Sunset From the Viewpoint

Many years ago, an elderly gentleman and his wife found a spot overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the sand dunes, the North Jetty, and the Siuslaw River. They would climb the hill and watch the view. I imagine they would hold hands and talk about their past and their future while watching that view. When the wife died, the gentleman donated money to the city (or county, I'm not sure which) to build a simple bench, dedicated to his wife, where other people could come, sit, and watch the view as he and his wife had once done.

The city, (Or county -see above) decided to take his money, solicit donations, and build a "view house" instead. I have heard that when the city (or...see above) explained to the gentleman what they mind, he objected and reiterated that all he wanted was a bench.

The view house became a reality, anyway. It was a two story timber structure, open in the back with a glass and timber front for viewing and a parking lot to handle all the "visitors". Over the years, my daughters and I visited the view house many times sometimes talking about and always remembering the man and his wife. Over those years we saw minor damage done and graffiti added but the view was what we came to see and the rest mattered little.

Then, one evening, a troubled young woman came from out of town and set fire to the view house. By the time the fireman arrived the house was nothing but a pile of ashes and forgotten dreams.

When the city (or..see above) contacted the elderly gentleman to see if he would re-donate so they could re-. build the view house, local urban legend has it that he pretty much told them where to go and how to get there!

Tonight I drove out to where the view house used to be. I had not been there in quite a while. Would you like to know what I found out there? I found a simple wooden bench, perfect for two people to sit and watch the Pacific Ocean, the sand dunes, the jetty and The Siuslaw River. A perfect place to see the sunset, to hold hands and to talk about the past and the future. I found the fulfillment of the elderly man's dream to honor his wife and their life together. I found a dream come true.