The creator of a floating lantern that descended into a Seeley Lake yard after Christmas has come forward, solving a local mystery.
Nine-year-old Amelia Walter and her family contacted the Pathfinder by email after a story on the lantern appeared in the Pathfinder on Jan. 19 describing how Seeley Lake resident Kris Divis saw her dog barking at an object rolling across the snow in the yard. As Divis investigated, she saw a well-traveled floating Chinese lantern had landed, with a child’s handwriting on it. The marker inscribed message said: “I miss you and I love you, love Amelia.”
“I had the feeling that this lantern was a little girls’ memorial to someone she loved,” Divis told the Pathfinder in January.” I have no idea how far away this lantern floated from … I want Amelia to know that the lantern couldn’t have landed in a more beautiful place.”
Amelia, who lives with her family in Washington, and was made aware of the Pathfinder article in January, explained that the lantern was sent into the sky while she was visiting family in Seeley Lake during the holidays, and was in remembrance of a beloved uncle, who recently died from heart complications.
“We light a lantern every Christmas for my Uncle Ernie because he was really special to me, and we think about him, love him and miss him,” said Amelia. “Uncle Ernie was my mom’s sister’s husband. He died three or four years ago from an unexplained illness that attacked his heart. He had two kids - my cousins Ethan(17) and Isabell(14). I love them and they loved their dad.”
Her uncle Ernie lived in Vermont and built houses, she described. He passed away at age 44. Amelia remembers that her uncle had a very short beard like her dad. He loved snowboarding and mountain biking.
“We like to remember him every year at Seeley Lake during the holidays by lighting Chinese lanterns,” said Amelia. “This year it was so cold and was below zero when we sent them off - we sent two.”
“My family is special to me because I’m thankful for my grandpas and grandmas, aunts and uncles and cousins,” said Amelia. “They live all over the place and I like to visit them in Montana, Vermont, Arizona, and Minnesota.”
Amelia loves visiting Seeley Lake because her “Nana” and “Papa” live here, she said. Her cousin Hattie from Minnesota also visits at the same time. The lake and beach are places she likes to visit in the summer, as well as playing with neighborhood kids.
“Nana and Papa live right next to the golf course and I love doing lemonade stands every 4th of July - come visit!” said Amelia.
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