Cry, my beloved mountain

They came. Saw the mountain. And stayed for good. They hail from another province with a tropical climate, warm sea and heavy humidity in summer.

Recently retired, Eddie and Suzy reckoned it was time for a change. While motoring along the coastline they came across a town that took their fancy. But it was the mountain that captivated.

Suzy tells Eddie if he buys a house with the mountain in view, calling it “her” mountain, she will pack up and “emigrate”.

Also mesmerised by Suzy’s choice, he relents, purchases a house in a complex with a mountain view. Because of the mountain, they settled sooner than expected. New location and new neighbours not always easy to cope with immediately.

But Suzy claims the mountain gave them the will to adapt. “How can we not respond positively to our new home and environment with the beautiful mountain shared by all?”

The couple experienced sadness with the illness of Jock, their dog. Jock had been their partner for many years. The couple walked him every morning to enjoy the fresh air and breeze coming off the mountain.

Suzy believes Jock also espied the mountain, taking comfort from it. At the end of their last walk, Suzy claims Jock stopped and stared up at her mountain as if to say a last goodbye.

The day after, Jock passed away. Suzy reckons the dog’s soul found a retreat with a mountain view. “The thought comforts me.”

This all changed when the builders came.

With shock, the couple realised that the new phase meant houses rising like a monster immediately in front of theirs.

Every day, as the work progressed, and the walls became higher, the mountain started disappearing. A distraught Suzy pleaded with the developer to stop building, but to no avail.

Once the roof was on, her mountain was gone. The rise of intrusive houses and the disappearance of the mountain have brought a sadness in the couple’s lives.

The one element that persuaded them to buy and build on this particular spot was stolen from them. The mountain has made way for black roof tiles.

What would Jock have made of it?

Cliff Buchler.