GHOST BENCH

We live in a world full of mysteries, so numerous we'll never figure it all out.

Personally, I love that.

There's a beautiful park near where I currently live, with acres and acres of trees and green space to wander and explore. Dotted throughout are wooden benches, each with a golden plaque containing the name and perhaps a bit of personal information or a message relating to the person it's in memoriam of.

Most of the information is pretty mundane, name, birth/death dates, and occasionally a generic saying, but one bench stood out because it contained the lady's nickname, 'Davie', short for Davina, and the phrase
'Well, there we are aren't we…..' , presumably one of Davie's favorite sayings that her friends and family found endearing. Somehow it gave me the sense that I'd met Davie and got a glimpse into her personality.

The dates on the plaque indicate she would have been a young woman in her early 20's during the dark days of WWII, most likely living in the London area. That meant the terror of the Blitz, and the harsh realities of rationing of food and other goods, not to mention living with the looming threat of impending invasion by Nazi troops.

No one got through those times without at least some grit, resourcefulness, courage and community spirit---all that, and a good sense of humor would have been a big help too.

So I imagined Davina's catchphrase 'Well, there we aren't we…' being stated in a pleasant, good humored way that fully acknowledges the gravity of the situation, whatever it is, yet without any trace of self-pity or defeatism.

No, it is both understanding and sympathetic and a loving boot in the pants to propel you forward all at the same time!

I would often pass by Davie's bench on my frequent walks and, feeling a certain kinship, would sometimes even say hello, silently, because, well, I'm not a complete nutter and there are other people around. Davie began to feel like an old friend, perhaps a grandmother or aunt who's a good listener and always knows how to put things in perspective. Someone you can have a good cry with and then a really good laugh with once you've gotten the tears out of your system.

As time went on, I'd even tell her a bit of the news and goings on in my life and imagine her saying ' well, there we are aren't we…..It always made me smile. It was comforting somehow.

One overcast, foggy day in late October I was ambling through the park with my husband. I'd 'introduced' him to Davina a while back, so he was in on the story. The crisp, woodsmoke scented air was even more pungent in the autumn mist. The fog and dampness of the day had apparently kept everyone else at home in front of the telly. We seemed to be the only people in the park.

Much to our surprise, just up ahead we saw a woman seated on Davie's bench. As we drew near we saw that she had chestnut brown, slightly wavy shoulder length hair. I couldn't determine her age. One moment she didn't look more than 25 and then next she could have been anywhere between 40 and 70. I can't explain it better than that. Ageless is the word. As we approached she smiled a very bright, friendly smile, the kind that you just can't help responding to.

We said hello and exchanged brief pleasantries, commenting about the weather, which is always a popular subject in England.

The next thing she said stunned us! With a good natured chuckle she said

'Well, there we are aren't we…'

Speechless, my husband and I gasped and stared at each other in amazement, our jaws just about reaching our chins. What a strange coincidence---or perhaps she'd read the plaque and liked the phrase. Yes, that must be it.

Regaining our composure, we turned back to say goodbye and wish her a pleasant afternoon. But she was gone. Like a puff of smoke!

We looked all around in every direction down the pathways but she was nowhere to be seen. We'd only looked away for a second or two. Surely no one can walk that fast!

We've been back to the park many times since that overcast October day but we've never seen the lady again.

I like to think that, perhaps we had a little visit from Davie. That it was her way of saying she's enjoyed 'meeting' us too.

So, did we see Davie? Was it just an odd coincidence? Is this true or is it fiction?

I'll leave that up to you dear reader to decide.......

All photographs are my own.