American Pie

Oil on board
36 x 36  in natural oak frame.
 
This is our beach.
 
Every summer we would squeeze into my grandmother’s tiny summer cottage with my cousins, aunts and uncles.
 
Our days were spent right here, on Gooches beach in Kennebunk, ME.
Back when all you needed was a couple of old bed sheets on the sand and some good sturdy rocks to hold down the corners. 
 
We learned to body surf, build sandcastles, hunt for shells and chase away the seagulls.
 
We would always walk down to the rock jetty and climb the giant boulders.  As I got older, I figured out the art of balancing on each edge and carefully making my way all the way down to the end.
 
Many heartfelt conversations happened on those rocks.  A place to sit and open up with each other or simply daydream and watch the boats go by.
And we always marveled at the beautiful Colony Hotel that sat at attention glistening in the sun.
 
Many years later my cousin got married there and it’s taken on a whole new special meaning to our family.
 
One time I was talking to a local woman and she said: “This place never changes.  It’s like God put an invisible dome over it and keeps it safe and pure.”
I’ll never forget that.
 
It’s my favorite beach.
 
It feels like home.
 
I can still close my eyes and remember getting into my parents 7-passenger station wagon with the whole crew.
 
They loved to crank the radio with the windows down, especially when this song came on:
 
“So bye-bye, Miss
American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the
levee, but the levee was
dry
And them good old boys
Were drinkin’ whiskey
And rye
Singin’  This ‘ll be the
Day that I die
This’ll be the day that
I die”
 
Everyone knew the words.  Including grandmom.
 
When I'm here, it's as if time stood still and we are all together again.
 
 
 
Music reference: American Pie by Don McLean