Ian Lindsay & Associates: Ian Lindsay of Lindsay and Associates has played an active role in the local community since 1979. He has been with RE/MAX, Vancouver Island's most advanced real estate business network, since 1996, marketing and selling residential, rural, strata, and recreational investment and project development real estate. Ian has received several awards recognising his exceptional community commitment locally, as well as awards for outstanding performance and achievement from both RE/MAX International and the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. You'll find true real estate professionals at IanLindsay.ca.

Eddie Van Haddock & The Rockfish: In a little town by the sea where the stories never end, lived Captain Dave and his crew, every child's favourite friend. With a smile as wide as the ocean and a heart that's full of dreams, he sails a mellow submarine where magic gleams and beams. Every morning at sunrise, when the world awakes anew, Captain Dave and his crew set sail in waters deep and blue. Through the ticking clock of time, where adventures come alive, they laugh and learn and play each day in their underwater dive.

Dave Graham: As the sun rose to begin another day, mist was rising over the Salish Sea, just off the east coast of Vancouver Island, and there was movement aboard the Mellow Submarine.

"Good morning, Larry. You're up early today. And is that—are you polishing your claws, Larry?"

The lobster looked up from where he sat with a small brush. He was carefully cleaning each of his claws until they gleamed. His face turned a slightly darker shade of red.

"Oh, Captain Dave. Good morning. I was just, um, doing some regular maintenance."

Captain Dave smiled knowingly. "Larry, we've been sailing together for years. I know the difference between regular maintenance and special occasion preparation. What's going on, my friend?"

Larry set down his brush and clicked his claws together nervously. "Well, Captain, tomorrow is Valentine's Day."

"Ah," Captain Dave's smile grew wider. "And does this have anything to do with a certain mermaid we met last summer near Hornby Island?"

Larry's entire body seemed to blush an even deeper red. "You remember Marina?"

"Of course I remember Marina, the mermaid researcher studying dolphin communication. She and you had quite the conversation about marine biology."

Larry clicked his claws shyly. "She was so smart and kind. And her tail shimmered like moonlight on water. I've been thinking about her ever since we met."

Captain Dave sat down beside his friend. "Have you been in touch with her?"

"We send messages through the kelp network," Larry explained. "Marina sends me notes about her research, and I tell her about our adventures."

"That's wonderful, Larry. So what's the problem?"

Larry looked up at his friend and said with a sigh, "Valentine's Day is tomorrow, and I want to give Marina something special. But Captain, I don't know what mermaids like. What if I choose the wrong thing?"

Captain Dave thought for a moment. "Well, Larry, let's think about what we know about Marina. What did she seem interested in when we met her?"

Larry's eyes brightened. "She loved learning. She studies dolphins, but she also asked about bioluminescence and traditional Coast Salish ocean knowledge. Oh, and she especially loved beautiful things. She collects sea glass and polished shells."

"There you go," Captain Dave said encouragingly. "You need to find her something beautiful and meaningful."

Larry clicked his claws decisively. "You're right, Captain. Will you help me?"

"Of course, Larry. Where should we start looking?"

Larry thought carefully. "Marina mentioned she'd never seen a whole sand dollar—only broken pieces. What if we found her a perfect, unbroken sand dollar?"

"Excellent idea, Larry. I know just the place. There's a protected cove near Denman Island where sand dollars are common. Let's set course."

As the Mellow Submarine glided through the waters, Larry couldn't sit still. He scuttled from porthole to porthole, nervously clicking his claws.

"What if we can't find one, Larry?" worried Larry.

"Larry," Captain Dave said gently, "the most important part of any gift isn't how expensive or perfect it is. It's the thought and care behind it."

Larry nodded, but his claws kept clicking anxiously.

Captain Dave carefully navigated into a shallow, sandy cove. Through the portholes, they could see the sea floor covered in rippled sand, waving eelgrass, and scattered shells.

"This looks perfect," Captain Dave said. "I'll stay with the submarine and keep watch."

Larry put on his collection bag—a small net pouch that Captain Dave had made for him. "Wish me luck, Captain."

"Good luck, Larry. And remember, look for sand dollars that are grey or purplish. The white ones are old; they're more fragile."

Larry swam down to the sandy bottom. The underwater world was peaceful and beautiful. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the water, making everything glow with a soft green-blue light. He began searching carefully, examining each shell and stone. He found broken clam shells, smooth pebbles, and fragments of sand dollars, but no whole ones.

