitors are always welcome
Happy 9th blogiversary MV Obsession
Pennsylvania Station was built in 1910, covered nearly 8 acres, extended 2 city blocks and was one of the largest public spaces in the world. Its 3 year demolition began in October 1963. It was replace with another Penn Station which Madison Sq Garden sits atop… it’s functional but not as beautiful as the original
The train stopped at what is now the staging area for cars waiting to get onto the ferries. The tracks ran under the overpass in the left corner of this photograph. It was literally only steps from train to boat. A comfortable and luxurious way to travel in the days when lots of people didn’t have cars and the road system left a lot to be desired anyway.
The trains had dining cars with each table dressed in fancy tablecloths and crisply ironed napkins. The waiters and conductors were always the same and seemed to remember me from year to year… made me feel special and grown up. Train service to
We’d land in Oak Bluffs and our relatives would be there to greet us, and three glorious months on the Vineyard would begin.
This is Amie, she is Brady’s dog and the official greeter for us four-legged guests. She showed us right to our room and clued me in on the good things to sniff and check out. She’s really nice.
Our room had a window seat, I wasn’t sure what that was although I’ve heard mom say time and time again that she’d love to have one. Now I know why, they’re wonderful.. I mean really, a big window to look out of and the sun pouring in to bask in… what more (except food) could a guy ask for. Once in awhile I actually shared it with mom… see how happy she looks… I do too.
