The French Broad River is one of the oldest in the world. I only found this out recently, but it's no surprise. When I was young, my grandfather would put some food into a basket and we'd go down to the riverbank to have a picnic. We'd watch the ducks and the sky above the industrial buildings across the road. Sometimes I'd dip in my feet. Hurricane Helene devastated the River Arts district close by, but over the few years since the cluster of shoes hanging off one particular power line has restored itself in the same spot, and the trains are up and running again.
In the botanical garden, there's a creek that feeds into the French Broad. I first visited it with a girl of my age, around seven at the time, because her family lived in our same condo and she was the only other child in the building. Her name was Juniper. I don't have very many memories of her, but those I do are all fond. She showed me how to find colorful glass in the water and the sand, 'sea glass'. Even now I still go there to look for it all through spring and summer. Some of my favorite things I've found include a piece of white and blue china plate, a brick from a department store, and a bumpy green piece that looks to originate from a vase. The water is cool and very clear, and tadpoles are easy to find, although I've only ever seen one full-grown frog.
I'm no swimmer, but water is fun to play in for a little, and its sound is pleasant. This piece has no conclusion, I was only thinking of what I'd like to do in the spring.