Why Knot?

Mariann Palmborg was a Swedish lady with a big heart who contributed selflessly to Bequia during the years she lived here. She arrived with her Norwegian mate (and captain) Peter Roren on a boat named Fredag, a sailing vessel Peter built in his backyard in Norway with Mariann’s help. The couple stood out in a crowd, mainly because they loved to DANCE, which they did with abandon whenever the opportunity arose. Mariann and Peter were pretty eccentric but, as most of the true sea salts anchored in the harbour were a titch loco, the two of them fit right in. Back in those days, the motto “we’re all here because we’re not all there” was totally apt, and I miss the free-spirited sailors who used to make life on the waterfront interesting.

Peter and Mariann parted ways after sharing twenty years of sea adventures together, many of which can be read about in Peter’s book, “The Art of Getting Wrecked”. The book’s title kind of says it all, they certainly had their share of MIS-adventures!  Mariann became deeply involved with fund-raising for The Sunshine School, and took it upon herself to see that stray animals were spayed by Colin Boyle, the Vet who came to Bequia each Friday to conduct surgeries and dispense medicine for the Island’s animal population. She was also an active member of the Sailing Club, and will always be remembered by many as the co-organizer of the fun Crazy Craft Races held each year during the Bequia Easter Regatta. Mariann could be a little on the rough side in some ways, but those who knew her were aware that the lady had a heart of gold.

Mariann rented a house at Mount Pleasant, and made a living by creating and selling what I have always considered “rope art”. She crafted articles such as mats, bracelets and plant hangers, and it wasn’t long before she was known as “Why Knot”, the name she had given her business.  Each day Mariann drove her old and rather battered red land-rover into the harbour, and set up shop across from what is now Knight’s Supermarket. She would spend the day selling her rope art, then pack up and drive home in the late afternoon. Before setting up for business Mariann always placed two bowls under the shade of her land-rover, one filled with dog-food, the other with water, and that feeding station was a safe and sheltered haven for stray dogs. At day’s end, she collected the empty bowls from under the vehicle before closing the tailgate and driving home to Mount Pleasant.

One day, a mange-ridden, hungry dog gave a sharp yelp from under the land-rover, and Mariann spotted a young boy standing in front of the supermarket throwing stones at the poor creature. Shaking her finger at the child, she told him to stop throwing stones at the dog. The youngster defied Mariann by throwing more stones until the kind-hearted woman had seen enough. Crossing the street, the took the small lad by the shoulders and gave him a shake, telling him it was wrong to torture animals in such a fashion.

And THAT’S what the child’s mother saw as she emerged from the shop with her groceries, a crazed-looking white woman shaking her little boy, and all hell broke loose. The police were called, and Mariann had to go to the station while the mother screamed child abuse. Those who knew Mariann were sure she meant no harm, she had just wanted the boy to stop throwing stones at the stray dog, and after a great deal of hullabaloo she was free to leave.

Disheartened as well as shaken by the incident, Mariann decided to forget about business for the day, she was far too upset after her ordeal with the mother and her stone-throwing child. She closed the tailgate of the land-rover and drove off, forgetting to collect the bowls she had placed beneath the vehicle. In her haste to leave she also forgot about the stray dog under the truck, and drove over and flattened the hapless creature.

Poor Mariann!  As the story made the rounds on Bequia people didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I will always remember Mariann with fondness every time I use one of the rope mats she presented to me when Nik and I got married in 1995, a set of mats that have withstood the test of time. May she Rest in Peace.