Anna Maria Island beachgoers lost their beloved fishing pier at Manatee Beach in 2009. There were some good reasons; principally, it was a safety hazard due to its deteriorating condition, lifeguards said. But for those who remember learning to surf there, it was like a death.
Within the next three months, the Island is about to lose the beloved treehouse at Angelino’s Sea Lodge. There are some good reasons for that too – for one, the owners never got a permit from the city of Holmes Beach before building it. But fans who come back year after year always ask the same thing: “Is the treehouse still here?”
Last week, we lost the beloved red train caboose at Anna Maria Elementary School, which for nearly 40 years was the school’s unofficial mascot (the official mascot is the dolphin). There was again a good reason; it was deteriorating due to the salt air.
Old Australian pines were recently removed on Coquina Beach, leaving pedestrians in the sun instead of the shade, but the good reason was that their roots were buckling the sidewalk.
Pines Trailer Park residents in Bradenton Beach – and many islanders – fear losing the old-Florida-style park now that new, development-minded owners have purchased it. Progress may be a good reason to some, but not so good to others.
Losing the Gregg Allman-era vibe on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach with the recent demolition of the historic Magnolia Inn and several other buildings soon to be replaced with a bigger, better hotel – ditto.
When they got rid of the automobile ferry to Anna Maria Island after the first bridge to the island was built – which happened within the lifetime of some elders who are still with us – those folks shook their heads, but they faced the strange changes.
Y’all, listen up.
The only constant in life is change.
Sometimes, it’s for a good reason. Sometimes, a bad one. Sometimes, it’s for an anguished but necessary reason, like using the nuclear bomb to end WWII. Sometimes, it’s for a selfish reason. Sometimes, a greedy reason. Sometimes, for no apparent reason at all.
Back in the day, Anna Maria Island used to be pronounced Anna “Mar-eye-ah” Island. That changed too.
Love AMI now, because – like everything else in life – we will eventually lose what we thought it was to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. And again and again, we will have to let it go.
