Sand Dollar By: Jim Gandolf

Sand Dollar Memorial of my Life

Poem 

By Jim Gandolf 

©️08032026 

The pine trees whispered in the northern breeze,

As waves washed softly on the freshwater seas.

With tents pitched close to Lake Michigan’s side,

Where blue met sky and the shoreline was wide,

Our father would send us on grand, heroic quests—

Two young brothers, listening to his tests:

"Go find me a sand dollar out in the surf,

Search every inch of this sandy earth!"

So off we would march down the golden strand,

Scouring the water, the rocks, and the sand.

It was tough, it was tricky, a mission so grand,

With endless white shores and no treasure in hand.

All we could gather as hours flew by

Were worn freshwater shells under summer’s bright sky.

We never did find one—we couldn't, of course,

Bound by the lake and its sweet water source.

But the thrill was the hunt, and the joy was the race,

With the sun on our backs and the wind in our face.

Laughter shared with a brother and guide,

Side-by-side on that Michigan tide.

Years swept along like the drift of the sand,

And time took the boys and the Dad by the hand.

Now the beach is still, and they’ve both passed along,

Leaving only the lake and the echo of song.

When I grew older, at an estate sale one day,

A small piece of history came walking my way:

A real sand dollar, dipping in gold,

Holding the sunshine from days long of old.

I wear it today close against my own chest,

A gleaming reminder of our favorite quest.

Not just for the shell that we never could claim,

But for two loving heroes who called out my name—

Keeping us young on those wonderful shores,

Searching for treasures forever and more.

Jim Gandolf 

Note: My Father, and brother Joe in the early 1970’s loving the time on the beach of Lake Michigan on the Michigan side of the lake. I remember the good times now and then. I wrote about this when I was in Port, Washington high school as a sophomore.