I had been a little concerned that the islanders here would not be up for welcoming us with open arms this year. The number of confirmed cases in Accomack County was over 1,000, but those cases were mostly at a poultry plant, not on Chincoteague Island, where they’ve been largely spared. I wondered if they would be ringing up our sunblock, t-shirts, ice cream, and take-out with forced, uncomfortable smiles, fearful of all us suburban and semi-urban dwellers bringing the virus with us, yet unable to economically weather a summer without tourism.
I should’ve have doubted them. They were the kind, open, and upbeat folks I’ve always known. I asked the young woman at the liquor store (I needed a tiny bottle of rum for an apricot glaze), how they felt about all us tourists flowing into town, and she said, “It was pretty lonely here. It’s good to have you back.” Across the street, Edwin and I ducked into the Sunsations beachwear shop for a bathing suit for him (because what did he forget to pack, even though I reminded him three times?). I couldn’t see her smile behind her mask, but I knew it was there as she asked, “Is that all you need, honey?”
My Corner of the Village 