Warm Wednesday at the River

 A dropped ball, a clean riverbank, a quiet car ride, and a dog grinning her way through the heat.

A Warm Wednesday at the River

I walked down to the river this afternoon, ball in hand — or so I thought. Turns out I dropped it back at the park entrance while picking up dog dirt. That’s the kind of distraction the river has on me; once I’m headed toward the water, everything else fades out. Someone had left a pair of socks on the riverbank, so I tossed them in the garbage on my way through, trying to keep the place a little cleaner.

Dad joined me for about an hour, and we tossed the ball once I finally realized I’d lost it and grabbed another. Dixie got her turns too, splashing in and out of the water, absolutely thrilled. She had that big dog‑grin going, brown eyes shining straight into the camera like she knew she was having a perfect day.

It hit 28°C today, warm enough that the coulee felt like the right place to be. Dixie was a surprisingly good car rider — not a single bark on the whole trip, which is rare for her. Barking in the vehicle is a no‑go, but today she rode quiet and calm, like she understood the assignment.

I brought my chair down to the river and snapped a few photos while an airplane passed overhead. Funny enough, my distant cousin was flying today, so there’s a real chance that was his plane looping over us a couple of times. A strange little connection in the middle of a simple Wednesday.

All in all, an awesome day — warm air, river water, good company, and a dog who lived her best life.

Looking out over the river, I watched Dixie running through the shallows, her paws kicking up little splashes as she chased the light. From above the bank, it felt like I was seeing the whole scene from a quieter place — just me, the water, and my dog living her best life. I even took the teeth out for the photo so I could give a proper smile, the kind that shows I’m glad for the company. It really was a wonderful day, simple and steady, the kind that settles into you in all the right ways.