Water's Edge: 07.02.2013

Standing at the edge of the water, I barely recognized the banks my one and a half year old daughter was splashing around on. The shore line that held so much meaning. The shore line that was an intrical part of my story. Our story.

Eleven years ago it was on those banks that we fell in love. Warm summer nights and the sound of the falls. The beginning of our story with a beautiful future .

Nine years ago it was those very banks on which I sat and watched as he photographed the falls. Snuggled in his coat on a sunny March afternoon. It was in the mud on that shore that he asked me to become his wife. It was to the soundtrack of that water that I said yes.

Two years ago it was an enormous storm that ripped through. Raising those waters to record heights. Carrying away rocks and soil, depositing sand and silt. Trees were uprooted, houses destroyed. The shore line was rearranged and carved out of previously dry earth.

One year ago it was time for us to return. To check on our beloved place, at the water’s edge. To bring our daughter to the place it all began. My eyes hardly recognized my favorite place but my heart, it saw everything as it was. As we were.

It was that moment that i realized, we had changed, too. Our love had weathered storms and sunshine, just had our beloved spot. I settled in and started to memorize my old friend's new visage. I closed my eyes. There was that familiar soundtrack. Now with the addition of a child’s laughter. My child’s laughter.

I took a deep breath. Everything changes.

I stood up and walked to the water’s edge. Tilted my head up to the sun. Listened to my family as they splashed in water that contained our story. A story with a beautiful future.

Some things will always be the same.