Dan Antion

You and that River

The perfect place and beverage to share some casual conversation.

If we were having a beer, you’d be picking on my photo library again.

“So, I see you’re back on Flickr.”

“I never left Flickr.”

“Yeah, but you did that whole ‘private’ thing which left me staring at a ‘WoodWrkr hasn’t posted anything yet’ message. By the way, where did you get that stupid name?”

“OK, working backwards, when I joined Flickr, you could only have an eight-character screen name. As for the private thing, I changed it to friends and family and I listed you as a friend.”

“Really?”

“Are you surprised?”

“I’m not surprised that you consider us friends, I’m surprised you remembered to go back and do something about it. You aren’t the best with details.”

“Speaking of details, wine? Beer? Wings? Mussels? What’s it gonna be guys?”

“Do you have Dos Equis Cheryl?

“We do not. I don’t know why we don’t, a lot of people ask for it.”

“I guess you have to stay thirsty my friend. I couldn’t resist, now that we’re officially friends.”

“I’ll have a Yuengling, and whatever my ‘friend’ wants.”

“Oh, he’s going for bourbon, Dan. You should never telegraph the tab like that.”

“Woodford Reserve, Cheryl. But, can I ask a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Put it in a brandy snifter and bring me a glass of ice on the side.”

“I can do that. That’s how your other buddy drinks his Vodka.”

“Marty, yes. That’s where I go the idea.”

“I’ll just have the Yuengling in a frosted glass. He’s entitled to some kindness after that game on Thursday.”

“Coming right up.”

“So, what made you want to try the snifter thing?”

“A snifter is easier to hold, and Marty’s right about the ice. Let it melt in a glass where it doesn’t matter. Add a little at a time.”

“Interesting. I would have thought you would be more set in your ways.”

“No, I think that’s your claim to fame.”

“Why do you say that? Is it the beer? I did ask for a different brand…”

“No, it’s Flickr.”

“What now with Flickr?”

“Well, now that we’re friends, I looked at your photostream and, surprise surprise, photos from Great River Park.”

“It’s on my way to work. What would you prefer, the truck stop in Hartford?”

“There’s Riverside Park.”

“I do stop there occasionally, but I feel more at ease after I’ve crossed the river.”

“But what’s the big deal with stopping at all. Why not just go to work, or go have breakfast?”

“There’s something about a river, that’s good for the soul.”

“I get that, but you’ve seen it a thousand times.”

“It’s never the same river.”

“He’s right. Here’s your beer, your Bourbon, and your ice.”

“You had to add that ‘he’s right’, Cheryl. You couldn’t just ignore that comment?”

“He is right. Water, whatever form, rivers, lakes or the ocean is never the same. That’s part of the attraction.”

“I don’t get it. Maybe the ocean, but the Connecticut River. I mean it’s a minor player.”

“400 miles…a minor player?”

“It’s not navigable for most of that. It’s not like it’s powering textile mills and generating power.”

“I think it made its contribution. It also took its share of abuse. I see nothing wrong with celebrating its inherent value as a watershed, water source, provider of rich farmland and home for wildlife.”

“OK, fine, but it’s not like you live there. You don’t farm, you don’t own a jet-ski, hell, you don’t even fish.”

“It reminds me of growing up in Pittsburgh. I’ve always been attracted to rivers.”

“I’ve seen the pictures of that dirt-water creek you grew up next to. Hardly the stuff of fond memories.”

“That’s pronounced ‘crick’ and it definitely is a source of fond memories.”

“It looks disgusting.”

“There were days, but I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, in her garden on the banks of that crick.”

“I guess if Great River Park works for you, it works. But it’s hardly the Ohio River.”

“It starts in Pittsburg.”

“I know the Ohio starts in Pittsburgh. I was talking about the Connecticut.”

“I know. It starts in Pittsburg.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Pittsburg, New Hampshire…no ‘H’ “

“You’re hopeless.”

“Speaking of hopeless, I’m wondering if we’re going to crack the twenty-dollar mark on this bar tab.”

“Not to worry, Cheryl. I am ready for another beer. Give him another splash of ‘brandy’ and let’s see a menu.”

“Forget the menu. Just put an order of Calamari in. Since my friend is yearning for the sea.”

“You mean since your friend is buying.”

“My friend is buying…now that’s good for the soul.”

The gallery shows that there have been other pictures taken, they haven’t been uploaded to Flickr yet.

You have to look really close, but there’s a Heron flying away from breakfast.
An accident on the highway forced me off onto East River Dr and Great River Park
Looking south along the Connecticut River
Rant – this is a Klondike? What the heck happened?
A good time to be leaving work
Maddie is in there somewhere.
Walking Maddie after a night of rain
It rained last night
Pinky! One of Maddie’s favorite toys. Actually she inherited it from a former setter.
No, I’m not driving into the river. I’m just parking.
I have a friend who works in that building and a coworker who used to work there.
The river changes and so does the light. It’s never the same twice.
Chartiers Creek – this runs past the house where I lived until I was about 10.
Workmen heading across the river on the railroad bridge
Zinnia
Marigolds
Rowing on the river.
Full moon breaking out from the clouds

53 comments

  2. really enjoyed this post, D.
    the photos at the end wrapped up the convo nicely (as usual)
    and I had time to click the link to your old post from 2013 and what a nice archive you have – and we used to call our creek “crick”sometimes….
    anyhow, laughing at the joke:
    “stay thirsty my friend”
    side note – I just saw the character that played in the ads (most interesting man dude) because he wrote a book and is starting a new series of ads – I guess after a long run, his Dos Equis contract is done.

