Running along the beach in search of sand dollars, two young boys stumbled upon the skeletal remains of an old, once masted ship.  Submerged in sand and subject to twice daily high tides, the old ship was in perpetual dry dock.  The boys wondered if it was a pirate ship with a treasure chest.  Would they become rich and famous for discovering this long-lost relic? They started to dig in search of gold but quickly tired and lost interest.  The sand dollars beckoned them, and the boys continued on their way. The dollars in the sand would wait another day. 

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This is a short reflection of my first encounter with a shipwreck on Higgins Beach, Maine in 1971 when I was just 10 years old. My friend, who lived at Higgins Beach with his family, had seen the wreck many times and thought nothing of it.  However, I was convinced that we had discovered a sunken pirate ship and there was buried treasure for the taking. I will never forget the excitement of this experience. The old wreck is a treasure to me and I often go back to visit when I am in Maine. This photograph was taken in August 2023.