It was the day after the first day of school for W-SR. I thought about my grandson, Bergen, becoming a senior this year and my granddaughter, Jewells, just starting fifth grade. Where in the world did that time go? I wondered that same thing when my daughters were that age and now, decades later, I’m speaking of my grandchildren.
Youngsters today seem to welcome going back to school after a long and free summer vacation. I can’t say that I signed on to that design when I was in school, but I did enjoy seeing all my friends again, in one convenient location. As I was driving down First Street south, reflecting in a way on my own schooldays, I glanced across the river and saw a small stingray bike at the top of the hill.
I pulled over against the curb, curious as to where the bicyclist was. After surveying the river bank, I saw a young boy fishing on the bank by himself. He reminded me of a young “Huckleberry Finn,” minus the straw hat and cane pole.
I began to wonder what might be going through his mind, having started school the day before and sitting alone on a river bank. As it relates to the weather, he couldn’t have dialed up a more perfect day to tie a fishing line to his big toe and drown a few night crawlers. Whatever he is privately contemplating, it’s likely that young man doesn’t realize that he may very well be living the best years of his life right now.
A beautiful day, a bicycle, a fishing pole, and a life...
shed of all responsibilities. His life w.