Tuesday morning is here. I switched on the backyard light a few minutes ago. It looks as if it has stopped raining. But the tell tale signs of the heavy rain from last night lingers. I am looking forward to a beautiful fall day. I am keeping a close lookout on my trees. I found a couple of Red leafs yesterday that had fallen from the top of the tree. Okay Blazing glory I am ready for your awesome beauty.
I am sure over the last months at some point I have written about getting my books on tape from the Wolfner Library. They are my life saver, my haven. For when it become harder and harder to make out the written word I slid deeper into a my abyss of self pity. The eye speciltist in Springfield and I had heated words when I complained I wanted to be able to read. "Get in different lights,"he said. "Turn your book around until you can get the most of what you want to read." Excuse me. I wanted to sit down as in the olden days and read. I was frustrated, angry. Then I was added to Wolfner library and things changed. The books have become my friends. The readers also my friends. Their voices have become familiar to me. For when there is a series by a certain author they try to have the same reader doing each book. I hear their voice on a different book and wonder what the character from such and such story is doing there? I love my books on tape.
About three years ago I started listening to the "Martha Vineyard Mystery series." They are written by "Phillip Craig." I was never a big mystery fan until I started listening to the books on tape and was soon hooked. Phillip Craig wrote this series based on Martha's Vineyard. The main man C.W. Jackson. Soon C.W. and his old truck tooling around the Vineyard become a favorite friend. I become to know the sandy beach roads. The Bluefish run, when everyone runs for their poles. To snag the beautiful Bluefish when they rise just below the surface. I was with C.W. when he fell in love with Dee. My heart ached when he thought she left the Vineyard for good. I rejoiced with him when she came back.
If there was trouble I was at his back, watching breathlessly as he righted wrong after wrong. I drank Rum in hot cider and rode in his boat. Along with him, Dee and eventually their kids. I came to know the Vineyard. And felt the sand beneath my feet.
I experienced all of these wonderful things because of a man called Phillip Craig. Who took a empty page and painted words that breathed life into the story. For that is what a real writer does and is able to do. Paint a picture in your mind so vivid that you feel and hear and see, all that he is painting for you. It is magic.
Yesterday I finished the book, "A Vineyard chill." As the book was coming to a close my mind already was jumping ahead to the next book. His best friend had just left on a new schooner he had built. Would CW and Dee with all the kids take their boat and join him? I was already anticipating the next installment. I was not prepared for the acknowledgement at the end. Where the writer thanks all of those that have helped him for bring the book together. I could not believe my ears when they read a acknowledgement from his wife Shirley. He had died soon after he had finished this book. I thought I would cry. I thought only of myself. What would happen to C.W. and Dee? How would I ever visit the Vineyard again? I felt a loss.
He was definitely a weaver of words. A painter who could weave a web around you until you were transported to the place he was writing about. His gift has been left behind. His words forever etched in print. I will miss you Phillip Craig, I will miss the Vineyard too. No more boat rides and sandy walks late at night for me. I will miss getting to go seaweed hunting with C.W. and Dee for their garden.
With these pictures rattling in my head I start my daily trek out of Blogland. It looks as if it rained here too. I wonder if they have lightening in Blogland? Probably. So as I go I neither skip, sing or hum this morning. I think of Phillip and wonder if he is telling the Angels his beautiful stories. I wonder if they have ever heard of the Vineyard before? If not I am sure they have now. All I know is for today. I'm outta here.
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