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Photo Courtesy of Kindflow Productions @kindflowproductions
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Young reader author, Christopher Paolini once wrote, “The sands of time cannot be stopped. Years pass whether we will them or not… but we can remember. What has been lost may yet live in memories.” This winter his words have held personal meaning for some on Nantucket as the literal sands of time have moved, shifted and encroached. In the case of the beloved Madaket “stilt house” pictured above, what’s left for the owners and thousands of visitors and residents who considered the iconic dwelling an island mainstay are now only memories.
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As Mother Nature had her way with Nantucket during the storms this winter, the dune protecting the cottage was breached, threatening its complete destruction if action wasn’t taken. Sadly, it was demolished and removed last month. Fortunately, a small portion was able to be salvaged as an artists studio for another island owner. The family who owned the cottage for decades expressed both their sadness over the loss, but also their deep gratitude for the memories made there. As Paolini writes, these memories are what allows the cottage to live on. The gifts it provided the owners and all who enjoyed the legendary backdrop to the Madaket sunsets can never be washed away.
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Life on an island forces all of us to keep things in perspective. Our beaches, just like our lives, are constantly shifting and changing. Sometimes island areas suffer erosion and other times those same areas have accretion. It’s entirely unpredictable and in most cases untamable. Mother Nature does not discriminate nor does she issue a memo announcing her intentions in advance.
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Those of us who live on Nantucket are aware that sometimes things change. We’re also grateful for organizations like the Historic District Commission who work valiantly to ensure many things remain the same and to the Nantucket Historical Association for collecting detailed records, images and artifacts dating back some 200 years so the rich island history is preserved for future generations. Mostly, we’re constantly reminded how lucky we are to reside in a place that inspires us to live in the moment and appreciate the here and now.
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As you return to the island this spring, for a visit or the summer season, you’ll note several new changes. An expansive cutting-edge hospital facility, new locations for Island Variety and UPS Store, an upscale new bar and event space at Island Kitchen in addition to their already wildly popular new ice cream bar. You’ll also be delighted to round Brant Point and be greeted by the ever-familiar characteristics. The towering church steeples, picturesque cobblestone streets, enchanting rose covered cottages and historic Main Street. The beach sand will shift, the tides will ebb and flow, but the soul of Nantucket remains unchanged.
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Timeless.
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