River Story: Mississippi Mondays and Gitchi Zibi
The river is my closest access to being immersed in nature. I grew up playing in the woods, and living in the city now find myself hungry to reconnect with nature. The river is my place to do that.
It's also the place that I'm cultivating my son's connection to nature. For many years when he was small we did “Mississippi Mondays with Maxfield” where we visited the river every Monday and just spent time playing in nature.
Water has always felt sacred to me. Felt like a place to touch into the magic of the universe. The river reminds me of those who I have lost, my cousins and aunt who died far too young, and who like me loved and found solace in nature.
The river is very much a sacred space for me. When I spend time by it I feel grounded and connected. I think of all the places the water in the river travels. Of all the people who live along the river now, and the people who lived along it in the past. It connects me to something much larger than myself.
Over the last decade, I have reconnected with my Anishinabe heritage. Gitchi Zibi, or great river, in the Ojibwe language reminds me of the power of the river. Each time I visit the river I touch the water in greeting and again to say farewell. I recently learned that unbeknownst to me there is a similar practice among some native peoples. Learning this made me feel connected to something deeply human, and to the ways that humans have long connected to Gitchi Zibi.
The spot that I spend time in along the river is a beautiful sandy beach. The sand is incredibly soft. People often have fires on the beach, leaving charred bits of wood mixed in with the white sand. My son often uses these to write on driftwood, or on his skin. I feel transported to a different place when I'm at the river. A place far away from the concrete, the daily grind. Immersed in nature. I feel blessed.
by Kirsten M. Johnson
The River Story Map
Created and coordinated by volunteer extraordinaire Michael Bischoff, the River Story Map kicks off FMR's silver anniversary year with 25+ stories of friendship with and connection to the metro Mississippi. These honest and personal reflections portray the river as a source of intrigue and adventure, a beloved date night venue, and even an unlikely partner in tales of loss and healing. We hope you enjoy them and consider adding your personal story of friendship with the Mississippi River.