Island Light: Calm Settles
Schooner Alabama heads out of Vineyard Haven harbor passing East Chop.
Schooner Alabama heads out of Vineyard Haven harbor passing East Chop.
More leisurely time of year encourages strollers on Tea Lane.
More leisurely time of year encourages strollers on Tea Lane.
Deer has Katama dunes to itself.
Deer has Katama dunes to itself.
Great Rock Bight.
Great Rock Bight.
Rebecca Amos, great-grandmother of African American whaling captain.
Rebecca Amos, great-grandmother of African American whaling captain.
It must be after Labor Day is the cruise ships are off Oak Bluffs.
It must be after Labor Day is the cruise ships are off Oak Bluffs.
Sun sets in Katama.
Sun sets in Katama.
And the moon rises.
And the moon rises.
Moon over the surf.
Moon over the surf.
Menemsha minnows.
Menemsha minnows.
Geese cool off in the Ocean Park fountain.
Geese cool off in the Ocean Park fountain.
Dinghies gather in the lee of the Tashmoo landing.
Dinghies gather in the lee of the Tashmoo landing.
West Chop Light.
West Chop Light.
Coast Guard occupies the house at West Chop.
Coast Guard occupies the house at West Chop.
Quitsa boathouse.
Quitsa boathouse.
The change was noticeable just after Labor Day, when Vineyard families had to take their children for the start of school, and the thinning out of the summer population was daily more evident.
The traffic has eased almost back to off-season proportions and parking spaces are no longer rarer than a heath hen. For more than two months, Islanders are like racers who try to run a marathon at the same speed as a hundred-yard dash. We do tend to run out of wind and stamina. But now a calm is settling, and there is time to catch a breath.
Spectacular weather is still ahead, along with events that signal fall — notably the annual Aquinnah Powwow, Tivoli Day, the Wind Festival, and, for a full month, the Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. There's no doubt, however, that the clock has slowed the spinning of its hands a bit, and that's perfectly fine with us.