Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Swimming Hole

I went to see my mom at the nursing home this afternoon and on the way home I pulled in at the public boat launch at the forks of the Sipsey and Mulberry Rivers.
I've actually stopped by there almost every day for the past week. It's like a community recreation area.
The first day I stopped, I saw a guy I hadn't seen in 30 years. I actually thought he was dead. We chatted for a while and he told me a few stories about my grandfather who actually did die in 1970. I smiled as he told me the stories because they rang true. I could picture my grandfather in his overalls with faded tattoos on both forearms.
We talked for a long while. There were several other people fishing from the bank for catfish or maybe a stripped bass. Over to the side near the landing were a bunch of kids swimming in the river.  The place had a good vibration.
Today when I stopped by, the young boys I met the first day, had been there all day today. They fished until it got too hot, and then then they went swimming.
All of them were as brown as hickory nuts. One kid told me they came to the forks every day. When I asked them when school starts, the mood darkened a bit and I immediately regretted asking the question. "Classes start back August 15," one of them said. When I asked if they were excited to go back, none of them were.
Once in the truck and headed toward home, I thought about when I was their age. I too spent most of the summer on the river and I dreaded hearing the sound of school bells.
I do know this, there is nothing better than having a great swimming hole close by. I know the forks of the Sipsey and Mulberry River will live on in their memories for a very long time.

8 comments:

  1. Oh I understand how these kids feel. Good they are having fun now. It's really crazy, during vacations and holidays, time seems to be short or fast but when at work or school, it seems like the clock is not moving at all...

    Keep enjoying the summer folks!

    JJRod'z

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  2. You know what they say - the worst day fishing is better than the best day working. :)

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  3. I remember summers sailing and surfing...my husband grew up with a swimming hole, a side saddle to the creek that ran along his parents country home. They used to love to swim there and when we would visit as young adults he loved sharing his favorite spot with me. Youth and summertime...they both go by too quickly!

    thanks for the memories~

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  4. Nice story Rick. Just think maybe twenty years or so from now, those kids may be blogging or whatever will be technologically popular then, about the same swimming hole!
    Love Di ♥

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  5. Oh no, you mentioned the "s" word! LOL!!

    Take care
    x

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  6. It makes me so happy to think that there are still kids out there that spend Summer in the way we did - outdoors, having fun.

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  7. Great memories Rick. Those young ones don't know what they're going to be thinking about when they are 60 do they?

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  8. Anonymous6:40 PM

    Summers and rivers just seem to go together...my memories include the Nottoway River...family land connected us to the river which was a mile behind us! Oh the joy...I wasn't listening for school bells either!

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