The Nature Coast

 

We all know that if you try to return to a place you remember from the past it won’t be the same as you remember it. That’s especially true if you return right after a hurricane. Crystal River is a beautiful place where Mark’s family moved in 1971. Floridians call this area the Nature Coast. Mark went to middle school and part of high school here. It seemed like a tropical paradise to his family when they moved from Pennsylvania. It’s here that Mark learned to swim and water ski. His Dad bought a boat and the family took up saltwater fishing. They joined a country club and he learned to golf and play tennis. There was no way we felt like we could do a nostalgic Florida trip without a visit to Crystal River, even after Mark heard from old classmates, on social media, that the area had experienced serious flooding with hurricane Helene. We were encouraged that the campground where we had reservations, on the Chassahowitzka River, still welcomed campers despite damage to their office and camp-store. Our walk down memory lane hasn’t been exactly what we planned but we’re glad we didn’t change course. The house Mark’s family lived in was flooded but our drive-by showed that the current owners are already working hard to restore it. His old middle school wasn’t impacted by the storm but the only thing that hasn’t been altered about the school he remembers are the moss covered oak trees lining the street where he walked home from school. The roller rink where he learned to shoot pool wearing skates is gone. The movie theater where coming of age meet ups occurred has been repurposed. But the crystal clear springs are still here. The manatees and brown pelicans are still here. And the memories of so many valued moments are still here.