I was 12 years old the first time I visited Nubble Light House. 12 is not an age where much interests you, but this beautiful lighthouse fascinated me. At the time it was still run manually and a family inhabited the pretty red and white house that stood grandly on the remote island. I would watch from the beach hoping to catch a glimpse of this mysterious family and wondered about their life. The light house stood alone on a small island with the only access being a small boat, I wondered how the children got across in the winter to go to school and what the mother did if she forgot to pick up milk at the store.
“I wonder what they do over there,” I asked out loud one day as we were staring at the Island waiting for signs of human life to emerge. “Probably nude sunbathing” one of my cousins replied jokingly. Occasionally someone would emerge from the house to tend to daily chores, crowds would wave and yell, it was if they were rock stars making a public appearance.
I came back to York Beach and Nubble light house a few years ago after a long absence. The house remained unchanged, still picturesque sitting on the hill with its bright beacon warning sailors of possible danger. But I was told families no longer live there, new technology allowed the light house to be run remotely now. No family I thought, the house must be so lonely. The absence of tenants has not kept people from visiting what is said to be the most painted lighthouse on earth, it still sits grandly high on the rocks leaving visitors to imagine what life must have been like having the opportunity to live there.
This remains a yearly stop for my family when we visit New England, and last year we found that the Lighthouse foundation now offers a drawing with the prize being an opportunity to have lunch with 5 friends on the Island. So each year I buy as many tickets as I can afford and wait for my phone to ring saying I am the lucky winner.
Until that call comes in I will continue to return each year and try to imagine what live would be like on that beautiful rock Island and Nubble Light.
Pink Hat Gypsy 