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Thanks for posting some of the photos here, Dan, as I’m not on Flikr. I started Instagram not too long ago and I’m not sure one more thing might be one more thing too many as I struggle now to keep up with all the blogs. I think I liked the original “Most Interesting Man” best, too. As for Thursday’s game, I enjoyed the outcome, even though I went to bed when NE was still ahead and never expected to see that score. :-)

    janet

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks Janet. That score was a sweet thing to wake up to on Friday. I can’t think of a better way to start the NFL season. I’m going to keep using Flickr, but i get better results sharing photos here than I ever did there. I like the platform because I can download the photos when I want to use them, and I tend to tag them so they’re easy to find. I don’t like Verizon’s terms and conditions (seem to say if my photos are public, Verizon and partners can do whatever they like). I also don’t like the way so many photos on Instagram are taken and even sold by other parties. Keeping up with Terms and Conditions could be a full-time job.

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        • I think Facebook bought Instagram. I’ve read a couple of well-publicized articles about people who had their Instagram photos show up in ads and online in other sites. When they researched it, they found that someone had sold their photos to the ultimate end-user. The person whose photo it was, wasn’t even given credit.

          Verizon, from everything I’ve read over time, is just evil when it comes to the privacy of its customers. Maybe not doing anything illegal, but walking a very fine line.

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      • I just looked up Terms and Conditions and got a NY Times article (from 2012) that mentioned that photos can be used in ads without your permission and other goodies, so I’m now off Instagram! This is from the most current info I could find, from Instagram/Verizon itself:

        Instagram does not claim ownership of any Content that you post on or through the Service. Instead, you hereby grant to Instagram a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to use the Content that you post on or through the Service, subject to the Service’s Privacy Policy, available here http://instagram.com/legal/privacy/, including but not limited to sections 3 (“Sharing of Your Information”), 4 (“How We Store Your Information”), and 5 (“Your Choices About Your Information”). You can choose who can view your Content and activities, including your photos, as described in the Privacy Policy.

        NOT acceptable!

        Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks Teagan. Maddie is so funny. She knows that if she brings me Pinky, I’ll come sit with her. But yeah, don’t mess.

      Here’s hoping you have a few moments this weekend to relax, with or without the glass of your choice.

      Liked by 1 person

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  7. Gosh, Dan–beautiful photos. I like the mistiness of the truck by the railroad bridge. I think I told you this, but I still had to chuckle at your ‘WoodWrkr’ tag. A guy I used to work with had that as his car tag. One woman spoke to him with such disdain, saying she could not understand why he would put that on his license tag. So he asked her what she thought it said. She said “Widow Maker.” Ah. He told her no, it was for ‘Wood Worker’ which was what he did as a hobby. And did quite well. She was so embarrassed. Yup, ‘crick’ The way the old-time Southerners pronounce it. It does have a certain charm about it….

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks for the chuckle, Lois. Several people have asked me what that means. Maybe I’ll switch to “widow maker” and see what they do. New England folk seem to prefer “creek” but I’m stuck with “crick” I like to stop at that railroad bridge on foggy days, but the workmen’ presence seemed to call more attention to the “no trespassing” signs. So, just the one photo and I’ll be on my way,

      Liked by 1 person

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  10. That’s right, Dan and Cheryl — Water is always changing. Mmhm. And I have fond memories of many cricks. I think this is the first place I’ve lived where water of some sort wasn’t right around. It’s about a mile to Fall Creek here.
    Great photos, as always. I love your photos of the river. And of Maddie, course!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks Joey – I’m finding some love here for ‘cricks’ and I’m liking that a lot. We’re about 2 miles from the river, where we live, but it’s a rare day when I don’t see it. We also are pretty close to a major tributary (Farmington River). I feel like I’m playing to the crowd with Maddie shots, but she’s a cutie (when she isn’t driving us crazy).

      Liked by 1 person

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      • I wonder how far we are from White River… About 8 miles. I also just discovered that White River starts in South Dakota! I had no idea!
        I see Fall Creek all the time, but I rarely make it to the river.

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  15. “That’s pronounced crick and it’s definitely a source of fond memories.” Best line ever. Perfectly placed in the context of the post to elicit a belly laugh, at least from me. My WV roots loved this river/ creek discussion. Great post, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. I love the conversation, Dan. I especially follow how you think about the river (*for you), the lake (for me) and other people’s water sources like the big, bold sea! They never two days in a row are exactly the same. . . Tranquil, translucent, reflective, turbulent or gentle waves or ripples aren’t the same either! 🏞
    The various flowers after the rain and missing Maddie among the plants, bushes and greenery all gave me smiles, Dan. Ty

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. I’m with you on rivers lakes and oceans….food for the soul!! I got just as much pleasure staring on the Cedar River I grew up by in Cedar Rapids and nearby Lake McBride as I did staring at the ocean during our years in San Diego….something about water….great post!!

    Liked by 1 person

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