"Don't give up, Larry," he told himself. "Marina is worth the effort."

As he searched, a curious harbour seal pup swam over to investigate. The young seal circled Larry playfully.

"Hello there," Larry said. "I'm looking for a perfect sand dollar. It's for someone very special."

The seal pup swam over to a patch of eelgrass and nuzzled something with its nose. Then it looked back at Larry as if to say, "Over here."

Larry scuttled over quickly. And there, nestled in the eelgrass, was a beautiful sand dollar about the size of Captain Dave's hand. It was grey-purple in colour, completely unbroken, and had the distinctive flower pattern clearly visible on its surface.

"Oh, it's perfect," Larry breathed. He carefully picked it up with his claws. "Thank you, little friend."

The seal pup did a happy barrel roll and then swam away.

Larry carefully placed the sand dollar in his collection bag and was about to swim back when something caught his eye. Wedged between two rocks was a piece of sea glass—a rare piece, deep blue, smooth and frosted by years of tumbling in the waves.

"Marina collects sea glass," Larry remembered. "Maybe I could give her both." But as he reached for it, he hesitated. "Is two gifts too much, or will one gift seem like I didn't care enough?"

Larry sat on a rock, thinking hard about his dilemma. As he sat there, a wise-looking octopus emerged from a nearby den.

"You seem troubled, young lobster," the octopus said in a gentle voice.

"I'm trying to find the perfect Valentine's Day gift," Larry explained. "I found this sand dollar, but then I found this sea glass too. Now I don't know if I should give one or both."

The octopus settled onto a rock. "May I offer some wisdom?"

"Please," Larry said desperately.

"The important question is: does your gift come from your heart?"

Larry looked down at the sand dollar. "It does. I thought about what Marina loves, and I wanted to find something beautiful that would make her smile."

"Then you've already succeeded," the octopus said. "What matters is that you thought of her. You listened to what she loves, and you put effort into finding something meaningful. That's what Valentine's Day is really about."

Larry felt his anxiety melting away. "You're right. Thank you, wise octopus."

"And might I suggest the blue sea glass is quite lovely. Blue is the colour of the ocean that connects you to her, wherever she may be."

Larry carefully picked up the sea glass and added it to his collection bag. "Both gifts together tell a story. The sand dollar for luck and beauty, and the sea glass for the ocean that brought us together."

The octopus smiled. "Now you're thinking like a true romantic. Good luck with your Valentine."

Back aboard the Mellow Submarine, Larry showed Captain Dave his treasures.

"These are perfect, Larry," Captain Dave said admiringly. "But you know what would make these gifts even more special?"

"What?" Larry asked.

"A message. Something from your heart that tells Marina why you chose these gifts for her."

Larry's claws clicked nervously again. "But Captain, I'm not good with words."

"Larry, you're excellent with words. You just need to be honest." Captain Dave handed Larry a piece of waterproof paper and a special underwater pen. "Take your time. Write what you feel."

Larry sat quietly for a long time, thinking. Finally, he began to write:

Dear Marina,

I found this sand dollar in the eelgrass near Denman Island. It reminded me of you—beautiful, unique, and rare. The flower pattern on its surface looks like the stars we saw together that night we talked about navigation and dreams.

The blue sea glass has been tumbled by the ocean for who knows how long. It reminds me that the ocean brought us together, and no matter how far apart we might swim, we are always connected by these same waters.

Happy Valentine's Day to someone who makes every day feel like an adventure.

Your friend, Larry

Captain Dave read the note and smiled warmly. "Larry, that's beautiful. Marina will love it."

Larry carefully rolled up the note and tied it with a piece of red kelp ribbon. He arranged the sand dollar and sea glass in a small woven kelp basket.

"Now," Captain Dave said, "we need to deliver these gifts. Where is Marina right now?"

"She's near Hornby Island, studying dolphins in Tribune Bay," Larry said. "But Captain, I can't just show up. What if she's busy? What if it's awkward?"

Captain Dave held up his hand. "Larry, you've put thought and care into these gifts. Now you need to have the courage to deliver them. That's part of what Valentine's Day is about too—being brave enough to show someone you care."

Larry took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right. Let's go to Hornby Island."

