So I thought November’s big news was going to be spotting British Columbia at up-island Cronig’s in the middle of the month. Officially I’m only tracking U.S. states, but Canada’s western provinces are rare, rare, rare on Martha’s Vineyard, and I don’t recall ever seeing a BC here.

Then, pulling out of the Our Market parking lot a few days ago, what should I spot in my side-view mirror but West Virginia, on a Range Rover I’d never seen before. I backed up and looked out the window to be sure. Huzzah! Usually my West Virginia belongs to a summer visitor I know who’s only here in the late spring. I missed her this year and thought West Virginia was going to remain a blank spot on the map. Guess not.

So the 2013 tally stands at 44. Missing are Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii. Prognosis isn’t good for any of them. Missouri is the most likely but I’ve been saying that for months.