A River Runs Through It

At the Godiska Family Reunion yesterday, we took Shae wading into the creek that runs just past the pavilion. If I were to describe her philosophy of life in one sentence, it would be this: "If there's water, she'll have fun."

Even though I am part mermaid myself in a family made up almost entirely of part-merpeople, I am still frequently astonished by just how much she likes the water. She doesn't care how cold, or how potentially dirty, or how many fish or frogs or turtles are there or not there -- she just wants to be submerged.

And of course I am biased, because she is mine, all mine, but I believe it takes someone really special to take your average everyday run-of-the-mill Pennsylvania creek and make it look like something special and magical.

It's almost enough to make me want to go camping in the 1,000 Islands again. (But only almost.) She really is something else, this mini-me who is not of me, but still is part me.

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." -- Norman Maclean