Actually, we must admit that there is very little difference between the two columns. In fact, they are virtually the same except for the name. Between "Where Nature Smiles" and "In These Otsego Hills" we had one week off. And we must admit that we quite enjoyed the rest. We found we were able to survive a whole week without worrying about meeting a deadline or whether or not we could read items which we had hastily scratched on napkins, paper bags or the palm of our hand. It quite left us seemingly carefree as we made our way for a Fourth of July visit to Martha's Vineyard.

And yet, all was not well. We found ourselves continually noting things which we so wanted to share with others.

Wouldn't those people in Cooperstown who think the village has a parking problem just love to hear about the parking problem we encountered as we approached Woods Hole and the ferry to Martha's Vineyard? We were in two cars. Actually the wee-we and his good friend Annie were driving a car which had a reservation for the 6:30 ferry to the island on Sunday, July 2nd. We, the she-we, were driving a car which needed to be parked in a parking lot on the mainland while we visited the island. The problem arose when it was announced, on the Steamship Authority radio station, that all parking lots were full. We panicked, envisioning our having to drive around aimlessly with absolutely no place to put the car.

We waited in a rather long line to enter one parking lot only to discover that cars were being let into the lot and then directed back out of the lot.

Since we have a handicapped parking sticker, we asked if we might park in a handicapped spot we spied. We were then quizzed as to whether or not we had a handicapped parking permit. Fortunately, we managed to overcome our urge to say "No, we just thought we would ask," and allowed as how we were indeed in possession of a handicapped parking permit. We were then told we could go right down to the ferry dock and park in the handicapped parking there with absolutely no problem. We were assured there would be a spot. We were dubious, but proceeded as directed because, if nothing else, it would get the car going on the 6:30 ferry to the ferry dock.

As we rounded the curve leading to the dock, we noticed there was but one handicapped spot left in the parking lot. We feverishly hoped that everyone ahead of us had ferry reservations and that the parking spot would be left for us. Fortunately, it was and we swooped into it, hung up our permit and transferred ourselves to the car which was then waiting to board the 6:30 ferry.

The whole experience quite made us think that perhaps we should not complain about the parking here in Cooperstown. And it did remind us of former mayor Harold Hollis who always claimed that Cooperstown did not have a parking problem. Cooperstown only had a minor parking inconvenience. And although we always begged to differ with him on this issue, we now think he might have had a point.

Of course, we suspect that Martha's Vineyard has a much greater influx of tourists than does Cooperstown. The Vineyard has about 15,000 year round residents. In the summer the number of people on the island increases to something in the neighborhood of 150,000.

If Cooperstown were to experience the same ten fold increase, the area would find upwards of 20,000 people here all summer. And we are reasonably certain that is not the case.

In fact, on a regular basis, we seriously doubt that we even come close to reaching the 20,000 mark. Of course, that does not mean that there are not times when we need to plan ahead and run our errands, when possible, in off-peak hours. Nor does it mean that we won't be frustrated by the attitude, not to mention driving abilities, of some of our visitors. But on the whole, after our experience over the Fourth, we tend to think we are really more fortunate that we might think.

After all, we are the ones who see Cooperstown as the placid, comfortable village that it is for the better part of each and every year.

All of our summer visitors to the area are not nearly so lucky as they are always part of the huge influx which seems to overtake us each year during the height of the season. As a result, we suspect that they never actually experience the real Cooperstown that we all know and love. And as long as the visitors know and love the Cooperstown they see, then it would seem that we have the best of all possible worlds. They like what they see and we like what we know.

In closing, as we move ahead with "In These Otsego Hills," we shall continue to try to keep track of the comings and goings of our fair village and its environs. We will, of course, always welcome input from our readers who have served us so well over the years by helping to highlight various events, to relay stories of interest and to make certain that we keep our fingers on the pulse of the community. We trust, in the weeks and months ahead, that we will continue to hear from each and every one of you, one at a time, of course.

We remain,

In these Otsego hills,

The Ellsworths

The Ellsworths may be reached by mail at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at (607)547-8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com. They look forward to hearing from you.