It's Been a Long Year

It's Sunday evening, the 1st day of July. A typically gorgeous day here in Winchester Center, with temperature in the 70's (but dropping) and all the makings of a spectacular sunset coming in from Canaan.


It's the perfect time of day to do something Winchester Center-ish.


Tonight we will call on a friend, a friend who we learned at church this morning is celebrating her birthday today. Mary wasn't at church this morning, but she is such a big part of the community, she doesn't need to actually be there, to be there.


Mary is a woman who lives in the Center on Chapel Road. Her age - as Pastor Pete Dakers informs the congregation - is to be left estimated. She sings in the front row of the choir and sings her heart out. Mary is also often seen walking. Not just out for a stroll, but briskly walking 3 miles a day.

She is also the first person that we ever invited over to the house for dinner when we moved to the Center a few years back. There is something special about Mary. When you meet her, her deep blue eyes, her genuine smile, her quick wit and her obvious soft heart just pull you in. I have learned of course, that like most of us; there is pain hidden in that heart and if you are fortunate to talk to Mary long enough, you may learn of the passionate hurt and love that she carries with her.

Mary is originally from the town of Greenwich, Massachusetts. You may not have heard of Greenwich, Mass, but as Mary is quick to tell you; Greenwich now lies at the bottom of the Quabbin Reservoir, covered with 11o feet of water, where it was sunk in 1938 along with the towns of Dana, Enfield and Prescott. She is still bitter over this, and who can blame her. Why give up the family homestead so snobby Bostonians can have drinking water?


She met Charlie, the man she would marry shortly after that; and seeking work and a new home they moved to Winchester Center in 1946. They moved here without a home and without jobs; just an opportunity for a new life made possible by the generosity of a family member who offered them a place to stay.


Charlie and Mary planned on staying one year. They initially lived on Platt Hill Road, but upon learning there was land available to buy on Chapel Road they decided to build a home there. Charlie designed the house himself, and "everyone that knew how to use a hammer" chipped in and built the house where Mary still lives to this day.


Her beloved Charlie died 14 years ago, and Mary is quick to admit that she misses him dearly every day. She talks of how when they moved to the Center, he was already an experienced fireman and he helped the village get up to date on new firefighting ideas and programs. She tells of how he had a wonderful tenor voice which could be heard loudly in the church. She talks of a love that somehow makes you wonder if you will ever achieve that depth of love in your own life. Wondrous.


But tonight, we go to Mary's house to deliver a simple token of our friendship. A birthday card. Laura aptly picks out a card with a beautiful flower on the front of it. You see, when you approach Mary's house, you will be instantly impressed with the manicured property (which she still maintains herself) and the vast array of colorful flowers. Pink flowers, yellow flowers, white ones and all sorts of baskets of flowers. Yet true to form, Mary's favorite flower is the sweetpea, which she has beautifully arranged in her kitchen.


She is gracious as always, because here in New England, friends don't need an invitation to drop by. She makes a fuss over our son Christian, and instantly becomes grandmotherly. Women like Mary think all children belong to them, and that's the way it should be. We jokingly tell her that Pastor Pete did not divulge her age, and to my surprise she tells us. (I'm not telling Mary's secret, if you want to know, you will have to ask her).


We spend the better part of an hour talking and laughing with our friend, and as she reminisces she speaks the most simple and unforgettable line about why she loves living in Winchester Center. Mary tells us this, "In 1946, Charlie and I were going to move to Winchester Center for one year. We loved it so much we never wanted to leave. It's been a long year".