As they approached Tribune Bay, Larry's nervousness returned. His claws clicked rapidly, and he kept rearranging the gifts in the basket.

"She's going to think I'm silly," Larry worried. "A lobster giving gifts to a mermaid."

Captain Dave turned to his friend with a kind expression. "Larry, what matters isn't how impressive the gifts are. What matters is that you cared enough to try. Marina will see your kindness and thoughtfulness."

Through the porthole, they could see Marina. She was swimming gracefully alongside a pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins. Her tail shimmered in the sunlight filtering through the water.

"There she is," Larry whispered.

Captain Dave surfaced the submarine at a respectful distance and opened the hatch. "I'll wait here, Larry. Take your time."

Larry climbed out with his basket of gifts. As he swam towards Marina, his heart was pounding.

Marina noticed him approaching, and her face lit up with a beautiful smile. "Larry! What a wonderful surprise."

Larry held out the basket, his claws trembling slightly. "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and I wanted to bring you something to show you that our friendship means a lot to me."

Marina's eyes went wide as she looked at the gifts. She carefully picked up the sand dollar, turning it gently in her hands. "Larry, it's perfect. I've never seen such a beautiful whole sand dollar. And sea glass! Blue is my favourite colour."

"I know," Larry said shyly. "You mentioned it once when we were talking about the different colours of light in the ocean."

Marina unrolled the note and read it slowly, her expression growing softer with each word. When she finished, she looked at Larry with eyes that sparkled like the sun on water.

"Larry, this is the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me. You listened to what I love. You put time and care into finding these treasures, and you wrote something beautiful."

Larry's nervousness melted away completely. "Really? You like it?"

"I don't just like it, Larry. I love it. And I love that you were brave enough to bring it to me."

Before Larry could answer, Marina reached into her collection bag. "I have something for you too. I was going to send it by kelp mail, but since you're here—" She pulled out a small, polished piece of amber. Trapped inside was a tiny, prehistoric creature from millions of years ago.

"I found this on the beach," Marina explained. "When I saw the little creature inside, I thought of you. It's one of your ancient ancestors, preserved perfectly, just like our friendship will be preserved in my heart."

Larry was speechless. He took the amber carefully, looking at the tiny creature inside. "Marina, this is—I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything," Marina smiled. "Just know that you're special to me too, Larry. Your curiosity, your kindness, the way you see wonder in everything around you—those are the things that make you who you are."

They floated there together for a moment—two unlikely friends from different worlds, connected by the vast ocean and by the simple courage to care about each other.

"Would you like to watch the dolphins with me for a while?" Marina asked.

"I'd love that," Larry said happily.

As the sun began to set over Tribune Bay, Larry and Marina floated side by side, sharing stories and watching the dolphins play.

Later, as the Mellow Submarine headed home through the darkening waters, Larry held the amber carefully and looked at his reflection in the porthole.

"I learned something important today, Captain. Valentine's Day isn't about being perfect or having the most expensive gifts. It's about paying attention to what matters to someone else and having the courage to show them you care."

"That's a beautiful lesson, Larry, and one that applies every day, not just Valentine's Day." Captain Dave smiled warmly. "Love and friendship come in all forms, Larry. They cross all kinds of boundaries—species, distance, differences. What matters is the connection between hearts."

As Larry settled into his bunk that night, he placed the amber on a small shelf where he could see it. "Happy Valentine's Day, Marina," Larry whispered. "Thank you for teaching me that the bravest thing we can do is care about someone else."

Outside the submarine, the ocean carried messages through the kelp networks—stories of friendship, tokens of care, and the gentle reminder that love, in all its forms, makes the whole world brighter.

Eddie Van Haddock & The Rockfish: When the night falls softly, and stars light up the sky, Captain Dave tucks his crew in with a gentle lullaby. Dreams of whales and mermaids, of treasures lush and green, await each little sailor aboard the Mellow Submarine.

Ian Lindsay & Associates: Ian Lindsay of Lindsay and Associates has played an active role in the local community since 1979. He has been with RE/MAX, Vancouver Island's most advanced real estate business network, since 1996, marketing and selling residential, rural, strata, and recreational investment and project development real estate. Ian has received several awards recognising his exceptional community commitment locally, as well as awards for outstanding performance and achievement from both RE/MAX International and the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. You'll find true real estate professionals at IanLindsay.ca.