NYC Couples Message In Bottle Crosses Atlantic To France

Story By: Joseph GolderSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

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A New York woman who tossed a message in a bottle into the Atlantic Ocean on her anniversary has told Newsflash in an exclusive interview of her joy after a French artist found it.

This message in a bottle was set adrift in the Atlantic Ocean by a New Yorker and after a journey lasting over a year, it was found on a beach in the Vendee department in western France some 6,000 kilometres (3,728 miles) away.

The news of the discovery was first reported in French media last year but Newsflash has since tracked down the letter and the woman who put it in a bottle. She was overjoyed to find out that someone had found it.

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When first contacted by Newsflash, she said: “I had to read this a few times before believing it to be true. I was hoping to hear from the founder in 30 years… not 18 months!”

The message was written in August 2018 by Kellie Zimmermann and it was found by a local artist going by the name of Zarpo and his friend, who calls himself “the gardener of the beach” (“le jardinier de la plage” in French).

The woman who wrote the letter was on a cruise from New York to the Bahamas in August 2018 with her husband, celebrating his birthday and they both wrote the letter, placed it in a bottle and threw it overboard into the Atlantic.

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Kellie explained the excitement in her family after realising her bottle had been found: “My husband was more surprised than me, I still can’t believe that the bottle was found so soon.”

She added: “The joke in the office is… The bottle moved across the ocean so fast because it was carrying messages from two employees working for a transportation company (UPS). One of my tasks at work is transportation lanes.”

Zarpo was very excited too when he and his friend – who wants to remain anonymous – found the letter. He drew a picture on the beach where they found the bottle, as seen in this video, hoping that Kellie and her husband Angel would see the message and contact him, but it was to no avail. Not until Newsflash put them in touch!

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After Newsflash found Kallie, we sent his details to her so they could meet and chat, and Kellie told us: “I did reach out to Zarpo However, I am new to Instagram and I haven’t got the hang of it yet I might try emailing him instead.”

Zarpo was also very excited to hear from her. Earlier the artist said the message was very beautiful and that it included very intimate details about her seven-year relationship with her partner, Angel Velazquez.

The letter details her life and her journey to happiness, with anecdotes from her early life and how she and her husband started dating and became a couple, what it was like to grow up and everything that she has had to face in life.

Kellie told Newsflash: “Everything Newsflash/le_jardinier_de_la_plage
I wrote, I meant. I was very honest and sincere. We plan everything every day. From when to take the garbage out, to vacation, to career goals and when to retire. We must start the conversation about planning our individual end of life. The women in my family live to 90+. I have watched them wither away to the point of having their asses wiped. Why live that long if the quality of life is watching a loved one change your diaper. I plan on not living beyond 85.”

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