|
I.
<br /> The I Iealing Spot IIIIIIIIIIIIII
<br /> by Pamela K.Zaffke
<br /> Beneath our very noses,here in the lovely little town of Elk River,
<br /> Minnesota lies a spot as awe-inspiring as any on earth. It is the _ �'•".i
<br /> bend in the river, the Mighty Mississippi, and the park that lies -
<br /> just above it.Living in dose proximity to this natural wonder for a
<br /> period of time in my life when a healing spot was quite necessary r,� —\=' �_
<br /> and much appreciated, I called this area "my deck", and would
<br /> visit it often. Having moved on,I return whenever possible.
<br /> Oh, how many hours were spent in a silent reverie as my soul
<br /> came together over those ever-moving waters! Spring, summer,
<br /> fall or winter,weather mattered not. I observed the early spring
<br /> thaw, the silly antics of the male ducks as they showed off for
<br /> their prospective mates, only later to see them in pairs drifting __ __
<br /> lazily together.
<br /> Humanity came and went. Friendly city workers,like the suntanned
<br /> 0„
<br /> young girl in a cap, or the slender, quiet man who was always , y i I
<br /> pleasant as he set about his work greeted me often. There were , sr l” - !! �
<br /> mothers with children,a couple with their wedding photographer ; • � In, I'�' c�It
<br /> deciding when and how they would pose when they were married
<br /> at this spot.How sincerely they loved one another!
<br /> T
<br /> Two young missionary men seemed quite concerned about my
<br /> one da unaware that the serene look r °"' k
<br /> welfare as they passed by y, F,°�
<br /> �a m'
<br /> on my face reflected my inner joy at being in the presence of such .,�,
<br /> r s„
<br /> awe-inspiring beauty!When my niece visited here from Las Vegas, ' ' : . 'k. , r
<br /> one of her fondest memories was skipping rocks across the top
<br /> of the water on this very spot. She has traveled to many beautiful
<br /> places in her life, yet this simple place touched her deeply, and
<br /> continues to do so. If one sits a the bottom of the hill on the
<br /> massive golden stones, to the left is the bridge reminiscent of
<br /> Europe.Directly ahead is a picturesque stone embankment, and
<br /> to the right the river's undulating panorama is a feast for the senses.
<br /> Verdant trees and foliage,wildlife and all manner of watercraft -_ - ...,
<br /> may be spotted as one luxuriates in the soft grass of the outdoor -
<br /> " a small trickle at its source,to the wide open,muddy, 'd.
<br /> "patio". _Ago 1 I!P..
<br /> lazy mouth,the Mississippi connects us all to people and places _
<br /> that we may not know personally, but who, like us here in Elk .
<br /> River,ponder and benefit from its presence. -`.. MA 11111111111
<br /> On my last day living across from the river,I went to the Healing v
<br /> Spot to say "So long" - never "Goodbye". Just as I was about IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMNI
<br /> to leave, a lone swan floated in from seemingly nowhere. I had
<br /> never heretofore,in all of my visits seen one of these magnificent
<br /> birds. Yet there it was in all of its pristine white splendor,floating
<br /> silently and alone. Thinking of my own solitary journey,a feeling O g r
<br /> of melancholy washed over me;but it soon changed to joy for as E
<br /> I got up to leave,the giant white bird began a long, slow ascent Q t w t 11 cera
<br /> away from me,all the while following the curve of the river before o
<br /> disappearing around the bend. Ivfy heart leapt as I realized the P i G a
<br /> dtsapp g v p �
<br /> significance of the swans'message. Life goes on.Get up,fly high. N s P■n e
<br /> Don't ever stop moving. Be like the river and flow on.
<br />
|