Nothing exciting ever happened to Melissa Berkley. It was time to try to change that, she thought. She stood on the stern of the ship looking out at the horizon. The horizon on the east exposed the shores of Michigan while the opposite shore; with the setting sun dipping below its horizon was home - Wisconsin. The four-hour trip across Lake Michigan was one she'd taken many times in the past and this time, she thought, she'd make it count for something.

Most of the other passengers stayed inside, watching the scenery from the relative comfort of their cabins, or sat on the deck chairs with something to read. Melissa had something to read herself, even if it was just a short note on a post card that read: "To whomever finds this bottle: I dropped it overboard in the middle of Lake Michigan on this, the third day of September 1997. If you find it, please mail this post card back to me and let me know where you found it."