In a letter to his children, a father reflects upon the importance of a good friend and the value of a place to feel safe and secure. The father recalls various memories of his family as it has grown in relationship to a favorite tree that had been part of their lives since they built their home. The tree seems to help the family through many events but does not withstand a huge storm. The father uses the wood to build a tree house to continue its importance to the family.

When a raging storm destroys the sand dunes that several animals and plants called home, a community works together to restore the dunes in a most creative way. Includes an author's note about the ecology of the coastal sand dunes and what is being done to preserve them.