The Promise

D joined me for dinner at my favorite table in the Lodge restaurant Saturday night after my exhibit.

I ordered a half liter carafe of wine to accompany our meal as Big Band music filled the room.

As we dined and enjoyed the wine, I began to recount the story I had written in 2003 when I first ventured to Nova Scotia.

I explained to D that in my story back then, a Selkie that I would come to name Rose, was trying to come ashore and

convert to human form when she became entangled in fisherman’s gear.

She was trapped and could not get out or take on human form.

I continued to describe how the Mariner; who was later named Aristotle and always really me, came upon Rose the Selkie one day in my story.

Rose begged the Mariner to take pity on her predicament and set her free to complete the transformation to human form.

I then told D; as we sipped our wine and looked out at the sunset in the harbour, that the Mariner is a man of honor and immediately set her free.

Rose then transformed into a beautiful woman; and the Mariner fell in love with her. He was beguiled.

As the story evolved back in 2003, their love grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, in the story, the Mariner gave Rose The Lover’s Knot as a symbol of his love; no beginning and no end.

I then asked D if she would excuse me from our table so I could go back to my room and retrieve a “prop”.

A moment later, I returned with a short piece of rope that I have previously made into a Lover’s Knot.

I sat back down at our table and continued to describe the story I had created in 2003.

I placed the piece of rope with the knot in D’s hand; and motioned for her to hold it. She did so.

In the story; eventually, Rose came to the Mariner one day. She had the Lover’s Knot in her hand.

Rose placed the rope with the knot in the Marnier’s hand.

I then asked D to hand the rope back to me. She did so.

Next I showed and told D what happened next in the story and what Rose said to the Marnier:

“I love you so much,

I will show you where it is hidden,

and return to the sea,

to set you free.”

I then acted out for D what the Mariner did in my story...

I touched the Lover’s Knot to my heart,

I then touched the Knot to D’s heart,

I then placed the rope back in D’s hand and I quoted the Mariner.

“No”

And then Rose took the Lover’s Knot and put it in a safe place forever in my story.

Then I said to D:

“That’s Love!”

I could see that D’s eyes were glistening.

Thank you D,

I love you for giving me that precious moment!

Ari