Message in a film canister washes ashore on the Outer Banks 36 years later

"In the summer of 1983, 11-year-old Rob Stober wrote a heartfelt letter in search of a pen pal, tucked it into a plastic film canister and tossed it off a pier and into the sea at Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

It was something he’d done every August between 1980 and 1986 or so, on trips “down the shore” for his birthday.

“Having a pen pal in the 80s was all the rage, so I figured this would be a great way to get one,” Stober said.

As a kid, he fully expected someone would find at least one of his messages-in-a-canister, but no one ever responded. He gave up hope, and life went on.

On Nov. 23, Colington resident April Lovin was beachcombing on Pea Island and found an assortment of oddities, including five military meals-ready-to-eat and … an old plastic film canister.

“When I opened the canister I found a folded pencil-printed ruled notebook paper pen pal letter,” Lovin said. “It was a sweet letter with charming facts about his life and a request that if found to write back and send a picture.”"

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