ESQUIMALT, B.C. — Julie Valet was preparing to plant something new, when she unexpectedly dug up something old. “I was so surprised, so in shock,” Julie recalls looking down at her shovel. “I was like, what is this?” It was a bottle that had been buried under her garden bed. Inside it, was a rolled-up piece of paper. “It was really something so strange,” Julie says the bottle was closed with a cork and the paper was tied with a string. But before she had time to consider who put it there and why, Julie had to go meet a client. He told her to definitely not open it. Because where he came from, people think it could contain a curse. “I’m not superstitious,” Julie says. “But it shocked me for 24 hours.” The last thing Julie needed was bad luck, seeing as she was already having doubts about how her life was unfolding. So, she sought solace outside on her apartment’s patio. “I have the feeling that I’m in the middle of nature when I’m here,” Julie smiles as she points out the garden filled with lush plants and wildflowers. The area is also frequented by birds, deer, and raccoons. “I even see a river otter that comes quite often and scares my cat away,” Julie smiles. When Julie went back inside, she started researching her dilemma about the bottle online. “It’s quite a mystery,” Julie says. “And I have to get to bottom of this.” She was advised not to be afraid of a curse and open the bottle. “So, I thought okay,” Julie says. “Let’s do it!” So, she did. And discovered the paper inside the bottle contained a hand-written message. “It was nothing like a curse,” Julie smiles. “It was quite the opposite actually. More like a blessing.” It begins with, “May this wee piece of land bring you joy.” And then continues on to Julie’s favourite part, “May the birds, deer, raccoon, and other creatures return and add to the pleasure of nature.” Julie realized that whoever wrote this had encountered the same animals she had. “It was probably a nice lady who was living here,” Julie points out the cursive writing. “Who was enjoying being in nature.” Julie asked her neighbours and building manager who had lived in the apartment before her, but nobody knew. Not that it really mattered. “I was amazed,” Julie smiles. “It was just magical.” Because after wondering about all the things she didn’t have in her life, this reminder of all the things she did, felt like a perfect gift. “It was almost like a sign,” Julie smiles. “I feel even luckier than I did before.” Which is why Julie’s framed the note, and whenever she can—will accept the invitation written at the end of it: “To find your chair and a cup of tea” and give it all “a toast.”
