Old School: Benched

By Carol McEwen,

When was the last time you sat on a bench and admired the view? I have a feeling I know your answer and mine is the same. Even in retirement, we seem to have these “pressing” commitments and errands. I live in a resort with many retired people, who also have trouble “dis-engaging” from whatever important jobs they’ve agreed to perform. Our resort has found a “good news/bad news” solution. 

Recently, our homeowners’ association came up with the idea of renting newly installed benches around the resort. Each has a view of water or a golf course, or both. It seems the mere sum of $800 buys the use of the bench for three years. Why so much? For each bench, I’m told, the ground must be leveled, a concrete pad poured, a bench purchased and a plaque engraved and installed to identify the honoree. As I learned the details, cheapskate me, asked, “So what happens after three years?” The response: “Wellll, we don’t know yet, since this program is so new.” My guess: they’ll want another $800 to renew, even though no additional work is required. But that’s another story.

I have begun a series of articles for our resort magazine, covering three benches each month, with sweet and inspiring stories. Two of the benches are dedicated to parents of the people who bought them. The husband of the first couple owned a sporting goods store in Memphis and loved the outdoors. Each year, he sponsored a Fishing Rodeo there and often spoke of starting a similar one here. After he passed away in 2000, his friends created the Bill Dowdle Fishing Rodeo, held every Memorial Day Weekend, until the start of Covid in 2020. It marked the beginning of the summer season and entertained over 200 children of residents and guests. Each participant received a can of worms and a cane pole, with plenty of prizes awarded at the end of the event.

The second couple never lived here full time, but used this as their getaway from Nashville and hosted three generations of family at Thanksgiving and other holidays. Eventually the son and his wife bought the home to keep it in the family, since it holds so many happy memories. As the couples’ daughter-in-law put it, “Those walls have heard many voices.” Their plaque’s clever rhyme: “Enjoying the view since 1992.”

The four surviving adult children of another couple bought the third bench as a surprise for their parents, who continue to enjoy their lives here in the resort. It is dedicated to Nikky, one of the couples’ six children, who was described by her parents as the family’s “sparkplug.” When the parents planned every family gathering, the first question asked: “Is Nikky coming?” Unfortunately, Nikky passed away in 2022, at the age of 48, from blood cancer. Her bench sits a stone’s throw from her parents’ home and her mother walks by it each day as she walks the family dog.

With the lovely views afforded by each bench, I say the good news far outweighs the bad, as we’re encouraged to “sit a spell” and calm our busy minds. 

Carol McEwen is a writer for Stroll By The Bay, Mirimar Beach, Florida, and authored the weekly Old School column for the Arlington Sun Gazette/Gazette Leader. She may be reached at: carolwrites4fun@gmail.com.