A Rockport Lovefest

A few weeks ago I received a lovely note from a reader, Janet, who wrote to say...

Jeanne,

I'm feeling a "Rockport lovefest" across the miles!  I'm delighted to hear of your very close connection to this favorite place and think it must be wonderful to have been a Cape Ann girl!  So sweet to hear that your parents met on Long Beach.  I remember sand castles and fun times there, and I still have those beautiful round rocks that line my little "Rockport" garden here at home.  I do hope you will write a post about Rockport and all of its charm....it's such a special place.  Please feel free to share or use any of my photos anytime--I'm just happy to know that you enjoyed seeing them!

It has finally warmed up around here.  Friday is was in the 60's!!  Lots of melting but still lots of snow left.  I'm continuing to think about springtime ....and warm Rockport breezes.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Janet xo

You can imagine my delight at reading this email. Janet does not have a blog but she enjoys following along. I was touched...I still am. Sometimes we write a post and wonder if anyone picks up on the little nuances, the ones that could only be picked up by someone who has been there. On this occasion, Janet was right with me.

Janet sent along these beautiful photos with her note. She is a wonderful photographer and managed to capture the essence of a place I hold near and dear.

 You may be wondering where this little slice of heaven is located. Rockport is located along the North Shore of Massachusetts. It was not my home town but it was close enough.  Rockport is a seaside village. Quiet in the winter and bustling with tourists in the summer. Artists have lived and painted in the areas for years. My mother is one of them with a gallery of her own featuring her paintings and local artisan jewelry. 

The beaches are rocky but the surrounding area more than makes up for it. The town is charming and 
to be honest, it hasn't changed much in the past 30 years. To me, that  is one of it's most endearing qualities.

It is an area that is bound to my heart. Childhood memories bring forth sandcastles along Long beach, searching for periwinkle shells and playing mermaid draped in seaweed. Big family parties filled with great food and lots of laughter, Long Beach Dairy Maid ice cream, fried clams, fresh lobster, clam chowder, enormous soft fluffy beach towels and brightly coloured flip flops swishing along the hot sandy beach.

As a young girl learning to swim, I took my first tumble to the bottom of the ocean floor and recall my father's strong arms scooping me up to safety. My grandparents cottage was our safe haven. The weather worn shingles and softly painted Nantucket grey steps firmly braced by seagull white railings saw me thru childhood to adulthood. I recall being helped up the steep steps in the hands of my grandparents as a child and not to long ago lending my arm to my grandfather as we made our final decent together.

I have brought my family back to Rockport many times over the years. To this day, we still stop in the penny candy store that I frequented as a child. Our little white paper bags in hand, gingerly selecting just the right pieces to savour as we carry on thru the busy seaside streets. I could go on but I will stop and say from one 'Rockport gal' to another, thank you Janet for sending your note, your photos and giving me an opportunity to reflect on a very special time in my life.

Painted by local artist, Bernard Gerstner, Rockport Art Association

Often I think of the beautiful town

That is seated by the sea;

Often in thought go up and down

The pleasant streets of that dear old town,

And my youth comes back to me.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

Rockport is the quintessential New England town

and frequently used in movies.

You can see it in The Proposal here

and The Love Letter here

More on Rockport: here

http://collageoflife-henrqs.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-sundays-and-sea.html

http://collageoflife-henrqs.blogspot.com/2010/04/house-by-sea.html

http://collageoflife-henrqs.blogspot.com/2009/12/comforting-thoughts.html

http://jeanne-inoneplace.blogspot.com/2010/03/sunset-on-annisquam.html

Images by Janet