GRAND ILLUMINATION

THE CROSS ON THE TABERNACLE

I'M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT

LANTERNS READY FOR THE GRAND ILLUMINATION

        IT WAS GRAND  AND LATE.  I MISSED THE BOAT.  I SLEPT ON A BENCH UNDER THE TABERNACLE IN TRINITY PARK.  ALL THE COTTAGE LANTERNS WERE DOWN.  THE  OAK BLUFF FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD DRIVEN AROUND THE CIRCLE AT 10 PM TO SIGNAL LIGHTS(and candles) OUT.   THE BAND HAD PLAYED ON SO LONG BEFORE THE ILLUMINATION THAT I MISSED THE 8:30 BOAT OUT OF OAK BLUFFS AND THE 9:30 OUT OF VINEYARD HAVEN TO WOODS HOLE.

         THERE WAS NO ROOM AT THE WESLEY HOTEL.   THE CIA,SECRET SERVICE,CHAUFFEURS, GUARDS OR PERHAPS THE PRESIDENT'S BASKETBALL AND GOLFING COMPANIONS WERE ROCKING ON THE WESLEY HOTEL'S PORCH.  THERE WERE NO WOMEN THERE.  ALL THE ROOMS WERE BOOKED.

        IT'S EXTREMELY RAINY NOW THIS WEEK IN CAPE COD.  FORTUNATELY IT WAS JUST A BRIEF SHOWER AT THE TIME OF THE GRAND ILLUMINATION.  THE NIGHT WAS WARM AND CALM AS I SLEPT ON THE BENCH UNDER THE TABERNACLE.  WHEN I AWOKE AT 4 AM, A SKUNK WAS NEARBY.  AT 5 I AROSE AND USED THE PORT O SAN BEHIND THE TABERNACLE AND LOOKED FOR AN EARLY BREAKFAST.   THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN OAK BLUFFS.  SO I HEADED FOR THE HARBOR.  A ONE LEGGED WOMAN WITH  CRUTCHES ZOOMED PAST ME AS I WATCHED THE DAY BRIGHTEN.  THE SUN ROSE AROUND 6 AM AND THE BAKERY OPENED FOR APPLE FRITTERS, DONUTS AND COFFEE.  AT 7 I CAUGHT THE BUS TO VINEYARD HAVEN AND CAUGHT THE FERRY BACK TO WOODS HOLE.  MY CAR HAD NOT BEEN TOWED.  ALL WAS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD.

          LATER THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FLEW IN FOR HIS 10 DAY VINEYARD VACATION ON BLUE HERON FARM.  ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN WERE WAITING FOR HIM AT THE WESLEY.  HOPEFULLY THE PRESIDENT WON'T MISS THE LAST BOAT OUT OF THE VINEYARD AND END UP HOMELESS LIKE ME.  GOD BLESS THOSE METHODISTS.  I KNEW I'D BE SAFE UNDER THE TABERNACLE!!!!!