I need a vacation! The island is calling me.

As I have mentioned about a billion times, Arlene and I are going back to Martha's Vineyard June 1st. We are thoroughly enchanted by this little bit of heaven. We are booked and itching to travel. Both of us have been shuffled around at work. From location to location, two or three days a week for various reasons, me, covering vacations, working re-openings, Arlene, pretty much the same except she had to go into town to work at one of our premiere stores for some new "training". She doesn't need training and neither do I. 

We've been bought and sold several times since the original family sold out in 1964. By the way the family who started the Star Market Co. are the people who pay for the 4th of July Boston Pops concerts. In 1999 things changed. We were sold again to an English company, Sainsbury but this time we were stuck together with another New England Supermarket company which Sainsbury owned. One that was practically unknown in the Boston area then they began renaming the stores. We had 60 stores in the area, the other company had 6 though they had more stores in New England. However they were practically unknown around here. Suddenly last year they started renaming the Boston area stores back to the original names because those geniuses suddenly announced that the name has a long history around here. Well pardon my French, but no shit Sherlock!

So stores are being remodeled, and reintroduced with the original name. Arlene and I have been shuffled around. On one the one hand it's a compliment because we know our jobs. Both Arlene and I work in the two top stores in the company. Both pull in over a million a week. The stores not us. On the other hand it shows that they shouldn't have laid off 700 people a year ago. They don't have enough help. Last week they wanted to send Arlene to a store on the other side of Boston. She refused. Driving across Boston during the morning or evening rush hour can be quite taxing. She didn't want to make the drive and I don't blame her. Then they found out that we are a couple and sent me there as well, essentially so I could drive Arlene. The store is actually very close to the JFK Library which I admit I have yet to visit. Shame on me. So we are both worn out and the island is calling us. We go in June and September. Nice weather ,no crowds. It's so quiet and peaceful.
Here's a sunrise shot from Oak Bluffs, where we stay.

 Here's a sunset from the other side of the island in Aquinnah.

   I've used some of these video clips before but not all of them. It starts with us on the highway entering Boston at 6 a.m.     




I have to admit that it's been hard for me or Arlene to have a semblance of a normal life. I could start work at 6 a.m. or at noon. Sometimes I get home at 9:15 in the evening and have to get up at 4 to be in by 6. You can't eat or sleep properly. The last few months I have had only enough energy to wash my dishes and do laundry and that's only because I really have to.
As I was writing this I received a phone call from Arlene informing me that she will be going part time. She has had enough. I'm not that far behind. It will be an adjustment for her as I suppose it will be for me. I will find it hard not to have the same amount of money coming in as I have had for the last 43 years (as of April 1st) but I do have savings and I will not be out on the street. Will I be able to hit Martha's Vineyard twice a year? Maybe not but I'm sure going to try.
I watch the video's from time to time and it gives me peace. Once again some of the clips in the following video have been used before but I made another video of us just walking around. It's so quiet and peaceful. For about a week all we have to do is decide where and what to eat, where to go or not go. It's our own personal slice of heaven and we are so fortunate to have this place such a short 3 hours trip from home.


At this point let me just say what a giant pain it was to put this blog together. Not because I couldn't think of anything to write but because of this computer. It took forever to upload the videos and then I couldn't find the video on my YouTube channels. Then when I found the video I couldn't get it to my blog. Now I finally managed to do it in a most unusual way involving another little laptop I have. I can't even explain exactly how I finally did it because I don't remember. This computer's days are numbered.

So I guess I'll stop whining and put this baby to bed. Now it's a little past 10 p.m. and I have to be up in six hours. This thing has taken two days to put together. Goodnight Irene and everybody else.
I'm outta here.