I was moved by your sad and saddening tale...
A box vandalised..a box desecrated, even !
Such terrible deeds surely broach no palliation.
As a Dartmoor Letterboxer of many many years do please let me assure you
that
We call such Visigoths and Vandals "Sabs" ..as in saboteur...
And indeed it is because of such fiends that the clues to many Dartmoor
Boxes are circulated by WOM (Word Of Mouth) rather than by listing their
locations in the various sheets and catalogues that we use over here !
The loss of a a box ..and especially its wanton destruction can be
heartbreaking.....but please I beg you...Pause and count your blessings....
We have a true and wonderful hobby which joins like minded happy souls
across our tiny planet...
The price we must pay for this joyful pursuit is occasionally to bear the
losses made by those folk who have a much much smaller imagination ...and
probably a sadder life than we do !
And the actual price of a box is after all only a few dollars at most
So the loss is momentary...not even monetary
Sabs than for us...because the box did have a life and spirit for a
time...and the Sabs can never take that away....
(I am sure you recall all your box finds with pleasure....so what was it
precisely that triggers that happy memory?...I would argue it is that very
spirit and life we Letterboxers imbue in our hidden treasures..)
In fact I could argue, that for us all, having a name and a life and a
spirit for even the shortest of moments is all any of us can ever ask for !
So I beg you...No call to arms !
Instead......A call for peace.....
Perhaps even the placing of a "Sabs" box in memory of boxes gone to that
"Dartmoor in the Sky"
Do be exultant that you are a happy Letterboxer...
Do enjoy boxing....
It is sad that some folk miss the point....
But be happy that Letterboxing works as well as it does...rather than let
the very few despoiled boxes sour your fun...
If you do...The Sabs are winning....
and what a sad lot they must be....
So Please again...
No more calls to arms...
Better a call for Joy and Peace...
Graham Howard
An old Dartmoor Letterboxer
aka The Moorland Wizard
Be at peace...