A Young Man and The Sea.

I am on a grassy hilltop, looking down on a beautiful sea. It is too far and too steep for me to clamber down to the waves, so I just look and take it in as a gentle breeze cools the warm day.
I have been walking for a while around the top of Smoky Cape Beach. I look and find a seat to rest on.

Carved into the back of this strongly built and very handsome wooden bench seat is a name, ‘Joachim’ and dates, ‘1989 – 2014’.

It takes me by surprise, and I have the urge to run my fingers over and over the lettering. As I do so, I gaze at the scene below and strangely feel a presence. I keep tracing the carving and a sensation of peace comes over me.

Who was Joachim? At only 25 years of age, he was far too young to die.
Was he a surfer? Did he take one too many risks in waves like those I see below me?
Or was he just a young person who had a passion for the sea? Or this place?

He must have been well loved, for someone to have erected this substantial memorial.
I hope he had a life that was full of wonder. I hope his life was adventurous and full of beauty.

I find my mind turning to the words of Don Marquis from “The Lesson of the Moth”:
“…it is better to be happy for a moment and be burned up with beauty than to live a long time and be bored all the while…”
I hope that’s how Joachim’s life was.