Remember

My friend and coworker, I guess I can call her friend; she is a friend to all and enjoys the company of everyone.

Well, My friend Kelly invited me to her home today, to "Main Street in the Chop" as she calls it. We were there for business, but trying to avoid the sterile, offices we commit ourselves to working in most every day. Our fearless leader or coworker, the one that keeps us from falling off the track, the numbers person that can make anything look sensible on a spread sheet, was late, so Kelly and I wandered out to the front yard and down to the dock, Kelly in her outside shoes (visit her blog you will know what I mean).

Kelly was all filled up with excitement, sharing her ideas and dreams of what this little patch of Choptank wants to be. We visited with her friend the Muskrat, "He shot us a look, and slipped beneath the river. Who could blame him, I was an interloper, I didn't really belong there, this place was his and he had shared it with "My Friend Kelly" not me. We moved out to the dock and anointed our feet in the silent waters of the Great Choptank. Kelly chattering on about this place in her dreams, I kind of lost track of exactly what she was saying I apologize now but do not regret, my mind had moved been shocked! Is more like it these waters flashbacked memories more than I can tell.

I remember as a teenager coming to this pleasant little town with nothing but a small marina and boat ramp, I remember paddling and boating across the deep dark water of the Choptank river. I remember traveling from the head waters to where it joins the Chesapeake, many times in my life. In a flash I remembered, I remembered why, I remembered my path, the one I chose long ago, the one that sent me to Florida on a quest to find what I needed to find. I have traveled south and traveled north to Boston and Cape Cod. Somewhere along the way I forgot my "path" I forgot why I was taking the journey I have taken.

In the instant I placed my feet in those cold cool waters, I knew I had a reason, I had a place, I had a plan all along.

So, thank you Mr. Muskrat and I hope that you can forgive our mutual friend Kelly for allowing me to enter your world, and thank you "My Friend Kelly", because the simple thing you did today, the thing you don't even know you did, has brought back a passion for "the river" that I had forgotten.

As we returned to the shore and journeyed up the old main road, now grass covered and recently mowed, Kelly shared her dream of a place where like minded souls could find their place on "The Chop". Her dream is grand and all so great, a place that will be as she wants it to be. I think Mr. Muskrat would approve of her plans.

We returned to find our leader had arrived she had been there for a while, searching for us. We laughed and we joked and accomplished some of what we needed to do. With work finished for the day we returned to the dock, for a short goodbye, the tide no longer allowing us to touch the powerful waters that flowed. Mr. Muskrat was not present, I think he has done his job, at least for me he has, I know, I have remembered my plan.