Someone walked off with my water bottle. Granted, I walked off first, forgot it and left, but it was an establishment, an easy lost and found situation.
And instead of turning it in, someone just walked off with it.
If it was just a sunshine orange and yellow top nalgene, that would be one thing. But it was a talisman, a magical good luck charm. It was years old, and treasured. Covered with history and love.
My "Where There Be Dragons " sticker clung boldly to its side reminding me of this awesome organization and the two trips I took with them: deep and long treks into Nepal and ancient ruins of Cambodia. A reminder of the places, the journey, and the people that influenced my life.
And the Northwest Native block carving of an Orca to remind me of kayaking with my sister and the whales in the San Juan Islands. A beyond words experience captured by a sticker.
I had a "Fat Tire Tours" bicycle sticker to mark my time in Paris, pedaling around, eating french baggets, laying on the lawn at the foot of the Eiffle tower, listening to musicians on the bridges and sliding solo through a town.
And my most recent additions may be the hardest to lose, my "sailor badass" "you are kind" and " you are brave" homemade and gifted stickers from a captain of a tall ship on which I crewed. Reminding me that I am a seaworthy woman, that I am brave in this transition and discovery period in my life.
Not only did this water bottle make hydration possible, not only is it a piece of equipment that I now need to replace, but it was a witness to my life, a memory holder. It was a totem, a sacred object, a reminder of my journeys.
And someone saw that bottle with all those stickers and thought it should be theirs instead of giving me the chance to claim it.
I am disappointed
I am saddened
I am put out
I am now marking those memories with these words.
The memories are mine.
I am a blessed adventurer, a kick ass sailor, a brave explorer and kind enough to myself to let it go
Now
I am closing the chapter of that water bottle and will open up a new.
Perhaps I will find a sea blue bottle with an evergreen top.
A blank page
An empty canvas
Just waiting to be filled
And instead of turning it in, someone just walked off with it.
If it was just a sunshine orange and yellow top nalgene, that would be one thing. But it was a talisman, a magical good luck charm. It was years old, and treasured. Covered with history and love.
My "Where There Be Dragons " sticker clung boldly to its side reminding me of this awesome organization and the two trips I took with them: deep and long treks into Nepal and ancient ruins of Cambodia. A reminder of the places, the journey, and the people that influenced my life.
And the Northwest Native block carving of an Orca to remind me of kayaking with my sister and the whales in the San Juan Islands. A beyond words experience captured by a sticker.
I had a "Fat Tire Tours" bicycle sticker to mark my time in Paris, pedaling around, eating french baggets, laying on the lawn at the foot of the Eiffle tower, listening to musicians on the bridges and sliding solo through a town.
And my most recent additions may be the hardest to lose, my "sailor badass" "you are kind" and " you are brave" homemade and gifted stickers from a captain of a tall ship on which I crewed. Reminding me that I am a seaworthy woman, that I am brave in this transition and discovery period in my life.
Not only did this water bottle make hydration possible, not only is it a piece of equipment that I now need to replace, but it was a witness to my life, a memory holder. It was a totem, a sacred object, a reminder of my journeys.
And someone saw that bottle with all those stickers and thought it should be theirs instead of giving me the chance to claim it.
I am disappointed
I am saddened
I am put out
I am now marking those memories with these words.
The memories are mine.
I am a blessed adventurer, a kick ass sailor, a brave explorer and kind enough to myself to let it go
Now
I am closing the chapter of that water bottle and will open up a new.
Perhaps I will find a sea blue bottle with an evergreen top.
A blank page
An empty canvas
Just waiting to be filled
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