SNIPPETS of writings merging the past and present are etched in stones and scattered alongside the pathways at Crescent Beach in South Surrey. I learned there are 33 memory stones marked with thoughts gathered by artist Tina Farmilo.
Thirteen stones are arranged in a circle like pages torn from a diary by a grassy knoll. I see people meditating there sometimes amid the fragmented stories of days gone by. Aboriginal peoples, pioneers and families reach out as if from a dream or a poem. Is not
"leaf shaker's moon" a lovely way to convey winter is coming?
Guided by the seasons, most words express respect for the weathered land and the sea that influenced their everyday lives.
I enjoyed reading the notes on stones amid the thousands of timeless, wordless rocks also in the area. These strong silent types laze around all day without having a single thing to say.
As an afterthought, inspired by a comment from Jen of
Muddy Boot Dreams, I include a picture of another one of the 33 stones that speaks for itself at Crescent Beach. It says,
“ … years of summer children running barefoot free in the dusty roads ‘til dusk and the horn of the night train calls them home.”
I suspect an inward search can unearth similar wonder at any age ... even when trains are less melodic, and too frequent, and dusty roads are paved and cracked. In early childhood each new moment becomes a piece of forever inscribed into memories that shape future perspectives.
This stone, capped by a pair of lost gloves, speaks for a girl who in 1929 was excited about her stay at a local camp.
“Oh boy,” she said,
“we get two plates of all if we want. My little brother got three helpings and we are in the water all day and there’s bonfires on the beach at night and I like this better than Christmas.”
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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms
Oh my gosh, those last lines...they echo in my mind. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved those stones, especially the one that tells about the barefoot children running free in the summer...
I wrote a post about it years ago...it makes my heart sing.
Jen
Wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteI love stones and rocks of all kinds. Great post from your world.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. I particularly like this part:
ReplyDelete"thousands of timeless wordless rocks that are also in the area. These strong silent types laze around all day without having a single thing to say."
Luv, K
A lovely circle! I wouldn't mind meditating there myself.
ReplyDeleteSuper post. Reading the stones and meditating over the words, delightful. But ti Love it that you don;t hold it against the strong silent rocks. ;)
ReplyDeleteAh, I can relate to the strong, silent type! What a terrific post and photos! I love it!! Would love to visit there myself and meditating!! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the stones, and the thoughts shared. It old be a beautiful place to walk and meditate.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post and great shots for OWT ~ thanks,
ReplyDeletecarol ^_^
http://www.acreativeharbor.com
What a beautiful place to stroll and meditate. The rocks sound very interesting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea to have memory stones.
ReplyDeleteFascinating!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea and what a special place. It sounds and looks quite mysterious and beautiful
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful beach for a walking meditation. I like to make little cairns for wishes and hopes when in walking on a beach like this. The artist/poet would understand that,
ReplyDeleteI know the picture is in your other blog, but I can´t stand to do a comment about the raccoon picture. It is a great photo. I´ll try to see your cards.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Tomás
The arrangement of the memory stones in radial balance by the sea is beautiful and is suggestive of harmony in nature. I’d like to read the poems inscribed on the stones one by one in person. I recall my childhood when running wild on the dusty road till dusk when crows’ cawing called us home. I like this expression “In early childhood each new moment becomes a piece of forever inscribed into memories that shape future perspectives.”
ReplyDeleteWhat an intriguing idea to put words on stones in this way. I would make it my mission to find them all! :)
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely lovely.
ReplyDelete