Ebb and Flow

Ebb and Flow -- watch the world and you can't help but see how things ebb and flow. Plants sprout, cleanse the earth, die, only to nourish the land so another plant can start again.

Ebb and Flow

Forest fires, destructive looking to the eye, ensure the overall health and well being of the forest by clearing underbrush so trees can take root. The extreme heat of the fire is needed for some seeds to release from their pod.

Ebb and Flow

Last year in Colorado we saw how a birch and fir forest slowly moved back and forth from one to another -- as the birch forest matures it chokes the light out for brush that choke the life out of the firs, slowly allowing the firs to set and gradually take over from the birch trees.

Ebb and Flow

In the desert the infrequent rains allow some of the most beautiful displays of flowers. Animals come aboveground to soak in the savored drops of water, their majestic design allowing them to survive for long periods of time without water in the harsh desert.

Ebb and Flow

Cities ebb and flow as well. This weekend I was in Marietta. Like most river cities Marietta was a vibrant, active community during the days of river transport. The oldest American settlement in the "northwest territory" Marietta owes its existence to George Washington's appreciation for the beauty of the Ohio River Valley. At the point of two rivers, Marietta was an important trading post and offered rich farmland and river transport.

Named after the Queen of France at the time of settlement (Marie Antoinette) Marietta survived past the riverboat era with the discovery of oil and the establishment of rail lines. But slowly the city deteriorated -- a slow decline as other transport took valued jobs and the rivers influence became less and less important.

Ebb and Flow

A community, a way of life crumbles. Proud buildings, established churches, fancy hotels and parlours slowly decline -- no money or energy left. People move away in search of jobs, the remaining jobs suffer as more people move away. The city, a way of life are forgotten.

Ebb and Flow

And then. The city reinvents itself. Money is reinvested. People begin to stay and rebuild. The energy, the pride return. People walk the streets, go "downtown" to shop and eat. And the city is reborn.

And then in 2004 it suffered from a great flood. We saw a mark on a building -- the main streets of downtown are about 35' above the river level -- the 2004 mark was at about 9'. The city rebuilt is forced to rebuild once again.

The Landmark Hotel overlooks the river. A grand, majestic hotel in its day it is now furnished with beautiful hand carved chairs, cabinets and etc. It is a nice hotel for the area -- but can no longer be called grand. But on its exterior walls are 2 marks -- both marking floods from the 1800's and early 1900's. It is amazing to see -- remember the road is 35' above the river. These marks were on the 3rd floor and higher of the building.

It's hard to believe a city could recover from a flood of that magnitude -- not once but three times. As hard as it is to believe that anything, let alone the beautiful flowers and many different animals can survive in an environment like a desert. But survive, and indeed thrive, they do.

Marietta has been the brunt of many disparaging jokes in the past few years. But she continues to fight back and waits for the next forest fire or desert rain to reveal yet another bloom.



Ebb and Flow.