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Saturday, July 22, 2017

"Sailor"

I've always thought that if I had to serve in the military, I'd choose the Coast Guard.  I could sail around on Lake Erie, pick up drunks who fall out of their boats, and party with Canadians.  I found out they could send you to some other part of the US coastline, and I thought, that's fine.  I could go as far as Chicago or Buffalo.  I abandoned all thoughts of the Coast Guard when I found out they could send you to the Gulf of Mexico or something.  No hablo Espanol, so I doubt I'd enjoy their parties.

There were times when I was a kid that I spent quite a bit of time fantasizing myself to Canada.  As the crow flies, I was only about 5 miles from the lake.  As a fish swims, it's considerably farther down the river, but I could get there eventually.  I sent the Canadians messages in bottles, but the Canadians never called.  I stole the bottles.  The summer people next door had a storage area of such useless junk, and I didn't think they'd miss the bottles.  Maybe the Canadians could sense my theft and their silence is a just karma?

As I pause to consider whether to talk about message bottles or theft, I remember the vividness of a memory that popped into my mind earlier this week.  Jackie, Sis2's friend, stepped on broken glass in the river.  Her foot was sliced very badly, and she did it on the wrong side of the river, downstream of civilization.  My dad picked her up and carried her across the algae-slippery shale riverbed through the rapids, and then all the way home with Jackie weeping blood the entire time.

After they left, I studied the broken glass in the water.  The clear glass blended with the clear water.  Dancing reflections of current camouflaged the shining reflections of the glass.  It was beautiful and dangerous.  I picked it up and threw it into the woods in a place where no one would step on it again.  My parents made a new rule that we had to wear shoes in the river after that, a rule I greatly resented, seldom followed, and probably explains why I lost so many shoes.

Why do I remember this so clearly?  And why did this moment pop into my mind so vividly this week?

I tracked my associated memories for a connection.  Older boys drank beer and threw their bottles across the river, laughing at the shattering sound, never considering a child's sliced foot.  Perhaps their thoughtless, selfish, stupid behavior was stirred in my memory as I see the same kind of behavior in politicians or some people I know?  Maybe I feel guilt at all those messages to Canadians sent in stolen glass bottles?  Maybe there's a danger I can't see through glittering reflections?

Six years ago, I wrote another post about sending negative thoughts down the river in paper boats.  You can see it here.  Creating that post seems as clear in my mind as Jackie's bleeding foot.  I think everything we've experienced is still in our heads somewhere, and sometimes I wonder why.

10 comments:

  1. I'll have to add sending a message in a bottle to my bucket list. It seems so obvious since I love the ocean. I like the idea of sending off negativity in some kind of ceremonial way too. Sorry I haven't visited in a while, I'm wrapping up my illustrations for my latest children's' book due next month. I'll have to message you to catch up on your writing progress!

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    1. A message in a bottle seems like a very simple item to put on and cross off of your bucket list. Good for you for working on another book! I've been very diligent with my writing. I almost have a book too :)

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  2. What were you trying to say with the following? "There were times when I was a kid that I spent quite a bit of time fantasizing myself to Canada." It may be my skewed perception but I just do not understand. Great post!

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    1. Just that I spent a lot of time daydreaming about floating down the river and across the lake. I'll admit I could've said that in a much less convoluted sentence :)

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  3. Memories can get stirred up by all sorts of things....it's amazing what we keep stored in our brains isn't it. Your post took me straight back to when I stood on a glass and cut my foot badly....ouch..I could even relive the pain! Have a safe Sunday and keep your shoes on :0) xx

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    1. Ow. I cut my foot on glass once too. Maybe wearing shoes IS a good idea? I hope you have a safe Sunday too, with sunshine and laughter.

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  4. "As I pause to consider whether to talk about message bottles or theft..." - that made me laugh :)
    Wow, I'll probably never go into a river barefooted again! Love the sailboat, it looks like a good day - not one with blood!

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  5. As far as I know, the boys grew up and quit throwing bottles around. Now they can yell at their kids for doing what they used to do :)

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  6. All that is in the past will always be with us, although it doesn't always show up. All the more important to think that today and the future doesn't rest on what we experienced in the past. New day, new possibilities... As for thoughtlessness, selfishness and stupidity, it seems like there is more around these days - or maybe it's just because some are more louder than the ought to be...

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  7. I like your thought that today and the future don't rest on the past. Absolutely liberating :) And yes, some people are louder than they ought to be!

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