Eternal Heart Of Fire

Februrary 14th, 2020. Valentine's Story: Eternal Heart of Fire.

Lindsay Walton, Kya and I are on a road trip in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Yesterday, I took a day to wander with my camera and explore. I covered a lot of ground but simply being curious and slowing down a bit led to something really special.

I was on my way to visit the Aquarium on Roanoke Island (which I never ended up even going to), when I fortuitously passed an assemblage of heritage buildings...I had to pull over. I wandered into the grounds of this place called the Island Farm. https://www.outerbanks.org/listing/island-farm/317/ .The sign said closed until April, but as I so often do, I poked my head around a bit and heard the clanking of a hammer and saw billowing smoke emanating from an old shed. I cautiously meandered over and saw this young man working in what turned out to be a blacksmith shop. I ask if I can take a quick look around. That quick look around turns to 2 hours with Wyatt Smith. Wyatt has lived in the Outer Banks his entire life. He was recently hired by the Island Farm, and it will be his first season working with them when they open in Spring. He's learning the art of blacksmithing. With a little bit of expert tutelage, he's only been at for less than a month honing in and eager to learn this beautiful art.

He's a painter and creative, but this traditional way of sculpting metal is new. He's practicing crafting nails because at the farm, they only use traditional hangers and nails in construction as a homage to preserving the history of the place and the first settlers to Dare County (Virginia Dare, the first English woman born on U.S. soil was born here on Roanoke Island).

Impulsively, I had an idea. I asked Wyatt if he could flex his creative muscles and craft a metal heart for my love Lindsay. I had stopped at several stores earlier in the day and saw tacky gifts which really didn't speak to me. I want something that Lindsay and I will look back at 40 years from now that brings us joy and an even stronger and fonder connection to look back upon. A heirloom of love of sorts. An eternal heart of fire which timelessly burns highlighting our passion for each other and how we want to live life. I want this piece and these photos to be mementos of our life's love story.

So without hesitation...Wyatt said "Sure! I'll give it a shot." For 2 hours, the two of us worked on crafting this beautiful imperfectly perfect heart of fire. Wyatt kept reiterating, "Give me another year or so, and I'll mail you an even better one when I get this whole things down." I retorted, "This is perfect...the whole experience!"

When we finally fashioned and bent the metal in something that resembled a heart, I had the idea of turning the long piece at the bottom into an L for Lindsay. Then Wyatt gave me the "finest nail I've ever made" to adorn the heart on a wall in our home.

The following photos are the process and final piece along with a shot afterwards from Hatteras National Seashore. It's a masterpiece in my eyes. Thanks Wyatt for taking time to run with my impulsive ideas and be so inviting into your space. It's a great reminder to stay curious, connect and pay it forward with gratitude. I'll be sending Wyatt a print of one of these photos.

I was so excited to give it to Lindsay Walton. I hope it serves as our forever reminder to love each other and others deeply, burn passionately, stay curious and be grateful and kind. Just as the embers super-heated this metal, I know our love (two fire signs Aries and Sagittarius) will always burn bright. Love you Lindsay! Oh so grateful for you. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone out there.