STAR ISLAND
JANE CARRIGAN
AUGUST 2023
I wanted to let you know how important Star Island has become to me (and my husband.) I had thought I was going away on vacation but it turned out to be so much more. It was indeed the retreat I sought, the spiritual connection I craved because I was able to connect with UUs from all over, my Beloved Community, my people. The Scholarship I received from UUCA made this week possible. And I am already figuring out how to get back!
Gosling Chapel
The people at LOAS II are a multi-generational group of folks, many of whom have been coming to Star for 40, 50, or 60 years. There are grandparents who have been coming to Star since they had young families. Those young families have literally grown up on Star, many becoming Pelicans(1) during their young adult summers and some even engaged and married on Star. Those formerly young people are now parents with children of their own and they all get together each late August to have their Star Island experience.
(1) Pelicans are young people working the summer at Star while on break from school. They have jobs such as waiter, gardener, cook, etc., and keep the place running smoothly.
The kids are grouped together in cohorts according to their age and they have activities, social time and fun based on their age. This picture shows the exciting duct tape boat race happening.
Everyone tie dyes something and folks have colorful fingers for a few days of the week. The artistic works are spread out on the front lawn offering a colorful quilt of tie dye. Elsewhere were batiking lessons but I thought I should stick to one process. Next year!
Morning Chapel
Each morning we started the day with Chapel, led by Rev AZ. Dale played and finally got his chance to play for UUs…we have known that his playing was the right fit for this crowd.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served cafeteria style with groups joining others and using the meal as a chance to catch up or get to know someone new.
Wednesday is famously lobster night where for a small fee a whole lobster and the trimmings are available. All meals are very good and there is always a vegan, gluten-free option for those who need them. The best part of the week is the relaxing. I would call it aggressively relaxing. Every porch has numerous rocking chairs and all are well used.
Often by someone absorbed in a book, but more often by groups of people sharing the highlights of life off island between visits to Star.
Evening Chapel is beautiful. Lit only by candlelight lanterns walked up the hill from the Oceanic Hotel porch the evening chapel provides a fitting coda to the day. There is so much to say about Star, mostly that folks are so thoroughly welcoming. We were paired with a couple, Myra and Arthur, who were Old Shoalers for us first-timers, or New Shoalers. (2)
(2) Star Island is one of the Islands that make up the Isles of Shoals, which strides over New Hampshire and Maine. We saw seals frolicking on the Maine side.
Myra and Arthur were there to show us the ropes and to make sure that we felt welcome, but they quickly let go of the leash because, as they said, “You guys fit right in.” Every afternoon there was a Happy Hour with wine, beer, and snacks and lots of social time to fit in some more.
There was an ice cream social:
There were lots of workshops, this one was a writing workshop that was held in the Pink Parlour. It was excellent and one could choose to participate or simply have a nap. In fact, I got my Star Scout badge for having a nap, one for rocking in a chair and of course one for taking the Polar Bear Plunge.(3)
(3) The Polar Bear Plunge usually happens at seven each morning, I did mine at the only nighttime plunge and earned my necklace tag and bead which designate me a Polar Bear.
(4)
(4) Note the tie dye everywhere.
There was a rocking Talent Show…and then there was the baseball game. The strangest game ever with an outfielder in the cemetery.
As we were there at the end of summer, each leaving ferry carried Pelicans back to their homes, schools, and life off island. Amid tears and hugs friends (some since toddlerhood) and summer lovers said their goodbyes. The chorus of “We will be back, we will be back, we will be back,” was a regular occurrence.
I laid the groundwork to conduct a workshop based on Coming to the Table. We would do this as an hour each day over five or six days starting with the video Traces of the Trade and exploring in circle process of each person’s relationship to enslavement and/or white supremacy. Later in the week, we would explore genealogy and we would spend some time creating a fitting monument to the enslaved women known to have lived on the island. Much of this is still to be fleshed out but these are my thoughts so far.
Star Island lacks diversity. At least enough diversity to be meaningful. I would love to be a part of growing that diversity and to that end I would love to do a Star Island Sunday at UUCA but also at All Soul’s and at other venues that might have folks searching for beloved community and who are committed to making that happen.
So, Dale and I say, “We will be back, we will be back, we will be back!” This is our affirmation and this is our plan.
Thank you and UUCA for your contribution to making Star Island happen for me. It has truly been life-changing.
Jane Carrigan