Have you ever found someone's words left in a completely unexpected place?

I have in my photo collection several pictures of the words people have left behind for others to find. I often think about writing and how after I die it would be nice if my words still existed in some form for someone to read someday. Most of my work is on disks and computers. Some is printed off and some exist only on the internet.

To leave words in places not meant for communication is one thing I've always appreciated. Not all people can write novels or articles. Some people may only be able to leave simple symbols that they existed somewhere at some period in time.

It was on a trip to the lake that I found these words...

To profess their love "Matt" and "Chelsie" left their names and a heart symbol to share this message to the world. Who are Matt and Chelsie? How long ago did they leave this message? What prompted them to carve symbols of their love into a picnic table?

I'll never know the answer to those questions. Even though these people will always be a mystery to me I am left appreciating the words they left behind for me to read. People leave symbols they were there as a way of being remembered. They may never get recognition for their work but people don't always need recognition.

A Picnic Table of Love

This same picnic table had many other carvings of hearts with so and so hearts so and so. Some names were easy to read while others were faded and aged.

Peace By The Lake

Why did someone leave a peace sign on this picnic table? Were they a hippie? Did the smoke a joint and enjoy the sunset by the lake with their friends? Or did they just like peace signs?

Again, so many questions can be asked about a peace sign left by someone with the initials "HGB." My husband and I have often labeled ourselves as hippies so this peace sign was pleasant to see and caught our attention.

My Husband and Daughter By The Worded Picnic Table Enjoying The View

Someday She'll Read These Words

It is interesting to think that as long as those picnic tables are left in that park, new people can read the words carved on them. Maybe someday my daughter will see Matt and Chelsie's profession of love or the bright red peace sign. Maybe those abandoned words will spark musings just like when her mother read them.

Scenic View In Virginia

This scenic view had quite a few words left behind...

If you walked along the fence of this scenic viewing area peoples' words were everywhere. Mostly, it was names or initials. In places you could see hearts with names or initials in them. It seems like professions of love are the most popular words to leave behind.

Saying I Love You In A Place Of Beauty

Both the fence at the scenic overview and the picnic table at the lake had one thing in common. They were both extremely beautiful places to sit and enjoy the world. Something about the beauty of nature is inspiring and many writers have felt the need to put ink to paper to express the joy an amazing view creates in one's mind and heart.

But not all people like to write. Not all people keep a laptop or notebook handy to write an inspired poem, story, or article inspired by the views they are seeing. In some cases a picnic table or a fence suffice to express inspired words.

Love is the common theme found in both places. The writers who left hearts with their names or initials were telling the world they loved someone. Their identities will never be known by most people reading but by being seen by visitors it can be known those people existed. The beauty of their symbols of love are left to see while surrounded by the wonders of nature.

While standing at both places I knew that someone had been in that very spot before who felt love. They left me symbols to read to let me know love existed and the writer of the symbols didn't want that message lost or forgotten.

This Was My Home First

While exploring my house I've found words previous residents have left behind. It's interesting to think about your home's history and the people who lived there before you. In cases such as mine I will never know the people who lived here before. I won't know why they felt the need to leave behind words or symbols they were there. I assume they did it for the same reasons I would....to make sure future residents know that this was someone's home and it was important to them.

If you climb underneath the porch you will see this name hidden by the cable wires.

These initials are on the chimney. The decorative rock covering the chimney is new so we assume this family helped put up the rock.

Not All Words Are Carved

This sticker is in the garage. Somebody supported Bush-Quayle in 1992.

Found this under the floor to the living room.

I don't know why this license plate is underneath the floor to the living room. It was left around 1983 by someone. Maybe someday I'll do some investigating to figure out who it belonged to. It's a strange place to leave a license plate. I assume whoever put it there felt it left an important message for future residents to find. Maybe the love of a vehicle or leaving a number to give future residents key information to look up information about the previous owners?

The Words We Leave Behind

When you leave a word or symbol on a park bench or carved into stone you are creating words for someone else to find. You are leaving your mark on the world to tell others you were there and you were significant. So many of the words I have in my picture collection are shrouded in mystery. I'll never know the people who left them or their reasons why.

Their original meanings are lost to time. To those reading them, words left behind can mean many things. For me I saw symbols of love inspired by the beauty of the world. I saw the names of people who loved my home as much as I do. Other people may gather different messages. Some people may merely glance at the carvings and not give them any more thought.

It's funny how a symbols someone left behind can make you think about these things. Not all carvings have to be ancient to have interesting history behind them. You don't have to visit the Mayan ruins or Egyptian pyramids to see mysterious carvings left behind. Sometimes a simple picnic table with words carved into it can be just as fascinating.

Have you ever found words left behind?

Photos are all mine.