Sitting on a Story Blog

Sitting On a Story Blog

1. 

In Stanley Park, at Ferguson Point, sits a bench. It looks just like every other bench in Vancouver. Brown woodgrain, held together with a metal frame, sitting on a concrete slab. But this bench is unique, not by appearance but by sentiment. I go to this bench when things get hard, it provides me with comfort that most places can't. If I ever need to get out and clear my head, I’ll sometimes make the drive out to Stanley Park to sit there just to think. The bench faces west, next to the ocean, giving off a soothing sound of waves crashing against the sea wall. My favorite time to come to the bench is at sunset, when the ocean is calming down, and the golden sun is reflecting off the waves. The view of the city is just amazing; you can see from the lower mainland all the way to Horseshoe Bay. The spot is very calm; I am often accompanied by no one except a few seagulls. I like it that way; it provides a peaceful sense of solitude that is so hard to come by today. It's such a beautiful spot and I'm so thankful to have a place, so lovely, and so near where I live. 

2. 

Sitting on the bench I can see all sorts of things. The vast ocean, stretching on for what seems like forever. The north shore mountains, towering over the city I call home and the giant sulphur pile sitting across the water for what seems like no reason.  I don't just see the big things, but the small stuff too. Like the ants in the dirt scurrying around in unison, or the bees flying around, keeping the plants healthy and flourishing. The leaves on the trees are blowing in the ocean breeze. All in harmony to give such a beautiful image. I can feel the cool breeze from the ocean, wafting the salty scent towards me. The warm sun hit my face as it falls under the horizon, leaving me with the coolness of night. The calmness of the night always helps me think; I find peace in it. I often find myself sitting on the bench thinking about whatever has been stuck in my mind. I may not be necessarily taking in the surroundings, but it helps provide an environment where I’m comfortable to deal with whatever is happening. 

3. 

If I were to have a bench dedicated to me, I would want it to be somewhere deep in the mountains. Far away from where the public might damage it, I would want it to be a hidden treasure. One where someone stumbles upon it and it becomes their secret spot. A spot somewhere far into the north shore mountains. It would be in a clearing with a nice view of the city and ocean. I specifically want this bench in the north shore mountains because they are the place where I found myself. I grew up hiking, biking, skiing, camping and so much more in them, they hold such a special place in my heart, and I’d love to have something there that shows my love for the mountains. I go to the mountains when I'm happy, sad, mad or confused and it always seems to make things better. I'd hope that my bench would be able to provide that for someone else. If there were to be a plaque on the bench, I believe it would say something like, “Dedicated to Logan Tonini 2007-XXXX, resting where he felt most alive, among the trees he cared so dearly for.” I’d like it to be heartfelt and short, nothing too serious but not very humorous. I like to find humor in most aspects of life, but I think that this isn't the place for it. I'd want someone to read the plaque and understand the meaning that it has rather than get a quick laugh. 

4. 

If I were to be given the task of dedicating a bench to someone else, I’d likely have it be for someone who has greatly impacted my life in a positive way. I think this person would have to be my grade 5/6 teacher, Kara Vanderwoude. She really shaped my view of the world and made me into the person I am today. She showed a kind of caring and empathy that not many people have anymore. And so, I’d love to spread her positivity through dedicating a bench to her. I would choose a spot in a place where people may need a rest while enjoying the outdoors; like somewhere in the Seymour Demonstration Forest. This is because

she loves the outdoors, from conservation, to camping to mountain biking; she loves it all. I think it would be fitting for her to be able to help others with her bench as she does every day in person. The demonstration forest works perfectly as its home to thousands of like-minded people who enjoy getting out into the world and exploring. I think a fitting quote to go on the bench's plaque might be something like, “She showed us to listen, to each other, and to the wind in the trees.” This would showcase her empathy as a teacher and her love for nature. 

5. 

