September 4, 2009
1400 hours
The varnished pine wood was thick. The seat and back were joined with sturdy lap joints. This bench was made to last. It stood south-facing with a panoramic view of Montague Harbour. A brass plate was affixed center on the topmost backboard. On the plate was inscribed a name and a message. Yes, the name is important to those who left it, but the message bears significance to all. It was a message of hope for one who was passed on. Acknowledgement of a life lived in full with special joy found in the local waters of the Canadian Gulf Islands. The words expressed a wish to enjoy forever now those places you have loved the most. The seated view was inspiring. It was easy to feel the presence of this mariner’s spirit and sense the joy that he had felt in this setting. The bench had worked its magic. The words had conveyed this man’s passion and helped fuel the same fire that burned in others as they embraced the scene.