PHL to ACK to HUG

When I canceled my Hug and High5 Festival due to weather but then traveled up there the next weekend because someone spray painted “Niggers Leave” on an African American Meeting House that dates back to 1827- I had no idea what to expect.

But, venturing into the unknown never stymied me before so why let it now I thought. 

Thanks to Advantage Rental Car, I drove up from Philly to Hyannis, with an open mind and arms to see and embrace people where they are, and stood outside waited for the ferry to take me to Nantucket.

As the cold winds whipped around and chilled the air even more, I stood at the ferry’s gangway with a  married couple, Zoe and Devin and right as we were about to board Devin said “How about a group hug before we get abroad?!"

Being hugged by random strangers; that was my Nantucket experience. 

No, from Cisco Distillery, Kitty Murtagh’s The HandleBar Cafe, Sophie T’s Pizza, The Nantucket Hotel,  The Fog Island Cafe, The Westmoor Club, The Nantucket Boys and Girls Club, The historic African American Meeting House and other establishments- being hugged by people was my Nantucket experience all weekend!

What i encountered was a community that was welcoming, concerned about the racist message of the graffiti and eager to talk about how to make the bonds between us stronger. 

It really was amazing - seeing the 60+ owner of Nantucket's only Irish pub stand atop a bar stool to tell his patrons to hug me, as well as each other, so we can all connect and smile more - hearing that an anonymous donor bought coffee/danish for anyone that came for a hug or high5  from me - reading a text from someone on the island who apologized for not meeting me to get a hug but really appreciated that I was there - and feeling the warmth from a community that is striving to do good.

Thnak you ACK - eventhough my first festival didn't happen - my experience there was fantastic.