Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Community: A River Flows Through It

As summer makes its slow turn into fall, I always feel a bit of wistfulness. This past Saturday, wishing I'd spent more time by the river, I decided on an immediate remedy. I walked across the road, down to my place by the river, and sat in the cool greenness along its banks.






As I looked out at the river passing by, I started to feel melancholy. I had trouble staying in the moment. My thoughts were agitated by a bit of regret, a bit of sadness. Knowing from past experience that being in that state of mind doesn't lead to anything good, I decided to walk.






 

I walked down the small side road, to the bridge which spans the river, leading to the neighbor's farm. I had admired this farm from across the bridge earlier in the summer. It is one of the most picturesque settings I have ever seen. The buildings and the grounds are so beautiful and, I would suspect, lovingly maintained. They appear to have extensive gardens around their property (I did not photograph it out of respect for their privacy).


I stood on the wooden bridge, in the warm, late summer sun, and looked at the river in both directions, as it comes around the corner from my place, passes under the bridge, and then flows down and around the bend. While I was doing this, and taking a few photos, the owner of the farm, and his dog, Daisy, came down to greet me. I introduced myself and we realized we had known each other many years ago. He had been one year ahead of my older son, Trevor, in the local school. He had bought his parents farm and was attempting to carry on the family tradition.

He spoke in a handful of sentences of having to make changes. He had recently reduced his herd of cattle down to two. He expressed no fear, just acceptance of change. He spoke of how he and his wife would be focusing more on their large bed of raspberries and other produce they would be offering for sale next summer. We talked about the need for shopping locally and creating change from the ground up. It was a brief, but meaningful, visit. We had found common ground, standing there in the middle of this bridge, a bridge that spanned generations, that spanned the change we're feeling in the world and the hope for a meaningful way of life. He invited me to come back whenever I wished.


I thanked him and then walked back to my spot on the river. As I sat under the trees, by the rocks along its banks, I found myself able to stay in the moment, to sit in peaceful silence. My burgeoning sense of community, here along the river, had swept away any trace of melancholy.


21 comments:

  1. How wonderful. I would imagine some new friends and a sense of community will add immensely to your happiness in that Garden of Eden.

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  2. Teresa,
    The pictures are so alive with tranquility. What a picturesque walk with the steps of stone and RR tile (? ) I feel the same about these last gorgeous days. I think it was Saturday here, too, that was a most perfect day and I didn't want to let it go.

    For years, I used to feel a longing or lonliness or a homesick feeling during what I called "the time of tall shadows." It was from around 6 PM to dusk. Once it got dark, that feeling left. I don't know what I was longing for, I never felt it was anything specific. Even when my family was around me, I had that feeling. Odd, isn't it? It gradually left and never returned because I haven't been aware of it for many years.

    Aren't you fortunate to find a friend from the past who is your neighbor and who shares your sense of community. I like that phrase you use. We should all have a more radiant sense of community. It should show, like a beacon, to the rest of the surrounding neighborhood. There is a bonding feeling when a community works together. Perhaps you'll soon meet more neighbors who also share "the sense of community."

    Manzanita

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  3. Hi Nancy. Yes, our little community is growing, it seems. It makes it so much nicer to share this life.

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  4. Hi Manzanita. I am so grateful for your comments. It feels good to be able to share our stories. "The time of tall shadows," sounds interesting. I do wonder about these recurring feelings, especially deep feelings, that are hard to articulate. I, too, had a deep longing for much of my life, for what, I know not. It has dissipated to the point of hardly being present most days, but I do know what you mean....obviously. :)

    My neighbors to my right are old friends, as well. It was only "serendipity" that brought me here, to buy this piece of land next to them. One of the first things we talked about was our little community, now forming.

    Yes, "a more radiant sense of community," perhaps a beacon. It is happening, in many more places than our media will ever report. We shall see...

    Thank you much for "visiting."

    Teresa

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  5. A walk along the river always makes for a wonderful photo shoot and time for reflection. I love the photo of the mossy stairs. Very pretty!

    xo Catherine

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  6. Beautiful, simply beautiful. I, too, am in hopes that the sense of community spreads to more places. It starts with "me", doesn't it?

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  7. Teresa, I think it's a good place you have chosen to live. The photos are beautiful and the place is inspirational to you, isn't it? It was a nice meeting you had with a neighbor, who showed to be one of your old aquaintances. I hope he'll cope. It sounded like he was having trouble earning his living.

    To be able to sit in peaceful silence, that is so important.
    Cheers
    Grethe `)

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  8. Catherine: Yes, a river is a perfect symbol of life and certainly does provide opportunity for reflection. They key, for me, is to remember that it flows, it doesn't stay in one place :)

    Lynne: Yes, you're right. It starts with "me." Always. :)

    Grethe: The neighbor may be struggling, as so many are. But he felt and sounded optimistic, so I trust that will help carry him forward...
    Part of feeling a sense of community, is knowing you don't struggle alone, but have a support system, however that takes shape. Have a lovely day!
    Teresa

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  9. I'm feeling so fragmented today (lately) and your post makes me want to jump in the car and run down to my favorite little wooden bridge over a tiny mountain stream. Pooh Sticks... you ever played it? It was something my mom did with us, after reading about it in Winnie the Pooh. I need a serious session of Pooh Sticks about now... Your post is as close as I'll get to it right now, but thank you. Healing words... as always.

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  10. Can I come over?? :-D
    sooooo tranquil and beautiful.....

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  11. Kristy: Fragmentation. I think it's going around.

    Monique: Amsterdam...Can you teleport yet? :) 'Cause that would be fun.

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  12. Beam me up Scotty! haha :-)
    you make me smile Theresa, thanks!

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  13. Blase; No, NO, that's the vacuum cleaner. Keep looking.

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  14. The photos and your comments show clearly that you live in an idyllic place. Rivers are magical places; I like anyplace with water. Lakes are wonderful but rivers have a flow and personality that lakes cannot match. That's what I miss when I'm in the Southwest. I hope that our neighbor's plans bear fruit in many different ways. Glad that you met him! Memories with melancholy can be a toxic mix if one isn't careful!

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  15. Should be "your neighbor's plans..."

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  16. Thank you, Kate! Yes, I think it is the flow of the river that reaches people.

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  17. Fresh raspberries, what a treat those will be next year. I find myself missing living in the mountains when I view the woodland scenes, nice to have a neighbor so close whom you once knew, an immediate sense of belonging to the community.

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  18. And this afternoon, I'm going to the annual township picnic, where I will meet other neighbors. Should be fun. I'll report back, I'm sure. :) Thanks, Linda.

    Teresa

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  19. You are living such a beautiful life and with a sincere heart, I say thank you for showing and sharing it.

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  20. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comment, Leezra.

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