guest coluMn column River Magic Chris Arvidson is co-editor of the recent book "Reflections on the New River: New Essays, Poems and Personal Stories." She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from Goucher College. by Chris Arvidson Rivers, oh rivers. They fascinate me. It's true that water in general always seems to garner my attention, but I think rivers are at the very heart of the Chris Arvidson: "I always primitive relationwanted to follow that creek by my house all the ship we humans have way to-wherever." with water. They roll and eddy and dance tercraft in bright and jump and splutyellows and blues ter and teem. They and reds. crash and scamper A river will run and dredge. They are right by you, right mighty and indusin front of you, trious and tiny and delight- and then just disappear. ful. They sport giant gray Sit on the banks of a rivand black barges, and they More attract tiny individual wa50 BlueRidgeCountry.comhttp://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com