I just heard from an old friend of mine whose family also owned a cottage in the neighborhood my beloved great-aunt did from 1914 to 1973. (Where I spent all my growing-up years in the summer).
The cottage was sold last year and it seems that the new owner is going to tear it down. I used to have nightmares about this happening. Not that there is any way I would ever have gone back there, but it is symbolic of the end of my summer nirvana experience. My aunt gave me stability, serenity, class, beauty, creativity and joy by having me there every summer. It was an oasis from the more chaotic homefront I had the rest of the year.
It makes me sad, but things in life move on, while I will continue to cherish those memories.
I'm attaching a jpeg montage. It's a group of pictures of the cottage, my aunt, dad, grandmother and a young me.
cottage.jpg