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While unsuspectedly driving across the Rourke Bridge to take a walk along Pawtucket Boulevard this morning, I found myself in the middle of the Textile River Regatta on the Merrimack, which seems to draw competitors from colleges, high schools and rowing associations from New York to Maine.

  A Lowell team, but I’m not sure if it’s the high school or the university.

The parking was difficult and the walking was certainly tricky, weaving in and out of families, teams, dogs and long rowing craft being maneuvered by a crew, no less skillful at walking with a boat (skiff? scull? shell?) on their shoulders than when rowing it along the river.  Still, I was pleased to have my daily walk so enlivened. Meanwhile, out on the water, in a manner incomprehensible to the layperson, slender craft were skimming along or maneuvering into position, paddles flashing in perfect time, the coordinated boats and uniforms making colorful statements of intent.  Hard to tell which teams were which and who was racing whom and in what direction – still those concerned seemed to know what they were doing.  I can never see a crew match without being thankful that the Lowell High crew team was NOT cut in 2003, when so many programs, staff and services were lost from the school budget.  It’s great that an urban high school can offer its students the opportunity to participate in Crew, and sure enough, the hard-working Lowell High crew parents were on hand, selling concessions, and the team was ready to row.

I bought Soul Catcher as a perfect gift for my older brother who I never know what to get. I thought he’d like it because he’s interested in the Civil War and the protagonist was the type of manly man who would appeal to him. You know: the gun-touting, fighting kind of tough guy with a double dose of macho and guts. What I didn’t expect was that once I started reading it—just a few pages to determine its flavor—I couldn’t put it down. I actually stayed up one night reading until the wee hours because I got so caught up in the story, I simply had to know what happened next. Of course, now I’m wondering if I can still give the book as a gift since it’s been used. Be that as it may, for more about Soul Catcher by Michael White, check here.