Dear summer cottage,
It is amazing what one person can do with just their own two hands, a lot of energy and some power tools. My grandfather used those things, all of his building skills and built an amazing summer cottage for my family and I to share. Of course over time things changed and my grandfather could not continue to look after the summer home he spent so much time building for his family to enjoy. My one grandfather’s wish was to keep the cottage in the family and for his daughters and grandchildren to enjoy, but unfortunately things did not go as planned, his one wish was not fulfilled.
This cottage holds so many memories and sentimentality held in its four main walls. Almost every summer my mom and her family would spend time up there exploring the island, the cottage is one, visiting the small town just 14 miles up the road- Boothbay and visit the shops, restaurants, and the beaches. I am so lucky to have had the same experience my mom and her family did for years. I remember spending as many weekends up there as possible, it didn’t feel like summer unless I was spending time in the cottage. It is difficult to see how badly things have turned since my grandfather passed away this past May, the one thing he built with his own two hands is slowly being taken away from my family.
Not to get into too much detail, but it is frustrating to see parts of my family not appreciate the amount of hard work my grandfather put into this cottage and just see it slip away. While I don’t completely want to be negative I can’t help but feel this ache in my heart whenever the cottage crosses my mind. I don’t know what is going to happen next summer when I can’t drive up to Maine and spend a weekend in the cottage. I will constantly cherish the moments I had in that cottage, the car rides I had in my mom and grandfather’s truck, it got to a point where that 3 ½ hour drive didn’t even seem that long because I had gone through it so many times. The moment I found out the cottage that held so much meaning to my family has a “for sale” sign in front of it and that it will not be kept in the family anymore. I guess the only thing I can do now is remember all of the amazing times my family and I had in that cottage. The daily trips to the beach, the lobster dinners, the late night card games at the dinner table, and the trips into Boothbay Harbor, and so many other amazing memories that will be forever in my head and in my heart.
Love,
A girl with a heavy heart.
