A Vignette In Appreciation -
BOREAL FOUNDATION
"This sucks," a voice stated. Two men lugging a stone paused to
look back at the youth who had spoken.
"That's eloquent," the old-timer responded. "Now stop stalling
and help us. We've got to get this thing moved." They returned to
their tasks. There were many others helping. Bodies strode to and
fro, collecting lighter stones, while heavy machinery lifted the
larger blocks.
"This is one damn big X. Who the hell decided to build it here?"
The young one once more paused and stared up in awe at the monumental
icon eclipsing the boreal shore.
"Carter," one man stated. Someone called for a break, and the
crew dropped the stones they carried and dispersed, muttering the
words, creator, surfer dude, and god.
The old-timer remained staring at the youth. "You're new. How
long you been here?" He frowned at the younger man.
"Me? I've been here as long as that ring plot they decided to
grow." He turned to stare at the old-timer. "How long have you been
building this?" He gestured toward the big stone X.
"We laid the foundation over five years ago." The old-timer
smiled and patted the stones remaining. "It got big. You can see it
from anywhere on earth." The old-timer beamed with pride for a moment
and then shook his head sadly. "It was almost complete."
The young one noticed the sadness and stepped closer to the
old-timer. He wrapped an arm over the other's shoulder.
"So, why are they moving it?" He waited for the old one to speak.
He stared at the foundation set deep in the heart of the intrepid
shore. The icon rose above it incomplete - pieces of it in transit to
a new place.
"Change is in the air." The old-timer grimaced at the look of
inquiry in the young ones eye's. "They're moving it because it is
time." He shrugged.
"What the hell does that mean?" The youth frowned and focused
inward, trying to come up with some conclusion that made sense.
"I don't know. I just take care of the details." The old-timer
reached for a handful of sand at the base of the monument and watched
as the grains fell from his palm.
"So, I hear you and some of the others aren't going," the youth
stated quizzically.
"Yes. Some have chosen to remain behind. The foundation must be
maintained.".
"They aren't taking the foundation?" The young one looked
startled and stared with concern at the base of the X.
"No," mumbled the old-timer. "They're going to try and build a
new foundation. Carter said something about knocking down a bunch of
letters already standing up on some hillside, and replacing them with
his X."
"Think he can do that?" the young one asked. He paced away from
the other man, heading around one corner of the monument.
The old-timer followed. He chuckled, and watched as the youth
began climbing the back of the X.
"Carter? He has the power of the wily FOX behind him. At the
moment it appears he can do anything." He watched the man climb
higher, his grip sure on the stones that made up the monument. "What
are you doing?"
The young man reached the top of the icon and spread his arms
wide. He grinned at the man below.
"I want to stand on top before it all comes tumbling down!" he
shouted.
The old-timer huffed with laughter and turned toward the
returning crew. He gestured, and a man stepped forward to help him
lift the stone they had abandoned earlier.
This man glanced to the youth atop the X they were dismantling.
"What's he doing up there?" The man squinted and watched the
youth wave from the top of the monument.
The old-timer shook his head and bent to pick up his end of the
load.
"Saying good-bye to the foundation left behind."
END
Meg ([email protected]) was unable to make it and
asked that I pass on her appreciation of you.
Warm Regards and Too Much Laughter
BethLynn