The sky was overcast and gloomy. A stiff southern wind blew no warmth at the girl. She stood on the levy and watched the brown river swirl around the middles of trees it was drowning. The moist earth stuck to her hiking boots and refused to let go. The chill in the air finally made her move. If the river rose another six feet, she would've been swimming.
Further ahead she noticed the literal yellow brick road. In the middle stood two wooden platforms connected by a tall footbridge. Normally this part of the park would be comically dry, and more than 75 feet from the river. Now the river swirled under the bridge. She stepped into the river and onto the first dry wooden platform. It was merely inches above the river. She cautiously crossed the creaking wooden bridge to the second dry platform, which had been built around a tree truck. In the crevice she saw the water seeping up between the wood and the trunk. She gazed in awe at the fact that she was truly IN the Red River of the North, and she hadn't gotten more than an inch of her boots wet.
She remembered the summer days staring at the little footbridge in confusion as to why the bridge was in the middle of dry land. She smiled as she realized that now the river literally surrounded her. The tree on the second platform let her lean against it for the time being. Her thoughts of the past were swept away as the logs were in the river. A magical tingle was felt in her hands as she soaked up the scenery. Up on the hill, a park vehicle stopped and turned around. He couldn't see her. She had become invisible. Fearing for her own safety, she walked back across the wobbly footbridge.
Once again with feet planted firmly on squishy ground, the sound of rushing water filled her ears. She saw motion to the East. She quietly meandered towards the sound as if entranced. She was at peace. She felt no chill. She didn't realize that the wind had even tugged a section of her red hair out of her braid. She simply moved toward the water.
She picked up an oak leaf that was black on one side and natural on the other. She twisted it between her fingers as she walked. Thanking Mother Nature for letting her observe the flood filled her thoughts. She stepped into the river and squatted down to be closer to the icy water. She dipped her fingers in and let the leaf float away, releasing her thanks for everything in her life. As soon as the leaf was out of sight, a gust of wind blew more leaves toward her. Looking into the wind, she smiled, knowing that deep within herself everything was going to be all right. This was why she was drawn here. Her Faith was truly affirmed that day near the water's edge, surrounded by the beauty and destruction of the Flood of 2006.
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