Message in a bottle.

''To aII the ships at sea and aII the ports of caII. To my famiIy and to aII friends and strangers. '' ''This is a message and a prayer. The message is that my traveIs taught me a great truth. I aIready had what everyone is searching for. . . . . .and few ever find: The one person in the worId who I was born to Iove forever. A person Iike me, of the Outer Banks. . . . . .and the bIue AtIantic mystery. '' To all the ships at sea... ...and all the ports of call. To my family... ...and to all friends and strangers. This is a message and a prayer. The message is that my travels taught me a great truth. l already had what everyone is searching for... ...and few ever find: The one person in the world... ... who l was born to love forever. A person like me, of the Outer Banks... ...and the blue Atlantic mystery. A person rich in simple treasures... ...self-made, self-taught. A harbor where l am forever home. And no wind or trouble... ...or even a little death can knock down this house. The prayer is that everyone in the world can know this kind of love... ...and be healed by it. lf my prayer is heard, then there will be an erasing of all guilt... ...and all regret... ...and an end to all anger. Please, God. Amen.

''Dear Catherine: There isn't an hour without you in it. I mend the boats, test them. . . . . .and aII the whiIe the memories come in Iike the tide. I thought today of when we were young. . . . . .and you Ieft our worId for a bigger worId. I was a Iot more scared than I wouId admit. I fought my fear. . . . . .by teIIing myseIf you'd come back someday. . . . . .and trying to think of the first thing I'd say when I saw you again. I must have tried out possibiIities. What did I finaIIy say? Not much. My mouth wouIdn't work, except to kiss you. When you said, 'I'm here to stay' . . . . . .that said it aII. WeII, I'm doing it again. I keep imagining what I'd say to you if somehow you came back. ''