Checked Off My Bucket List—Nantucket

I never paid any mind to the island of Nantucket off the coast of Massachusetts. That is, not until 25 years ago.

Back then, I enjoyed watching Wings, a TV sitcom about two brothers who operated a small airline at the Nantucket airport. As I watched that weekly comedy, a dream took hold inside of me. I knew one day I would visit that seaport, which was once synonymous with the whaling industry of the early 1800s.

Arriving in port.

In the 1990s, as I laughed at the antics of the cast members of Wings, little did I know the island had long been a prominent playground for the rich and famous.

I’m not rich, and I’m not famous, yet I boarded a ferry to Nantucket this past week. You can’t help but notice the abundance of wealth there. With that said, the landscape of that little island gem sparkles with more splendor than any amount of gold.

So, my faithful companion Raleigh and I took in the sites together.

This photo was taken at one of the highest points on the island. I know it looks like a Raleigh bike ad, but it's posted because the Atlantic Ocean can be seen on the horizon.

On the north side, I visited a lighthouse and other structures near the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Brant Point.

Brant Point Lighthouse

A stone building near the lighthouse.

Hmm. Not all shellfish consumed on this island are caught in open seas.

Just a plain old dock.

The next photos were taken in the actual village of Nantucket. Most of the facades of the buildings are lined with gray clapboard shingles, but I did find a few brick structures, too.

I love the cobblestone streets in the center of the historic village.

One of the few buildings with a brick facade.

The typical facade of a Nantucket home lined with clapboard shingles.

One of the oldest windmills in the USA, built in 1746.

I took other pictures while biking on a trail that cuts through Rams Pasture and Sanford Farm in the center of the island.

This scenery in the middle of Nantucket reminds me more of a heartland prairie than an island landscape.

I'm seeing "Little House on the Prairie" in this photo.

The ride was rough due to the sandy and rocky terrain, but the ocean view at the south end of the trail was well worth the effort.

I’m now able to check-off from my bucket list that dream of seeing Nantucket. And as of late, I always seem to add a photo of an entryway with my blog posts. Here's one with a porthole in the door. A perfect ending for a nautical daytrip.

Mother's Day 2014... A Long Time Coming

Aah, Mother’s Day. A day empty-nesters cherish, remembering the years with our children when they were youngsters.

Believe it or not, there was a time I thought I would never get to spend another Mother’s Day with my kids. Divorce can make a sane person think such things, especially when her soul is downcast.

I’m thankful such thoughts are rubbish. And I’m so thankful for God’s healing power in my life.

The last time I spent this special day with my son was seven years ago. This year is the first time in awhile my daughter and I will not be together. However, look what she posted on Facebook!

My senior picture from high school in New Jersey (on the left).
My mother-in-law, Kate Williams (upper right).
My mom, Jean Gallagher (lower right).

Rebecca, you make a momma’s heart happy.

I’ve included some photos from this past weekend with my son.

Zak took this photo of me standing in front of my alma mater in New Jersey.

We spent some time at a boardwalk on the Jersey shore.

 

 

Zak's a health-food junkie, but he had a hankering to try fried Oreo cookies.
One was enough.

 

 

For any pop-culture buffs out there, name the popular tourist attraction of recent years shown below. The place warrants having an ATM machine placed out front!

You're correct if you guessed the locale of the TV reality show "Jersey Shore."

Here are some more shots from a side trip to visit my nephew.

My nephew Chris gave me a tour of
the New London Submarine Base
in Connecticut where he is training.

 

We lunched at the Mystic Pizza place made famous
by the Julia Roberts movie of the same name.

 

Shopping at the Olde Mistick Village in Mystic, CT.
Not sure if the crest stenciled on this mug is the authentic "Gallagher" coat of arms.

I also had the hair-brained idea to visit Nantucket on my drive home, but...

My view as the last ferry boat of the day headed out to the island.
Oh well, that excursion will have to wait for another time.