Going to the bench in Stanley Park, while time consuming, is always a nice drive and lovely spot to go to. I went just last week during one of the warmer days we’ve had this year. The traffic on the way there wasn’t awful as I left later in the day, around 8:30pm. I went over the water across the Lions Gate Bridge; taking in the view of Stanley Park in its entirety. As soon as I got off the bridge, I took a right, this brings you down a curvy one-way road, through the trees, with the occasional beach to the right. Then once you reach the Teahouse Restaurant, you know you've made it. I parked in the paid parking spot, assuming that no one would care if I was just stopping by for a few minutes. I got out of my car and walked over to a bench. While there are a few, there is one I particularly like. It sits loosely between two other benches, one a memorial to Leslie Cheung who passed away in 2003. I saw flowers on his bench and hoped that if I had a bench that someone may think to do that for me too. The way back from the bench was nice too, by that time the sun had already set, and the stars started to show. Driving through the night has always been my favorite, there's less people out on the road and it has a feeling of peace that is hard to match in the daytime. As I approached my house, a sense of sadness came over me, it's not always easy to go back to routine life after getting away. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the bench and I’m sure some day soon I'll end up there again. 

6. 

I chose the poem “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry, 

When despair for the world grows in me 
and I wake in the night at the least sound 
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, 
I go and lie down where the wood drake 
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. 
I come into the peace of wild things 
who do not tax their lives with forethought 
of grief. I come into the presence of still water. 
And I feel above me the day-blind stars 
waiting with their light. For a time 
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. 

I chose it for a few key reasons. The most obvious reason being the nature theme, it's a bit blunt, but I wanted the poem to reflect the setting of my bench, not just the meaning. I like that the poem paints a picture of a calm forest; the imagery is so vivid and detailed it makes you feel like you're there. Reading this poem for the first time made me feel like I was at my bench, enjoying the nature all around me. But the second time reading through is why I chose it. I could see the deeper meaning of the poem, diving into the comfort of nature and the freedom it provides. The final line “I rest in the grace of the world, and am free” touches on the freedom of being alone in nature, free to do whatever you want. I would want this to be the feeling my bench gives to others. I want people to come to my bench whenever the “despair for the world grows in [them].” I want it to be a place of comfort, a way to get away from all the negativity in the world. And this is shown by the speaker in this poem, turning to the outdoors to get away from it all. They find freedom with being in nature which is a direct reflection of what message I’d like my bench to convey. 

7. 

The poem above is one I connect with deeply; it is full of solitude and appreciation. While I greatly value partnership and human connection, I also find importance in taking time for myself and appreciating other things. The speaker in the poem is overwhelmed by the world and needs to take a step back from it all, so they go into the wilderness to find themselves. I frequently do this and I can sympathize with the way the speaker is feeling. I believe that we should all take care of the world to the best of our ability, and this poem shows a strong caring towards everything natural. It rejects the modern destructive way we’ve been living and embraces living in a more wholesome peaceful way. I’d like to say that this is my personal philosophy, I want the natural beauty of the world to far out live me. It breaks my heart to see how the world has been declining through my lifetime. I try to get out everyday into nature, I believe that it can help heal anything and, especially these days, it has become far less appreciated. I advocate for the preservation of our forests and wildlife, and I hope that someday we, as a society, will figure out how to live in a more environmentally clean manner. 

8. 

Parks hold a special place in my heart, as they do for many people. They are a refuge where nature and people can coexist, for the benefit of all. Parks are vital for creating any livable city: too many places are so urbanized, full of brutalist design and barren landscapes. A park adds a dash of green into an otherwise boring city. They help individuals, who don't have access to nature, reconnect and rejuvenate. I have been fortunate to live in a city surrounded by forests and mountains. But even still, parks have a huge impact on my life and overall wellbeing. Growing up, I would go to the park and have an amazing time. But I don't think parks are just aimed at children, being able to spend some time in a nice maintained area with green grass is something that everyone can enjoy. And yet so many people take it for granted, you can go to any local park and find litter or graffiti. It’s so sad that our population haven't grown up to respect places like this, because they are a privilege to have. I have always loved parks, and I will continue to encourage people to just get out and play once and a while. No matter your age or status, just get out. 

9. 

My Impending Future: 

 

I look to tomorrow wondering, 

Where did all the days go? 

Where I dreaded getting on that bus 

When homework was my biggest concern 

 

Now I have to look forward to the future 

Uncertain and full of possibilities 

With so many different options 

Just like Frosts Road 

I hope I don’t take the wrong path