The Cycle of the Pier

       In a community on the water, there is always something going on. Whether a person lives in the area or not, on the weekend, they will always make their way to the water's edge to see the events of the day. Since the area is relatively small, during the summer months, there are a few activities that are almost guaranteed to be found. 

In the early morning hours, when the sun has barely risen and the day's heat has yet to set in, many elder members of the community gather for a communal stroll to the end of the dock. Convening in the gravel parking lot, they make the trek to the end of the Pier slowly. As they walk, they absorb each detail of their surroundings. From the birds laying on the pebble and sand-lined waters edge to the state of the leaves on the trees, nothing goes unnoticed. 

Throughout the entirety of their stroll, they remain in a straight line. From above, they would look like a broom sweeping dust away from an uneven wood floor. Quietly, they chat about the week's happenings, the small town news that always becomes the center of the conversation. However, it is clear that their surroundings are more important to them than whatever they may be discussing. After they reach the end, they linger, taking in the aftermath of the rising sun and the morning river breeze. Eventually, they retreat until they arrive once more at the gravel lot. Then they dissipate, knowing they will repeat the activity the next day. 

Once 11 am arrives, the local anglers do, as well. Slowly, they drive their trucks filled with fishing rods and gear in search of the perfect spot to position themselves for the day. After positioning their vehicles in the ideal alignment, they sit down and send their lines into the water. Here, they remain. While people spend each day here focused on the craft, truthfully, I have never seen someone successfully catch a fish. I guess the peace they find basking in the sun on the water's edge is more important than the tangible act they are committing.

Once the afternoon arrives, the Pier momentarily quiets. However, the same cannot be said for the restaurant that overlooks it. Here, people dock their boats, eager to find a place underneath the fans as an escape from the blinding mid-day sun. They remain focused on the calm river water lapping against the rocks below as they enjoy their food and beverages. While the restaurant is at peak capacity, it remains quieter than one would expect. The water view in front of them keeps them in a trance, distracting them from the people they are surrounded by. 

As the afternoon continues, and the fishers remain lazily perched on the beach, the crowd behind them becomes younger and full of life. With the hot sun still almost directly overhead, the local children begin to race one another on bicycles down the entirety of the Pier. Only narrowly avoiding the holes and cracks in the pavement, they fly down the stretch swerving around each other. Though their joy is evident, they keep their sound to a minimum out of respect for their surroundings. 

Finally, the evening arrives, and people swarm to the Pier to watch the fiery sun dip down into the distant water. While half of them come early to claim their spot on one of the limited benches, the others arrive later, making the long walk alongside the descending sun. Regardless, both groups linger until the night sky becomes complete and the intermittent lights flick on down the entirety of the path. 

Knowing that this is a nightly occurrence in the summer, the local business owners take full advantage of it. Arriving before the entire crowd, they pop up makeshift tables at the back of their cars to display their goods. Whether it be local produce or hand-knit clothing, as the night progresses, they reel in the attention of each passerby. As the darkness encumbers them, they dissipate, disassembling their newly empty tables and returning home for the remainder of the evening. 

As I watch this cycle repeat each day, I am constantly in awe of the admiration people hold for the environment around them. When people spend so much time in the same location, one would expect them to grow bored of it eventually. Here, that is not the case. Each day, people are just as eager to return to their outdoor home as the day before. Stunned by the beauty, they have allowed it to become one of the most important, central parts of their life.