From Boston to Hyannis and 
Across then across the water 
To the island of Nantucket.
I’ve been here in the summer, late spring, and winter,
I’ve seen soft pink roses climbing up the trellises and walls
I’ve seen icicles dripping off the picket fences
I’ve been here before it’s warm enough to swim
And hot enough to brave the chilly water.
 
I’ve cycled down to the beach
And sat on the warm sand
And fed myself hot chips,
I’ve sat on the deck at the brewery 
When the sky was bright blue
And the sun was warm
And the local wines were flowing.
  
I’ve sat in the Bean when the weather outside was biting cold and played Scrabble and drunk hot chocolate,
I’ve sung in the church choir at Christmas
And stood in my tita’s impossibly tiny kitchen and 
Learnt to bake American style Christmas treats, 
Sugar cookies, lemon love notes and chocolate truffles 
I’ve built gingerbread houses covered in candy 
And danced the chicken dance on New Year’s Eve.
 
I’ve walked down Main Street countless times
To the beautiful home of my Titos de Nantucket.
I’m not just a mainland tourist
I’m family,
And the familiar (haha!) lovely welcoming warmth of it
Is comforting.
 
The island may seem idyllic, 
It is indeed beautiful,
But being here over several visits over the past few years
I know it is a place where people live their lives.
There is joy and heartache and work and life
Just like any other place,
 
But today I sat on the wharf
With my book
And I watched the boat ferrying my prima back to Boston 
Head out of the bay
And I sent her a message to remind her to throw two pennies overboard
To ensure she will return
And the sun was warm
And the water was shimmering
And I smiled my thank you to the beach
That I can be here
And feel like I’m ever welcome 
To share in the magic of the island
 
The end. 

Sometimes no matter how hard you work
And how hard you try
You just seem to fall short
Financially or spiritually or emotionally or physically 
And you need some help 
And sometimes you’re too afraid to ask 
Because asking means conceding defeat
But people, 
Out of kindness or love or simple pure awesome
Just reach out and say
I’m going to help you 
  
Like the time(s) when my mum gave up everything
so I could have what I needed
Like the time I didn’t have enough money to go to drama school and my dear friend said 
Here is what you need 
And the time I was in drama school and wondered how I was going to pay the rest of my fees and live in London and a stranger said 
Let me help you and gave me a scholarship
And the time I was in NYC and my phone didn’t
work and people who I’d met literally the day before gave me their phone 
And the time when my boyfriend was tired and needed him time and still waited in line with me and gave me an extra kiss and held my hand and told me 
It’s all going to be ok
  
And you have to keep going
You have to keep trying
And then you have to let go
And sometimes ask for a hand
And it helps 
When the kindness of strangers of friends of family
Of people whose paths cross over yours
Extends outward and
Takes a weight off your shoulders and helps you along the way
And reminds you that there is love and light and kindness in this world
Even if it sounds cliched 
 
And all you can do is say thank you
And hope it sounds as sincere as you want it to 
And hold in your heart that one day you’ll repay it all back ten thousand fold
 
The end.