Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Watery Wednesday
A Sentimental Journey


Monday afternoon while out on a drive to catch a little autumn splendor before it was all gone I found myself on a sentimental journey. My Grandfather was an avid fisherman and he and Grandma used to take us to the river swimming and fishing. I hadn't been to the spot in over twenty years. The ride out the long road was like going back in time. Not much had changed. Until - I came to the river. When I came to a huge bridge I knew my 'spot' was underneath. It was hard to find a place to park so I managed to pull just off the road and start my walk. This first shot is looking down on what remains of the old road we drove across, walked across to go swimming and sometimes fished from the top of. I was heartbroken.
A little further down the hill you can see just how high the new bridge is above the riverbank.
When I walked across what remained of the old bridge I took a picture where the road ended and looked at some of the pieces left behind in the dark murky water. The grey clouds reflected in the water seemed fitting to the hurt I felt inside. So many happy times had been spent here with family and friends; but especially with Pap and Grandma.
The rushing water over the rocks seemed to correspond with the jumbled thoughts and emotions swirling around in my mind.

I stood at the end of the jagged bridge and looked upstream and imagined all those years ago. Where the left pillar of the bridge stood was once the sandy beach where we played and waded out into the river under watchful eyes of loved ones - where a group of friends frolicked that last summer before college.
Turning to walk back across the crumbling bridge I stopped to 'see' Grandpa fishing from his favorite side of the river if he wasn't sitting in the corner by one of the culverts that let the water flow under the bridge. My brother and I often walked that side of the river and often came upon dead snakes. We knew they were there and most often smelled them before we saw them. To this day I'd know that smell anywhere. At the top of the bank I can barely see a road. Signs say it's posted now. Many times Grandma and I would walk a worn path and look for 'greens'. She always had to help me find the right ones to pick. I guess it was our 'poke salad.'
Before leaving I took one parting look down the river and sent whispers of love with the wind.

Be sure to click the badge at the top of my post to join our hostess at Eyes Mind Heart for more Watery Wednesday participants.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

A beautiful post. Thanks for sharing with us.

Paz

Rose said...

I can just see you playing there as a kid...this was a wonderful post.

judi/Gmj said...

Sentimental journey. Me too, For me it is the Wilson River. Not the same now, rivers change their course just as we change ours. :D

Anonymous said...

What a great post. It is sad to see things change when that change is not for the better. I could feel your disappointment.

Thanks for participating in Watery Wednesday!

Gattina said...

Sometimes when you are going back to a happy "spot" of your life you find it completely changed. I had the same when I visited my grandparent's little town after years and it made me so sad. Nothing was like in my childhood anymore.

Janice Thomson said...

A touching post Carletta and your photos are absolutely fantastic.

Anonymous said...

What a touching Watery Wednesday story, Carletta. It's odd to go back in time like that, isn't it? Some things same; other things so, so different. The present scene never quite fits the memory... (I know the feelings.)

Anonymous said...

What a beautifully sad post. You left me with tears in my eyes. Just remember, time can change the landscape of the present, but your heart still carries the memories.

Gattina said...

Thanks for your comment on "Sepia". The theme is for wednesday not for thursday ! You can put it up today.

Jientje said...

What a beautiful yet sad post.
Nothing remains the same, and it is sometimes very confronting to face that. But you made a very moving post out of it.

Norm said...

what a beautiful series of photos, thanks for sharing...

Twisted Fencepost said...

Thanks for taking us on your sentimental journey.
I can only say, I know how you feel!
Love your pictures of your trip down memory lane!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Carletta: That was a wonderful walk back in time. It's wonderful to return there but you can never really go back to that age except in memories.

Leedra said...

Nice post, like the rushing water the most.

Gill - That British Woman said...

great shots and great memories...

Gill in Canada

JunieRose2005 said...

I love these photos AND the memories you shared!


Junie

Dr.John said...

Memories are such wonderful things. But we learn we can't go back again. Things keep changing.
The pictures are great.
I know how you feel not too long ago we drove by my grandmother's house and it wasn't right. All the out buildings I played in as a kid are gone It did hurt a little..

Anonymous said...

Those are really cool shots! :)

Sherrie said...

Hi!
Your photos and memories are awesome! Thanks for taking me on your journey. Thanks for stopping by my place. Take Care!!

Sherrie

Linda said...

What a touching post. You were blessed to have such special memories of your grandparents. And what a beautiful place to remember them by. It's amazing to me how a view, smell or word can quickly bring back memories of those that have gone on before us. My husband lost his parents during these last 2 years. We are often reminded of them in living our everyday life. Just the other day, while out to dinner, my husband couldn't take his eyes off an elderly lady sitting across from him. He said look Linda, she reminds me so much of mom, the way she ate, looked around, etc. I could see the glistening in his eyes as he remembered things about his mother. Just like you, we still miss them. Wonderful post, have a blessed day!

Jan said...

Carletta, I sure enjoyed this trip down memory lane with you. Plus, you photos are outstanding.

Laurie and Chris said...

Nice fall photos.

Anonymous said...

merci du passage et du commentaire

Anonymous said...

Autumn is such a beautiful time. Thanks for sharing!

EG CameraGirl said...

Sometimes is very hard to go back to see places we loved when we were kids. It seems to be getting worse as malls and subdivisions consume more and more land.

Anonymous said...

I have an award for you on my blog.

Paz

juliana said...

this was a beautiful journey down the memory lane... thank you for sharing...