The River

The White River
Mount Rainier National Park
August 25, 2023

 Garth Brooks, one of my favorite musicians, sings a song titled, The River. 

The chorus goes:

And I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

I am not sure of my destination, but I know that I am still sailing the waters of the river. 

Sometimes the things we have to do are hard, but they are right. There really is a right and a wrong even though sometimes cloaked in shades of gray. 

Occasionally, we lose friends as the river changes course and they run aground or their time on this planet is done. The water can be rough and we can get wet. Sometimes the dunking is from our own mistakes but lately, all too often the dousing is with tears. 

But--we sail on down the river of life. The final verse of the song cautions us about resigning and giving up:

So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide

I'm sailing rough waters today and my tears because I believe that today I will be saying a final goodbye to a faithful, furry, four-footed companion. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL