Last summer I was sitting in my beach chair on Scotch Beach. I have been coming to the beaches of Block Island since 1967. It was another sunny and warm summer day. A group of young girls came walking down the beach. There were about eight of them. They were loud, smiling, and laughing as they strolled on by.

Then I thought about the photograph I took way back, pictured here. This was 1991. I was walking around looking for a good spot to photograph the moon rise with my 4x5 camera. Coming onto Mansion Beach I ran into a group of young people preparing a fire. I knew them, so I took a couple of photographs. This one is iconic. It captures the experience of a Block Island summer; the friendships that last forever, the beaches, the gatherings, the sun bleached hair, and fair skin with red coloring. It is something that is a special time for all who go through it.

Then I thought that ten years ago that was my daughters and their friends. Today it was the group that strolled by. At one time it was me. My friends and I cruised all over the island in search of fun times. There are those who are older than me by a few years. I know that they too had a similar experience. Then I thought of my step brothers and sister. They too had this experience in the fifties and sixties. This photograph could have been taken throughout the years. Different generations but all having similar experiences.

For the generations who have shared the Block Island life, it has been an essential part of our lives. I have seen it as a kid and a parent. I am happy that my kids have had it. For some the experience might be a summer or two. For others it might be a lifetime. No matter, it is here when we are young and adventurous that it seeps into us and never leaves. These are the endless summers that live in us.