It’s been a couple of days now since we heard that Piers had passed away – days filled with shock and disbelief and sadness. The Snug itself is in mourning, covered in blue hearts and ribbons and flowers. But, The Snug, like Bowen Island itself, is also celebrating his life. The hearts speak of love as well as loss, of good times and good memories, and all the places where Piers was such a vital part of this community. The Snug is wrapped in a Hug of Blue.
I have never lived in England, the land of Piers’ birth. But because of seeing Piers at The Snug, I understand the whole wonderful concept of a local pub. Because that is what we had with Piers at The Snug, only it was caffeine not draft beer. He greeted us, he joked with us, he introduced us to other people we should know. Piers was such a networker and connector!
Add the wonderful classical music in the background as he chatted and served and managed to do it all with such an inimitable style.
And what a gift he was to the Rotary Club! He was our founding charter president, our cheerleader and our biggest fan. We will miss him at every meeting, and even the jokes that made us roll our eyes.
Piers, thank you for calling us Blue, of course, and in that instant making us feel like we were part of a community here; for the warmth and zest of your living, for being imperfectly perfect as one of us.
We already miss you so much, and know with a certainty that all summer people will come off their boats looking for you. But then, we will also. Piers, we will think we hear your voice or see you enter a room or emerge from the kitchen at The Snug.
When we do, we will miss you again, all over again. And we will gladly feel that pain in our collective hearts, because it will reconnect us again with what we had and what we lost when once we rubbed shoulders with you. Blessings as your Spirit travels on, Friend
Thank you to the family for sharing his life with us in such an abundant fashion.
Our hearts are going out to you, and if you feel warmth across your backs, it’s our invisible arms around you at this time.
With deepest affection and gratitude,
Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon
