As a consummate cruiser and lover of all things coastal, I’ve visited many scenic locales over the years. From the breathtaking teal waters of Grand Cayman to the sparkling pink sands of Bermuda, I thought I’d seen it all. Still, nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed firsthand during an impulsive three-day getaway to Martha’s Vineyard this past fall.
By way of backstory, I am a full-time caregiver for my mother, 81, who has Alzheimer’s, stage six. We live in the Houston area, a galaxy far, far away from Martha’s Vineyard. Mom has always loved to see the world and, until this past summer, was my ever-faithful traveling companion. By the fall, however, her condition had deteriorated to the point where I knew she couldn’t handle the trip. Family members offered to care for her while I slipped away for three days of R&R with my good friend and fellow author, Crystal Barnes.
Crystal and I journeyed through the interior of the island, rich with farmland. Here, we almost forgot we were even on an island. The twisting road straightened out, and served as a reminder that even in the very center of my situation God could give me the ability to forget the jagged edges and focus on the straight and narrow path He had placed before me.
From the magnificent scenic overlook, we caught our first glimpse of the waters below, where the Vineyard Sound converged with the Atlantic Ocean. We could literally see the spot where the water changed colors at the point of their seamless merger. Neither was muddied by the other. Each body of water had a beauty all its own. Yet, in their intertwining, the point of intersection, the waters took on a color that simply defied explanation.
Not that we wanted our gaze to linger for long. There was far too much to see on the other side: a grassy perch tipping out onto rugged cliffs that hovered over a breathtaking white sand beach, begging for footprints.
Crystal and I traveled from Aquinnah back to Tisbury where we had lunch at the sweetest little bakery I’d ever seen. I knew this place would have to play a role in my story, and so it has. There we nibbled on yummy sandwiches and sweet treats as we scrolled through our photos, sighing all the while.
In the months since returning to Texas, God has shown me that the message of Martha’s Vineyard was much more than I once thought. He is teaching me that this season of my life, difficult as it might be, can be filled with as many exquisite memories as those I carried away from the island. I never pictured myself visiting Martha’s Vineyard. Likewise, I never anticipated being a caregiver to someone whose memory is as foggy as the morning skies over the cliffs at Aquinnah. But God, with just a whisper, will guide me through each jagged place. And this miraculous journey I’m currently taking with the woman who gave me birth, will, I would imagine, overwhelm me with unexpected points of beauty, much like those I experienced on Martha’s Vineyard, an island that forever holds a special place in my heart.
Sandy
Tuesday 27th of June 2017
Your vivid and inspirational writing causes me to feel as though I am making the journey with you. It renews my hope that I am never alone on my own journey.
JThompson
Thursday 25th of January 2018
Thank you so much!
Anne Payne
Sunday 19th of March 2017
Janice, Your words stirred my heart and brought tears to my eyes. You've a sweet testimony about your Mom. I'm glad you had a pleasant trip. May the Lord bless you greatly!
JThompson
Sunday 19th of March 2017
Thank you so much. This whole caregiver thing has been quite the journey!
Crystal L Barnes
Wednesday 22nd of February 2017
An unforgettable trip! Thanks for taking me along for the journey. :)
JThompson
Wednesday 22nd of February 2017
Let's go again!