A 13-year-old love letter crossed the ocean to Ireland

For some, romance lives only in movies and on the pages of books. But for a Canadian couple — Anita and Brad — it turned into a real, sincere, and memorable experience. In September 2012, they took a romantic trip to Bell Island in Newfoundland, where they did something very special — they put a “love letter” into a bottle and threw it into the ocean.

The note contained these lines: “Anita and Brad’s trip to Bell Island. Tonight, we enjoyed a cozy meal, a bottle of wine, and each other.” At the end of the note, it said: “Please, if you find this, call us,” and a phone number was written.

Thirteen years have passed since then. The bottle traveled approximately 3,200 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean and was found on Ireland’s western coast, in Scraggane Bay in County Kerry. It was completely accidentally discovered by an Irish couple — Kate and John Gay — during a beach cleanup.

Kate and John opened the bottle and read the romantic message. They toasted the couple and wondered whether they were still together. They dialed the number from the note, but there was no response.

So they posted the story on the page of “Maharees Heritage and Conservation,” the environmental organization that had organized the beach cleanup. The post quickly went viral. Within just a few hours, friends in Canada notified Anita and Brad Squires — the authors of the note — about the discovery.

Now, Anita and Brad have been officially married since 2016, have three children, and live in Newfoundland. Anita works as a nurse in the healthcare system, while Brad recently retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

“The past 48 hours have been incredible,” Brad told the Guardian. “On Monday night, I was putting our youngest son to bed when my phone started ringing nonstop. It was unusual. Then I heard Anita laughing in the other room — her phone was also ringing non-stop. I came out, and she said: ‘You won’t believe this!’”

In an interview with Ireland’s RTÉ radio, Brad said: “At that time, we were just young people in love. Now we’re older people still in love. This story has touched hearts around the world. We’re meeting new friends, and hopefully, we’ll travel to Ireland soon and see the place where the bottle was found.”

According to Martha Farrell, head of the Maharees Conservation Association, the story inspired other Canadian couples to share their own experiences of sending messages in bottles across the Atlantic. Such stories are becoming more common.

This simple but touching story shows how memories and sharing them can connect people. One bottle, a few lines, and deep emotions — hearts were united, and continents were bridged.

Love can overcome time, distance, and even ocean waves. The story of Anita and Brad is proof that even in today’s world, there is still room for romance and sincerity. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!