Have you heard of the Kindred Spirit mailbox at Sunset
Beach, NC?
It has stood in the sand dunes near the jetty of Sunset Beach for over 48 years;
a lighthouse of sorts sending its beacon of camaraderie to travelers, shell seekers,
beach walkers and old souls. More than anything- the mailbox stands as a reminder
of our innate desire to connect with like-hearted kindred spirits.
My best friend, Anna and I made the 1.74-mile search, heading southwest from the
Sunset Beach pier looking for the mailbox among the dunes. We really didn’t
know what to expect other than a black, marked mailbox facing the waves. I must
tell you- my friend wasn’t feeling well and was a little more than annoyed at
my insistence to find the mailbox. She fussed the whole 1.74 miles…. "the W H O
L E COTTON-PICKIN, DADGUM way" . (ha)
We finally spotted the mailbox and two park benches up high on the dunes. We
approached with genuine curiosity; what could possibly compel beachcombers to this
mailbox for the better part of half of a century?
Upon opening the mailbox we found several spiral notebooks in the box with pens. The pages were filled with an assortment of thoughts and messages; friendly notes to fellow passerby's, some were heavy hearted odes to lost loves and broken hearts that had come to find solace in the waves. A few of the notes were journal entries telling of sojourners explorations, vacations or tales of inspiration and joy in finding the mailbox.
As I was reading through the other journals, I decided to write in one. I chronicled meeting a very special person who I instantly knew was my own "kindred spirit"....he was an instant friend, but was out of reach to me and long distance in more ways than one. However, in spite of our mutual feelings towards each other, I had resigned myself to letting go of him...with only the best thoughts, wishes and prayers for him. Sitting on the bench overlooking the water, I poured my heart and lovelorn wishes out to strangers and the wind...wondering if anything would ever come of our connection and feelings of "love at first sight". One of the lines I wrote that day said, " May this feeling of kinship, peace and love remain in our hearts as a lighthouse to other souls on their journeys through life." And with that prayer to love and God and someone who held my heart....I signed off.
At the same time, Anna was pouring out her heart regarding the "first love" she had ever known....her Daddy....both of us sitting there, with different kinds of tears and loss. I don't know for sure, but I've always felt that Anna came to peace with her daddy's passing that afternoon. Looking back, the afternoon was poetry in motion, the waves like the ebb and flow of first loves and lost loves...of hellos and goodbyes....its one of my fondest memories of the summer. The Kindred Spirit Mailbox is truly a landmark in the sand dunes.
It's been almost two years since that day. I intend to go back and update my journal entry at some point this summer. Because, that "kindred spirit" that I had wrote about is now my husband. Love was a lighthouse that truly led us back to each other. What I wrote in the journal that day has a new meaning to me...like a vow to him and truly, to others, that we keep the feeling of kinship, peace and love in our hearts as a lighthouse to other souls on their journeys....may we always remember our feelings at first sight, first love, first true kindred spirit. We're all on a journey, showing up at the same place.... let us each be a place to find a friendly message, a warm welcome and a place to share our hearts with fellow sojourners. <3
Shine all your light,
Cass. K.
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