Little Sister Sand: Finding the Wild in Provincetown($24.95Value)

Description

Little Sister Sand is a compendium: a collection of experiences and interactions, of observations, and musings based upon them, that have taken place over nearly six decades - all concentrated on the outer reaches of Cape Cod, most specifically in Provincetown. Minsky has been wandering the beaches, dunes, woodlands, and marshes of the area for all these years, always with an open mind and an inquisitive nature. His own backyard and the sidewalks of town are also part of his territory. He reminds us that, on this little spit we inhabit or visit "sand is everywhere" and not to be underestimated. His message in miniature is that wildness is everywhere, even in this "narrow land" as Thoreau described it. Cape Cod has been inhabited by people for centuries and the evidence of its "lived-in" character exists side-by-side with the wild fauna and flora around us. Human history and natural history are inextricably bound. An underlying theme of the book is exactly how we should share the world with our non-human neighbors: what exactly is our place in nature? Minsky is a naturalist: he revels in the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural world. He muses on the interior lives of the creatures he encounters. He ponders the essence of beauty and the phenomenon of the passage of time. He provides no answers; rather a profusion of questions. His conclusion: "Within the mystery, there is a place for us all." Dennis Minsky has the gift of the eternal child's curiosity. That curiosity is the seed of his explorations in writing. He is a close observer of the natural world, and writes in a voice unmistakably his. With that voice, he shows us what we may have seen many times before, now made new again, illuminated by the light of his curiosity, given a gentle squeeze of humor, and held up for us to see clearly and with profound regard. Kai Potter , Author of Noticing. The Quiet Season on Outer Cape Cod Dennis has been a naturalist aboard our whale watches for more than 30 years, and in that time has become one of Provincetown's most beloved voices in nature, writing, and public speaking. Spend five minutes with him and you'll understand why passengers board our boats asking for him by name - his knowledge of local marine life runs deep, and his desire to share it runs deeper. Beyond the science, Dennis has a gift for the well-timed dry joke - the kind that sneaks up on you, landing with a genuine laugh for those paying close enough attention. He is, in the truest sense, someone who can make you fall a little more in love with the natural world. Andrea Spence , Science Coordinator, Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch For those who appreciate the Outer Cape for its dunes and ocean, its migratory birdlife, and its diversity of humankind, the writings of Dennis Minsky are an elixir. Minsky has spent five decades observing everything associated with this curving spit of sand and the evolving environments and little societies that persist there. To read Minsky's musings is to take a trip to a place worth visiting--a place worth settling in. I thank Dennis for reminding those of us who live elsewhere of just what we are missing! Bruce Beehler , naturalist and author of Flight of the Godwit: Tracking Epic Shorebird Migrations Dennis possesses a storyteller's gift for transforming everyday moments into memorable tales filled with humor, insight, and heart. Often described as Cape Cod's Garrison Keiller, with eloquent prose and a keen eye for the quirks and characters that define life on the Cape, Minsky's writing evokes a strong sense of place while illuminating universal truths about human nature. Warm, witty, and deeply engaging, this collection is a testament to the enduring power of great storytelling. William Mullin , President, Provincetown Conservation Trust Dennis Minsky's words roll off the page with the subtle power of a gliding peregrine falcon. A depth of knowledge and shared life experiences that move the reader to contemplation. Peter Trull , field naturalist, author of nine books Dennis Minsky's essays have appeared on the Cape Cod Notebook segment of WCAI, and in the Year-Rounder column in the Provincetown Independent; he has also had fiction, reviews, and profiles published in Provincetown Arts magazine. His career as a field biologist began in 1974, at Cape Cod National Seashore, protecting nesting terns and plovers. He also worked for the Park Service in the Everglades and Big Cypress Preserve, and in southern California for various state and federal agencies. After earning a master's degree in Biology, he taught Environmental Science in New Jersey for 20 years, returning to the Cape each summer to work for the Center for Coastal Studies, Art's Dune Tours, and the Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch, where he is still employed as a naturalist. He worked for many years at the iconic Ciro & Sal's Restaurant, and still considers the experience formative. He has been a resident of Provincetown since 1968 and returned fulltim