Monday, July 30, 2012

Dejá Vu on the Buffalo

We are so fortunate to have the Buffalo River in our own backyard! And, 2012 is the Buffalo's 40th anniversary as the very first national river appointed by Congress in 1972. And, because they didn't dam the Buffalo way back then, this river's natural beauty will be forever unchanged and always enjoyed by me (since long before 1972) and those who love it for generations to come. So, while enjoying the pristine areas of the Buffalo the other day (for the umpteenth time),  I certainly wasn't prepared for the dejá vu moment that jumped on me like green on a bean...

At the Pruitt Landing on Hwy 7 in the Jasper area, I stopped for a closer look at a beautiful opening on the Buffalo, and as I slowly drove down toward the swimmers splashing in the river, I realized immediately that it had long ago been an overnight camping area (now a swimming and picnic day park) that a friend and I had visited in 1958! 55 years can put some serious strain on your memory and although I had always remembered the trip, I was way too young to remember where, in Jasper, my third grade friend, Rita, her parents, and I  had stopped for the week end, pulled out the tent, cooked over an open fire, and swam below the bridge off Hwy 7. Rita and I even met a cute boy that weekend... Some things you never forget, some things you certainly want to, and some things jump out at you in a dejá vu moment that you get to experience all over again just as good (well, almost) as the first time...


2 comments:

  1. Hi Dianne,

    What a great moment to remember! I think we all have those snippets that come to mind at unexpected moments.

    Have you seen the documentary film about the Buffalo that was made by Prof. Larry Foley at the U of A? Really nice film. If you haven't seen it, email me and I'll see if I can get a copy for you.

    Judy Luna

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  2. Hey, Judy! I have seen that documentary when I was at the UofA a few years ago. Went to the documentary festival they have each year. Dr. Foley did such a great job on that. Thanks for the comment and for the love of the Buffalo! Take care, Dianne

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