A couple of years ago I wrote to the paper about the demise of the infamous blue chair at McNeil Bay in Oak Bay. After the letter, three chairs adorned the area where the blue chair sat so regally over the years.
The blue chair and the head land it was on had such an impact on me, that I had my will changed to have my ashes spread there.
Last Saturday we made a heart-wrenching decision to have our wonderful dog, Stringo, put to sleep. I was inconsolable, so we drove to the one place where I could get comfort.
We were thrilled to find two of the chairs empty. But when we went up to them eagerly looking for solace, we stopped short with a gasp, as they were full of graffiti, and foul at that.
I was breathless. I could not believe someone had done this. How could someone deface items put there by the kindness of strangers for the pleasure of everyone?
I backed away in disgust and went to cry on nearby rocks. Now my grief was twofold, for the loss of Stringo and for the sight of the chairs.
I hope that one day whoever did this act of vandalism will understand that what they think is a lark and nothing can have a huge effect on many.
Belinda Thomas
Sidney