These are very difficult times for our community, our nation, and our world. While we may be tempted to think they may be the worst of times, the truth is they are not. Our parents and grandparents lived through events such as the Spanish Flu, famine, world wars and much more. Yes, we have managed to get through a lot of very challenging situations over the past nearly two years, and we will in all likelihood have to do so again.
We are reminded of the quote by Charles Dickens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Each one of the lines rings true. However, we are no longer in a “winter of despair.” There have been bright spots in the “season of darkness,” and they remind us of happier times and the simple pleasures of just being together and enjoying time-honored traditions.
One of these bright spots, and summer favorite, was the annual St. Roch Feast hosted by St. Roch Church in the Greenwich neighborhood of Chickahominy. It was four consecutive summer nights full of food, music, carnival rides and games of skill and chance. Adults and children of all ages, generations and backgrounds were able to mingle and enjoy the moment, all free of charge and open to everyone, and to dance together to the music of local performers. It was a joyous, happy, uplifting and community-reinforcing occasion; a “just what the doctor ordered” remedy for the lingering effects of pandemic-driven isolation. Even St. Roch, the patron saint of protection against infectious diseases, would have been very pleased.
A second was the Greenwich Police Department Scholarship Fund (GPDSF) car show held last Sunday at Town Hall. Another event open to all free of charge and bringing people of all ages together, it featured some of the most interesting, colorful, elegant, impressive, iconic, classic, and exotic cars ever made. Walking among them was like touring an art museum; crafted in the days before strict adherence to the inflexible laws of aerodynamics, many of these vehicles were like mobile works of art, with angles and curves meant to please the eye rather than contribute to fuel efficiency.
It was a treat to see the faces of the young children as they encountered these metal masterpieces, and to listen to their owners happily explain the features and histories of their prized possessions. We sincerely hope that the GPDSF will consider making the car show an annual event as well.
There will be others over the next few months, including this weekend’s Greenwich Town Party. Organizations will take advantage of our town’s beauty to hold outdoor events in what we hope will be a beautiful fall. We should take advantage of these opportunities to gather safely and enjoy being out after living so long with COVID restrictions.
We have spent so long living with COVID that we may have forgotten how nice it is to gather with friends and neighbors. We may have forgotten how we feel when we attend one of our houses of worship. We may have forgotten how to empathize with those that are doing less well than ourselves. This fall, before winter sets in, is a time when take that first step to remembering.
In his play, “The Tempest,” Shakespeare writes “Whereof what’s past is prologue; what to come, in yours and my discharge.” Let’s see in these difficult times a chance to draw upon the happy experiences of our past to craft more positive outcomes for our future.
