I was out walking a couple of days ago and went a different direction and came across a new part of the beach that I hadn’t come across before. As I was wandering I noticed a water fountain and as I passed it I saw that it had a plaque on it. In memory of someone obviously; there are park benches galore with those little plaques and such. I always take a second to look and read these. Someone loved a person enough to leave a lasting physical mark of their life so the least I can do is glance at the name or names I figure. This one struck me though and I stopped to go back and have another read and really think about it. The inscription is in memory of Mary Elizabeth Botterell who lived in the area for years and loved this beach area in particular, passing away in 2000. A touching reminder of someone who clearly loved the area enough to spend the vast majority of her life here. This plaque also held a poem, not sure who it’s by, maybe a family member, maybe Mary herself or maybe just one she loved. It reads “I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the gentle autumn rain, I am the swift uplifting rush of the quiet birds in circled flight, I am the soft stars that shine at night”.
A pretty poem on a simple landmark to stand true to the memory of someone who was special enough to those she left behind that they chose to ensure that she will always remain, in some way, where she most loved to be.
Perfect and precious.
whisky sweet 