Shane Magee's chair

[Alliecat]

This really has absolutely nothing to do with dolls. But it's a cool story, and you guys know how much doll photographers love bringing their crew into everything...
So I had an interesting day.
The short version is that someone spotted a chair with a memorial plaque washed ashore on the beach and posted a photo on a community facebook page. I love a good mystery, so I immediately put my reportery skills to work, and shortly tracked down the man's girlfriend at the time he died. She was astounded.
Turns out the chair is from about 80 miles away. A friend placed it in a city square in his honour. The cable anchoring it must have rusted through, and it ended up in the water, and, not sure how long later, on my beach.


This is a nice spot for it, but it probably should go back where it belongs.



Shane Magee was from Belfast, Northern Ireland (I've been there!) and died in Canada in 2013.



This was a wrestling match. It weighs about 45 pounds.

So Shane's chair is now on my back porch awaiting a guy with a truck going away, to return it to his friends. I'm hoping the girlfriend will tell me a little about him. Sounds like an interesting guy if his friends put a plaque like that on the chair. I mean, most of those kinds of things just say "in memory of".
In the spirit of the chair being a place for comfort (dolls are comforting, no?) and perhaps a little fun, the PTFCo crew offers our little tribute to Shane Magee.












A peaceful rest to you, Shane Magee.

[davidd]

Do you actually work as a newspaper, TV, radio, or magazine reporter/writer? You've mentioned the newswriting stuff before.

Fascinating that you were able to track down the origin behind the chair, and such a sweet gesture to load it up, haul it home, and contact somebody from the original location to come pick it up.

Please keep us updated as to what happens with it.

(Found some info about him online; amazing what a powerful research tool the Internet can be!)

[fishy]

Wow, that's amazing. How cool!

[Melissa]

I’m not crying, you’re crying!

[TrueFan]

What a nice story! Let us know further developments!

[Alliecat]

Do you actually work as a newspaper, TV, radio, or magazine reporter/writer?

Yes, a little twice-monthly mom-and-pop old-school regional newspaper. Community fund-raisers, village council meetings, miscellaneous events... once in a while something significant happens. It's nice to be paid for writing and photography, although I'd rather it was fiction and dolls

(Found some info about him online; amazing what a powerful research tool the Internet can be!)

Indeed. Alas, sometimes you also find out stuff you'd rather not have known. It's been an interesting illustration of just how much deeply personal stuff some people put out publicly online, and how easy it can be to find out from half a world away, stuff about the people who do.

Guy With Truck is awaiting the arrival of a grandbaby, and will be going away at that point, and, I hope, remembers to pick up the chair. It's still on my porch for now. Too dang cold to sit in it for long!

[Offgenemi]

This is a very cool story. It is interesting how it ended up so close to you. I am glad you found a way to return it and I hope that friend comes to pick it up soon.
I like that you can find their story online. His future relatives can find about him and his family this way. I see them as a record orf their existence . In my culture people don’t write things down. My grandmother said their birthdays were recorded by their uncle on the back of his Kuran . They don’t keep family heirlooms or old toys around. I admire people who do keep track and leave something behind so that great grand children or other relatives can learn and get inspired.

[Cornflower Blue]

What an interesting story!

[GreysPrincess]

This is really interesting!

[Alliecat]

In my culture people don’t write things down. My grandmother said their birthdays were recorded by their uncle on the back of his Kuran . They don’t keep family heirlooms or old toys around.

It's hard to imagine a culture that doesn't keep heirlooms or a record of family history; I mean, as a "culture"... lots of individuals in many cultures probably don't. It is sad for those who come later when much information is missing.

Guy With Truck took the chair away Wednesday; it is now back in its spot in the city square. There was a second chair also placed with it, under a couple of trees beside the water. It appears some a.h. must have thought it would be funny to throw it over the fence. (I mean, who does that with a memorial thing?!? Maybe it was too dark and they were too drunk to see the plaque. There are bars in the area.)
Anyway, had a phone call with the girlfriend this afternoon for the background. She will leave it up to the friend who placed the chair, when she returns to Canada, to decide whether to replace the missing slats or leave it with the marks of its journey.
It all sounds like a good Irish lark
I will have to try to make time to go 'visit' it when I go away next.

[davidd]

Thank you for the interesting update!

[it's a secret]

Super curious story! The third photo like me a lot XD and your dolls as always are beautiful