Reflective Essay 3

Jed opened the front door of the 12Bar and gazed outside. Dark brown river water quietly and urgently filled the streets around the bar, tuning it into its own private island. The view reminded him of the “big flood” from eight years ago. That flood had devastated most of the area, but somehow had left the 12Bar intact. When Jed purchased the bar six months ago, the former owners assured him saying, “…that was a five-hundred year flood, it will never happen again in your lifetime.” Well, here he was with his faithful dog Duke, watching the river rise , and it certainly was still in his lifetime. The crowds had left a few hours ago. An incredible number of friends, community volunteers, and his best bar patrons showed up to build an impressive sand bag dike around the 12Bar. The work was hard, tiring, and the crowd managed to drink all the beer he had on tap. Jed felt it only right to reward them with free beer, and since the power was due to be shut off in an hour or two, it would have spoiled anyway. When the dike was complete, they all had stumbled out and headed for home, safely to high ground. Jed walked out the front door onto the dry sidewalk between the 12Bar and the four foot dike. The river had already edged halfway up the dike on the other side. A duck floated by, mocking Jed with a small quack. Duke emerged from behind the building and charged at him, stopped at the last minute, and then settled in to pace around his legs, cat-like. “I know, Duke,” said Jed, “I don’t like it either. Come, lets check the sandbags one last time before dark.” Jed and Duke progressed around the bar, checking for leaks in the dike. Duke, spotting a small trickle of water, ran over and began to lap it up. “Thanks for the effort, Duke,” said Jed, picking up a fresh sandbag and plopping it on the leak, “but I don’t think one dog can hold back the mighty Cedar River. We should get inside and go upstairs before the power goes out. The news said the river will crest sometime tonight.” Jed climbed the creaking second floor stairs and slipped into bed. Duke curled up on the floor next to the bed in his safety spot, usually reserved for loud thunderstorms. Exhausted, Jed quickly dozed. Shortly, the clock on the nightstand flicked off as the power was cut. Outside, the river rose towards the top of the dike. Sometime in the hush of night, Jed awoke to the sound of Duke scampering out the room and down the creaky wooden stairs uttering, “woof…” under his breath. Jed noticed music floating up the stairs from the bar, vocals mixed with the twang of a delta blues guitar; “Went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees Asked the Lord above "Have mercy, now save poor Bob, if you please" Jed swung his legs out from under the covers, …show more content…
“No, not by myself. I had lots of help from folks here in the neighborhood,” said Jed. “It looks like they banded together and did a fine job. Think it will hold?” said the old man. “Well, it should. According to the news guy, the river should crest below the top of the dike,” said Jed, “but I’m worried” “So come sit,” said the old man, “There’s only one thing left to do, and that’s what the Blues are for. I’ve been with the river all my life. It comes, it goes, and the Blues flows right along with it. When the rivers gone, I’ll be gone, so lets help the river along. Do you know how to play?” “Well, I’ve been trying for five years, so I probably can strum along,” said Jed, picking up his guitar. ‘Ok, then, let’s start in the key of E,” said the old man as he started to play and sing: “Let it rain, let it pour, let it rain a whole lot more 'Cause I got them deep river