by Mary Wakefield Buxton –
URBANNA —
Our fall season is coming to a close in Middlesex County as Christmas nears. Here are some activities I especially noted in and around the county.
October opened with the annual “Turkey Shoot” Regatta conducted at Rappahannock Yacht Club in Irvington. Husband, Chip, and grandson, Joseph, were guests on Heather and Bill Dotson’s lovely Catalina 26 sailboat in the race the first weekend in October.
Sponsored by Riverside Hospital and other businesses, registration fees help fund area hospice. The two-day regatta features sailboats 25 years or older and some real beauties show up each year for the competition.
Part of the excitement of this regatta when one signs up to participate, is one never knows what kind of weather to expect. Does one wear swimsuits and wide brimmed hats and take plenty of sunscreen for a day on the river under a blazing sun? Or wrap up like an Eskimo for high winds and frigid weather? Or swallow Dramamine for a sail in high velocity winds and white-capped water?
Over the years participants have experienced it all but this year there was no wind and a blazing sun. My grandson reported a hot day on the river saved by Heather who pulled out her guitar which they all enjoyed.
The Woman’s Club in Richmond opened its season with guest speaker consultant, Susan Eisenhower, describing her memories growing up with her famous grandparents, General and then-President Dwight Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie Eisenhower. I attended by Zoom but it was interesting to hear her describe the world figures that often visited her grandfather we all knew as “Ike” even after he left office.
A few weeks later I did another Zoom lecture to hear historian Willem F.P. de Vogel compare China today to Germany in 1938. It was eerie to hear what Hitler was doing at that time so closely repeated today by leadership in China.
Vogel believes data indicates China is beating us in what he describes as the technology and economic war. History teaches great republics rise and fall and it appears from his aspect America has begun its decline. (If more Americans studied history we would be much better off.)
Sister, Georgia, entertained her older sisters, Alice and me, for her annual “Birthday Bash” celebrating our growing another year older. Alice and I are becoming old enough not to want to celebrate another passing year but why ruin our sister’s fun that is younger by 8 and 10 years?
The Urbanna Oyster Fest was cold and windy. I skipped my usual stint at the Sentinel selling books on Friday because it was too cold. On Saturday it was a little warmer and I was at the Sentinel table greeting readers and friends for a few hours before the parade. The crowds were big and enthusiastic. I didn’t see one mask. I think Virginians have had enough of masks and stay home mandates. Many thanks to Joe Heyman, Eric Faudree and their team of volunteers for another successful oyster fest.
Urbanna Firehouse hosted an evening of bluegrass music in November and we stopped by to enjoy the music and singing. More than 10 musicians consisting of guitars, fiddles and banjos soon had our toes tapping. My favorite was their rendition of a Johnny Cash song “Rings of Fire.” Don’t miss a chance to enjoy bluegrass music when it returns to Urbanna in April.
The next night we enjoyed classical music, “Music of the Night” at Urbanna Baptist Church. The string quartet was made up of Peggy Watson, Alice Cryer, Beth Austin and Nina Buzby. The pieces which ranged from Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” to Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” to Carmichael’s “Stardust” and were introduced with a brief history of the composer. It was a sensational evening.
Urbanna Creek Yacht Club hosted a crab picking, oyster roast and Christmas party, one each month in the fall quarter. This is an active convivial group of rugged yachtsmen that have a lot of fun together and if you and your boat are looking for a yachting group to join, either power or sail, I highly recommend it. (Bob Fitch is the new vice commodore of the Urbanna Creek Yacht Club. He can be reached at 804-291-6434 should anyone be interested in becoming a member of the UCYC.)
The usual visits of children, grandchildren and friends popped by this fall for quick visits. “Dandy” and I took walks every day. The feral cats showed up each morning looking for breakfast. The squirrels and birds stood in nearby trees waiting for the cats to depart and their turn to dine. It’s a regular Grand Central Station on this end of Kent Street.
It has been a good autumn. How very fortunate we are to live here! As Christmas nears let us be appreciative of our many blessings, stop for a moment in our hectic preparations for the holidays ahead and just be grateful we live in our wonderful Middlesex County!
Merry Christmas!
© 2021
(Note: Mary Wakefield Buxton’s column will return in spring 2022.)
