I was and am going to write about the wonderful, sharing, cooperative spirit on our small island, but after my early Sunday morning experience concerning the Sunday New York Times, the enthusiastic and loving tone I planned to convey will be slightly modified.

The women know how to do it. When Pam Baldwin came into the Island Store on the day before Thanksgiving and asked Janet if perhaps she had a bit of parsley she would sell (the store doesn’t usually carry produce during the winter), Janet smiled, went into the store kitchen and returned with a bunch of fresh parsley neatly wrapped in plastic. “Enid gives me parsley from her garden for our chicken salad,” she said, handing the parsley to Pam without charge. Now Pam had just the parsley she needed for her oyster casserole, without having to drive in town.

At the Southport Memorial Library, Librarian Linda Brewer had ordered the book I needed to read for my book club, “The Telling Room.” When I called the Saturday after Thanksgiving to see if the book was in, Librarian Sandy Larsen said, "The book is here, but it is not checked in yet. You can take it and we will check it in when you return it.” Now I will be able to finish the book before my Wednesday deadline.

But the men! Even though I meet them almost every Sunday morning at the opening bell in the Island Store picking up my New York Times, and I thought we had a good bantering time, establishing some camaraderie, they did not include me when they made special arrangements to have their New York Times delivered during the two weeks when the store was closed on Sundays.

Last Sunday, when for some reason the store received only four papers, did they offer to share their “reserved,” prepaid papers? Did one of them even let me glimpse the front page before he strolled out of the store with not one, but two papers under his arm? “Read it online,” he growled.

Well, perhaps when we all meet at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 outside at the Southport General Store to sing a few carols, and officially kick off the Christmas season, enjoying pizza and hot drinks, and the sparkle of the newly lighted figures across the school pond, all will be forgiven. Maybe. For now, I trust Hannaford’s still has copies of the paper when we go in town for church.

Before you come to the Island Store at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, be sure to check out the Christmas Fair at the Southport Memorial Library. Crafts and food will be available from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Then Sunday evening be sure to come to the Southport Methodist Church at 5 p.m. for delicious homemade soup and breads followed by the church choir singing a Lessons and Carols service beginning at approximately 6 p.m.

On Monday, Dec. 16, come to the Southport Town Hall to hear school children present their holiday program beginning at 6 p.m., with a snow date, if necessary, on December 17. They will sing at the Gregory Wing at St. Andrews Village on December 17.

In that spirit of sharing and cooperation, I apparently misunderstood the sources of support behind our lighted Christmas decorations. I hear this week that the money to bring back the lights, greens, and figures on and near our public buildings has come from a variety of sources: an anonymous trust, the Southport Island Association (SIA), and the Boothbay Region Garden Club. The SIA is our host for the Friday evening party, but please remember the other entities who also bring us light and joy at this season.

The crowd around the Southport Memorial Table rejoiced to have Ed Thibault back in their midst, and I hear that Phyllis Cook is also home after a short hospital stay. It’s always good news to hear that our friends and neighbors are well again. I have also heard about mishaps due to black ice on these wet, chilly mornings. Do walk and drive with care.

The school children with some parents and faculty are off this Tuesday, December 3, to Portland to experience the Nutcracker Ballet through seeing some of the backstage work going into the performance. With the temperature well above freezing, I am sure they will travel safely.