And now, the time has come when we must face the final curtain. Well maybe Frank was a little harsh. We aren’t shuffling off this mortal coil ... but we are, as a family, moving to another island. I don’t want to point out the reasons why ... if you know us, you already know why. I want to let everyone know how much i am going to miss this rock and the people on it.

I never imagined moving away from this island ... ever. It has given us so much. We started our still young family here and this community helped raise them. I can’t imagine a more safe place to raise a child, with the community always keeping an eye out for each other. There is no doubt that feeling is as strong as ever and our kids will carry that with them through their lives. One day they will realize what a gift this community has given them.

I have made some of the strongest friendships of my life on this rock. I have learned from so many and people have given their time and knowledge freely.

Watching Mara slowly immerse herself into the local arts scene and theatre scene, dragging me along at times to my pleasure, has kept me in constant amazement of her skills, devotion and commitment. Pilates teacher, ballet teacher, impresario, lighting/stage manager, French teacher ... gasp for breath ... all things this community allowed her to do and supported her in doing. I dare say she will be missed more than I will.

The green of the grass, the majesty of the trees, the curve of the road, a wave and a nod, power outages in the dark, game of pool at the pub, the mens club (if you have to ask), a walk in the woods, a run around the lake, the view from the ferry coming back home, a somosa at the Snug, a play (theatrical) in the park, petting a dog in the street, trying to get up Seven Hills in the snow, trying to get down Seven hills in the snow, the motorcycle brotherhood, sitting around a fire with friends, hot tubs, so many parties, watching the kids grow, cheese ,hot summer beaches (preferably nude), baseball – oh my, the baseball – the swing of the bat, Eddie’s beard flying in the wind as he turns a triple, sitting in the dugout in the off-season with a beer and a sad heart, raking the field, laying the lines, hitting a home run, the smack talk, the beer garden ... and the magnificent tourney. The end of the year tourney that gladdens and saddens hearts in one weekend. The glorious tourney that I will return to watch every year.

Most of all ... the people. You’re all nuts and it’s a beautiful thing because we are all nuts. I will miss you all profoundly and I’m counting on you to visit whenever you can. But before we go, I hope we see as many people as possible at Collins Hall on Oct. 11 from 3 – 7 p.m. – kids welcome – to say....”see ya’ for now”.

In the immortal words of our local prophet, Ed Sanders, “Stay as sweet as you are, Bowen”.

Stu Davidson