Today is my 80th birthday and I am so glad to be entering the new decade. I feel great and grateful to all who sent me good wishes. I intend to celebrate every day. We are on our way west and camped for 3 nights in the Tom Sawyer RV park in Arkansas, on the western bank of the beautiful Mississippi River. We have been here many times when the river is full and bold and flowing. carrying the barges and riverboats along the banks of this romantic, thrilling, literary Jewel.
There are tough stories here as well going back for millennium of struggle, love, hatred and lore. Mark Twain of course, brought it alive in all of his adventures. The river is hailed in song-Ole’ Man River and in film, books as mentioned, biographies, Autobiographies. documentaries and our dreams. This visit is TOUGH, hard. The river that used to swell its banks and flood this campground is now 1/2 of it usual size.
The water is scarce, the other side of the river is barren, and filled with dry and hard river bottom now exposed to the sun. The news is filled with stories of small barges carrying limited cargo and restricting jobs and income in these very hard times. I have included photos with the contrast blatantly visible.
For my birthday we will drive into Memphis for some fun and lovely dinner for Paul and my birthday celebrations. How lucky we are, feeling well and filled with energy. We have even booked a December cruise on a big ship to Mexico. For those that know me, I fear getting seasick but it is time to try a modern ship (as opposed to the Queen Mary (original crossing from France to NYC and our 1964 honeymoon.)