Ascension : Grotto News - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 15.04.2010 (Article Archived on 29.04.2010)

We had a wonderful Easter season at the Grotto this year with Father Peter’s visit, and a nice number of people present for our Easter service.

 We had a wonderful Easter season at the Grotto this year with Father Peter’s visit, and a nice number of people present for our Easter service.  It was nice to celebrate the season with good friends.

The past few weeks have been especially busy here on Ascension.  It seems that on this island, we always seem to have something to celebrate.  I think that being such a close-knit community, we are more involved in the lives of our friends.  There always seems to be a birthday, an anniversary, or other celebration to mark.  Unfortunately, leaving parties are all too common as well.  Due to the transient nature of the island, people are always heading off to start a new adventure somewhere else.

Just this last weekend I attended little Sophie’s first birthday party.  Just in the few months since her family arrived, she has grown so much.  We are all watching her tentative fist steps, and cheering her on. It was also Berard and Tracy’s anniversary, so there was much to celebrate. 

On Saturday evening, the hashers said farewell to one of the original, and most dedicated hashers this island has known, Ron Hunt, aka The Major.  We have all enjoyed Ron’s hashes, his stories and geographical lectures, and most of all his company.  Ron is retiring, and although he’s wondering what he’ll do next Saturday, we know that he will find new interests and new adventures. 

The Bible is full of stories of gatherings of the faithful.  They gathered for religious services, weddings, and other feasts.  It is in our nature to enjoy the company of friends, to celebrate special occasions and be happy socializing with others.  It is a way of sharing our friendship, our kindness, our caring and our faith.  When we throw a party to say farewell, we are letting that person know how much we care for them, and how much we’ll miss their company.

Living on Ascension, we say goodbye to more people than some folks back home may know in a lifetime, it seems.  I have met so many wonderful people here, and said goodbye to way too many.  Some I’ve had the privilege of having known for my entire seven and a half years on this island (like Ron) and some I’ve only known briefly, but consider myself honoured to have met.  Dave and Candy Masters, from the yacht Endeavor, spent a few weeks here, and were quickly absorbed into our circle of friends.  They enjoyed the diving, Steak Night, Humphry’s, and a host of other activities.  Although it was time for them to move on, they leave with many happy memories of their time on a quirky little island in the middle of nowhere.  Catherine and Barnaby leave us as well, after spending a few months enjoying all that Ascension could offer.

Ron, best of luck in the future.  Thanks for being such a huge part of our lives here on Ascension, and especially to your friends in the Ascension Hash House Harriers.  We will miss you, and always keep you in our hearts.  And since you’ve extended an open invitation to your home, I’m sure you haven’t seen the last of some of your Asi friends!

So this week, as we say goodbye to good friends, old and new, and celebrate special occasions in the lives of others, let us always remember to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives.  These include the blessings of friends, happy occasions to celebrate, love and faith.  May the message of renewal and hope of the Easter season fill our lives with its promise.