Would I stay in a place I didn’t love for more than 50 years? I’m fortunate enough not to know. We moved here when rents — and then home prices — were relatively reasonable. Even as a single mom, I could find a fixer-upper two-family I could (barely) afford, and when my husband and I were married in 1985, we bought this house built by Barry and Lee Weed that we still live in. How long ago that seems!
We have so many reasons to stay here in Marblehead, and we hope we can stay here for years to come. We love our home, we love our neighborhood, we love our town. Though we’re avid travelers, we’ve never returned from a trip sorry to be home. One walk downtown to look at the harbor, absorbing the history emanating from the largest concentration of 17th-century homes in the USA, and we know we’re where we need and want to be.
There are quirks, of course: the sometimes maddening town politics, the plethora of speeding cars on narrow streets, the tree roots and uneven pavement that have tripped me up numerous times (and no, despite some broken bones, I’ve never sued), the occasional stares we get when we walk with our mixed-race family, the occasional garish paint job or lighting display.
Primarily, though, Marblehead is a joy to live in, and we’ve worked as volunteers to help enliven its arts scene, interpret its history and keep town government running, if not always smoothly. I love all the seasons here, but there are two weekends I love best: Christmas Walk and Arts Festival weekend (known elsewhere as the Fourth of July). We’ve been involved in both as volunteers and know how much time and money goes into putting on a free party for the whole town.
Christmas Walk is this weekend. As I type this on Thanksgiving, I’m visualizing the lights on the lobster trap tree in front of Mud Puddle Toys, the tree lighting at Memorial Park, Santa and Mrs. Claus coming to town ON A LOBSTER BOAT and then taking their place of honor in the Saturday morning Christmas Walk parade. I’m thinking about the church fairs and the carolers who sing as they stroll downtown.
All our local retailers and other businesses dress up for the occasion, often offering treats to lure shoppers inside. And please, do go inside! Those businesses pay a significant amount of hard-earned money to fund the Christmas Walk, so wouldn’t it be nice to pop in to say thank you? I guarantee you will find things in those stores you won’t find anywhere else, and the people you honor with holiday gifts are sure to love your finds.
I admit, I’m a fool for Christmas. I love to change the feel of our home from eclectic to decidedly Christmassy every year. My husband is in charge of putting up lights outside and on the tree, and I’m responsible for decorating inside.
I’ve got an embarrassing amount of Christmas swag — collections of nutcrackers, folk-art Santas, Byors Carolers, German Santa “smokers,” a wooden whirligig, too many ornaments and candles galore, though in the past few years those candles have become battery operated. All that swag fills up a dozen large red storage bins, and you can imagine the discussions that take place each time they are hauled down — and then back up — the creaky stairs to our attic.
Sure, I’ve considered downsizing, Our discussions usually head in that direction. But when that first weekend in December rolls around, and I see and chat with folks I haven’t seen since at least the Arts Festival, I get the urge to find a nice tall fir tree for the family room. We visit the Arts Festival-sponsored artisans marketplace at Abbot Hall, and I inevitably find yet another gorgeous handmade ornament.
We go to the Festival Chorus concert at Old North Church, and I want to dig out all our holiday CDs and fill the house with carols. I can’t wait for our youngest grandgirl to get home from college to arrange all the carolers on our little piano. (She has backstories for all of them.) I even look forward to wrapping gifts, especially when it’s a unique item I could only find here.
I always feel especially lucky at this time of year. Lucky to live here, where along with the celebrations and sales, there are people doing good by helping those who aren’t as lucky. SPUR is one of those organizations, and if you’ve never helped fulfill a less advantaged child’s wish list, do it now. Your heart will grow at least one size.
As you read this, the town’s business districts have been swagged and lit, and store windows have taken on the most festive look of the year. All we need for perfection is a little sprinkling of white Christmas fairy dust. No more than a sprinkling, please.
Join me downtown to see Santa, watch the parade, enjoy one of the most beautiful towns in the world, and shop!
Marblehead resident Jo Ann Augeri Silva, a retired journalist, author, public relations professional and educator, was an editor of the Marblehead Reporter.
