Last Saturday I attended the funeral of a Burundi lad who was mesmerized by the mighty river, had slipped away from home with a group of other boys, and although he wasn’t planning on swimming, was swept away by the current and drowned. The river’s lure has existed as long as I can remember; it fascinates us when it’s shallow and the sandbars host dozens of birds; it fascinates us when it floods and carries huge tree trunks at a brisk pace down it’s muddy waters; it fascinates us when it’s at normal level and just by its very presence invites a person to wade, to fish, to bird watch, or to search for frogs and turtles.
Whatever else it is, it is always mighty, and we all need to respect its power and its lack of predictability. That includes making newcomers to river cities aware of the dangers, and to watch our children closely. Parents and grandparents, as well as refugee sponsors, can help each child appreciate the river but also notice its strength, by taking them to the riverbanks, taking them to the Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque, taking them to the visitor center at a lock and dam, and by attending environmental fairs where those who know the river best can share their knowledge.
I love most of my memories of the Mississippi; its sounds and smells and the way it makes the air feel. But this one, of a life cut short because of one moment’s mistake, tears at my heart. It is a reminder to all River Citizens to share their appreciation of the river, and their respect for it.