Divermarv

Beautiful day today. It’s 1pm and only mid-seventies, with a breeze. Sun is shining, a few clouds skittering by with associated shadows on the ground; a Platonic perspective indeed.

I’m sitting on my covered porch looking out at the little valley and wiping the sweat off my face. I’ve finished my lower yard. I use an electric (batteries) mower, thus it’s fairly quiet. Easier to listen to whatever I’m listening to. Sometimes it’s an audiobook, sometimes a podcast. Today it was my Go To playlist. Songs from the 60’s to almost current day. Every song represents something. A phase of life, an emotion, a location… something important.

This post is about one such song. A Whiter Shade of Pale. I stopped mowing and just listened to the organ intro… then the singer began. A tear welled in my eye. A brilliant explosion of memories flooded my mind. I was instantly back in the 80s, and standing by the bank of the Snake River near Hoback Junction just south of Jackson Wyoming. I, and a bunch of other sailors stationed at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (now that’s another story), were active rafters on the river. We owned our own rafts and would do two, maybe (but rarely) three rides a day. The soundtrack to The Big Chill was a staple for our cassette players, and this song often came on.

I can remember the steep canyon walls on either side of the river as we’d paddle for our lives (seemingly) through some tough rapids: Three-Oar Deal; and of course… Lunch Counter. Straddling the side tubes of the raft, one foot in the icy water. Paddle on the left! Dig those paddles in boys. If you fell out the first words you heard were, “hold onto your paddle!” We all wore our PFDs*, so we were safe. Mostly.

The windex blue skies, skittering clouds, echoes of laughter and “beer me” rebounding off the water. I was living my best life. And you know the worst part? I was so young and dumb I didn’t realize it. If I could go back, that’s what I’d do. I’d shake me and make me repeat that back. Ah me. If I’d known. (Maybe I kinda did… I don’t know.)

I don’t want you to think I’m aching for that time only. I’ve lived my best life many times. And I continue to live such a life from time to time. I just have to wake up and realize it when I am. “I’m cold.” “I’m hungry.” “I’m…” Just stop it and enjoy where you are. What you’re doing. And who you’re with.

I guess that’s it. Just a tidbit from the “nineteen hundreds” as the kids say.

Peace and love…
Marv

*Personal Flotation Device