A picture that changed everything for me

This is a picture of the Tomorrow River. This picture evokes a great deal of emotion for me for a number of reasons. First because it was such a beautiful day. The sun was shining, fall was creeping in... 60+ degree days, 40's at night. Crisp air, leaves just starting to turn, the green beginning to fade to yellows and tans.

Change. Endings. Peace.

The other reason I love this picture so much is the illusion of two children jumping into the water from the tree. If you look at it long enough you begin to see it. Well, at least I can.

For me, it brings back long-cherished memories of days spent jumping off a tree stretched out across the water much like this one. When I close my eyes, I can hear the giggling, the laughter, the shouts... The absolute joy of being a child.

Doing the crazy, semi-dangerous things we did way back when... The things that we survived, with out taking an eye out or breaking our necks... Things the young parents today would be aghast over.

"Hey Dad! Can we ride on the roof of the truck?" Driving down the logging road on the top of the pickup, our legs sticking to the glass of the windshield, laughing like banshees and having the times of our lives.

Being annoyed by your little brother, who has climbed about ten feet high in a tree and who is now terrified to climb down. Telling him to jump. Then watching him bounce when he takes your sarcastic suggestion and jumps. Thanking everything holy that he's alive.

Practically drowning ourselves trying to water ski... "Gees-o-Petes! Let go of the rope when you fall ya' dope!!"

Getting up on them, falling face first into water that felt like concrete and drinking half the lake. Spectacular wipe-outs, bruises, rope burn, then happiness without measure after finally learning how to stay up when you dropped a ski.

Catching crayfish, bullheads and frogs... Feasting on the same.

Days spent flying out of the camper first thing every morning, being whistled in for food.

Outhouses, campfires, and living in your swimsuit for days on end.

Owls, coyotes and the occasional bobcat to scare the living crap out of you just to remind you where you were... Face to face in nature's backyard.

Days and nights with loved ones no longer with us...

Remembering days spent in the woods with my Mom... Grandmas and Grandpa...

Pop cans with jokes in the bottom, flaming marshmallow bombs, pudgy pies, wood ticks, stepping on a pine snake...

Twice. On the same day.

Vowing to never again leave the camper. Getting over it eventually but to this day terrified of the things.

Raccoons... "Oh they're so cute!"

Leaving food out for them the next night only to discover a family of skunks beat them to it. Skunks under the camper... "NOBODY MOVES!"

The end of food left outside!

Days of joy, laughter and fun...

"Foxfire!! We saw real foxfire!"

Huge Luna moths, fireflies dancing, a ballet to end all others.

"Dad! Dad! Look! We found a Walking Stick!"

Scrapes, cuts and sunburns...

"Dad tell him to stop scratching on our tent!"

Screaming and flying out of the tent when my brother answered from where my Dad was.

"Oh, it was just a stick..."

Life. Love.

Memories so intense that even now I can smell the woodsmoke, the lake water, wet dogs and the warmth of the day.

I feel an ache in my chest. It is from emotions as intense as the memories of those long ago summer days.

It is what I have needed so desperately to reconnect with the strength deep inside my heart.

Is it amazing? One photo has pulled me from the abyss I've been skirting for weeks now.

Who needs to be thinner, richer and all the other things?

I have memories of happiness and complete and unending love, both given and received.

I feel the fog of bad emotions and bittersweet memories leaving me and I feel a calming in my bruised soul.

I find myself relaxed and ready to sleep... I'll sleep tonight and I bet I'll dream of the lake, the woods... the joy that my life has held and continues to gather.