Volunteers recorded all the trash they picked up at Shimada Friendship Park last Saturday into categories like Styrofoam, plastics, paper and for fun, oddest items. When the tally cards were gathered, the most interesting object found was clear — a message in a bottle. The note, on thick turquoise paper, was dated 2011, and captured an intense and loving expression of grief. The letter has no living recipient and was never intended for one. Yet, it was thrown in the ocean, arguably, for someone to find.
We at Richmond Confidential want to make sure that it does not end up in a landfill or recycling facility. We want to the offer the author a chance to reclaim the bottle and the message inside. If you are the author and you would like your letter, please contact us at news@richmondconfidential.org and we will handle this with whatever level of privacy that you request. If no one claims it in the next six weeks, we will return it to the ocean.
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regarding the message in the bottle:
assuming no one comes forth, my understanding of how it works-the message in the bottle- in modern times is that it is something that someone is trying to release. i can only hope that they do not come reclaiming that which they were looking to let go of. since your staff has read the note, i hope you will offer whomever the author is, compassion and forgiveness. and a release from their apparent grief.