Our View: Joy To The World

Back in the 1980s, Santa Claus made his annual appearance in Chatham by flying into Chatham Airport aboard a small aircraft. At some time later in the decade, someone close to the Jolly Elf convinced him that, for a maritime community like Chatham, it made more sense for the Coast Guard to pick him up along the outer beach — where the sleigh and reindeer could be safely parked — than to have a plane make the risky landing on the sand spit. Ever since, Santa has motored through Chatham Harbor to the fish pier to launch the festive season.

 The point is, things change. Everyone loved Santa flying into the airport, and they also love him arriving at the fish pier. People generally don’t like change, but some things transcend it, especially when that change involves something joyful. 

Locally, quite a number of joyful changes are in the air. In Chatham, progress is ramping up on the development of nearly 100 affordable rental units. Though it will only make a dent in the housing crisis, these apartments will be a lifeline for many local residents and workers. The Harwich Conservation Trust is making us joyful once again with its new drive to purchase 6.3 acres of land in the Pleasant Bay watershed, a move that benefits everyone who enjoys the Cape’s largest estuary. Orleans will be keeping the joy of fresh produce and other items alive during the winter by moving its popular farmers market indoors to the Lower Cape TV facility. There are a whole lot of cold-stunned turtles picked up from beaches in Brewster and along Cape Cod Bay who are joyful that they were found by dedicated volunteers.

 According to experts, celebrating joy helps improve our mental health, especially during the holiday season, which can be stressful for some and sad for those who may be missing loved ones. So find something (or someone) that brings you joy and spend some time with it (or them). As the song says, “Joy to the world/All the boys and girls/Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea/Joy to you and me.”