L E T T E R S
OF NANTUCKET

To the editor:

Give Me A Break. First, I'd like to set the record straight - one because it hurt my feelings, and second because people keep asking me about it. It was put in the Inquirer and Mirror twice that "Linda Cahoon formerly of Nantucket," now of Georgia. . . Wrong. It doesn't make any difference if I go to Timbuktu. I am, and forever will be "of Nantucket," no matter where I choose to live. I was born in the Nantucket Hospital when it was on Westchester Street. I grew up here my entire life. I went through the "old school system." My family is from here and still is. I can't imagine why certain people take liberties with other people's business. I took a two-week trip to Georgia to see if I wanted to move there. My animals were watched and cared for. I took my three dogs for company. All my belongings are still here on Nantucket where "I'm of."

So - get the story straight. It is bad enough that it was also printed in the I&M that I was charged with assault and battery. Oh yeah, that sounds more juicy, sounds more scandalous. You forgot one little bitty point -it was with a squirt gun. Sorry, it only had water, no bullets.

This is just another reason why I am choosing to live somewhere else for awhile. I need a break. Not from the hundreds of friends and people I grew up with. I will always be of Nantucket. I will miss all the people whose homes I've eaten dinner in, all the people that either I've helped out or who have helped me out.

I need a break from the handful of people around here that seem to thrive on making other people's lives miserable. I love far too many people here. There's really only a few clog-wearing, power-hungry egocentric noveau rich, pseudo intellectuals who wouldn't know what to do if a tree fell on their foot.

We all see them hanging out in front of the Stop & Shop. All of a sudden - Wow - they're speaking to you like you're best friends, asking me to "please vote" for "them." When in fact, they've been too above returning your friendly "hello" for the past 10 years they've lived here.

Pulease. Yes, I do need a break. And yes, I love North Georgia. I've never seen such friendly people, unless you count the way it used to be here. I didn't hear one bad word, no bad gestures, nothing but people offering to call and let them know if they could help with anything. It was beautiful. I'll miss the ocean but they have an ocean of beautiful trees. The leaves were just changing so the mountains were so proud and beautiful in their quilts of yellow, red and purple. The gasoline cost was $1.99. Yes, $1.99. And if you vote you get a free flu shot.

And talk about clean. I didn't see any trash on the roads or anywhere. Seems all the churches are doing their jobs to make people appreciate the love things that God has given to them.

I have been so disappointed to see so much trash around here, on all the once beautiful dirt roads I used to ride my horse on. My friend just reshingled his small garage. He bundled the old ones up nice and neat and went to the dump (oh, excuse me, the landfill) and upon his entry was told, "That will be $1,100, please." No wonder people are throwing all their garbage around. They can't afford the dump. Yes, I loved Georgia, albeit the warrant out for my arrest for a "squirt gun."

I could just imagine if I'd gotten stopped for a traffic ticket the look on the trooper's face as he ran me through his computer to find out I was the Notorious Linda Cahoon, considered armed and dangerous, with a squirt gun.

Well, me, the three dogs and one of the seven cats I rescued along the way made it back in one piece. I'm excited about my cabin in the woods with no neighbors. Yahoo! My neighbors here have mounted a camera and microphone on their house, pointed at my front door to monitor my life, I guess.

Whatever - I need a break. But don't ever make the mistake that I am formerly "of Nantucket," as Nantucket is "of me." I will miss my family and many, many good friends. But just think, when you guys (and you know who you are) need a break - Y'all just come on down and stay with me in my wilderness home. I'll show ya a real good time.

Still and always of Nantucket,

- Linda Cahoon IN SUPPORT OF BEADING

To the editor:

After reading Grant Sanders' article on the Community School (11/8/06) I felt I must reply.

When my last child graduated from high school and enrolled in school off island it left a hole in my life that I can't find the words to describe. In an effort to cope with my empty nest I signed up for "Build a Shaker Table" with Mr. Bob Day. In a wonderful testament to Mr. Day's teaching ability my table is lovely. I am now in the process of building a pair of oak end tables for my oldest daughter.

Friends asked me if I was interested in going to a beading class with them and that was turned into a great experience. Yes, beading is the technique of putting a bead on a string, but it is also more than that. It is the art of using shape, color, and materials. Beading is found in the cultures of our Native Americans and others such as Ancient Egypt. There are now beading shows offering hundreds of classes and even beading cruises.

The skills I have learned with Sarah Hutton, our talented teacher, have enabled me to make many presents for family and friends.

I know that Mr. Sanders is entitled to his freedom of speech as much as anyone, but shame on him for ridiculing the healthy choices some of us are making in our lives. If the Community School offered a class on manners do you think the people that needed it would show up?

- Gail Butler