Flash Fiction 2019.11.07 – No Water, No Walk in Life
November 7, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes Water Walkers. It does not have to be in the Anishinaabe tradition; in fact, it would be more interesting to see interpretations from across all nations and walks. It can be a title or used as a phrase. Go where the prompt leads!
Josephine is a respected Anishinaabe elder from Canada who began walking around Lake Superior in 2003 to raise awareness and to pray for the water. She carried in her hands a copper pail that contained lake water. When she took a break, she would lie on her stomach embracing mother earth. Then she would resume her journey.
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world. The shoreline is well over 2,500 miles. Grandmother Josephine wanted to call attention to care for our water. After all, Lake Superior contains about 20% of all the earths fresh water.
By the time her final river walk started in April 2017, there were over a thousand participants all together. She and a group of Water Walkers left from Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minnesota. In 97 days, they followed the southern shoreline of Lake Superior, then the North and Eastern shores of Lake Huron. They then followed the northern shore of Lake Erie. After a stop at Niagara Falls, they followed the northern shore of Lake Ontario to Matane, Quebec Canada, where the Saint Lawrence River connects through the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the Labrador Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. In total, over little more than three months, they traveled 3,197 miles and over 6,394,000 footsteps for the Water. Grandmother Josephine announced that she was retiring after that walk and urged the next generation to pick up the copper vessel and carry on what she started.
Note: Josephine Mandamin passed away on February 22nd, 2019, at the age of 77.
https://www.wxpr.org/post/water-walker-josephine-mandamin#stream/0
No Water, No Walk in Life
“Dad, what is the most powerful of the five elements of nature? Metal, wood, water, fire or earth?”
“If you were deserted in an island, or a drifting boat in an ocean, what is one thing you need to survive?”
“You made a point. I guess it’s water.”
“A human can be without food for more than three weeks, but he can only go without water for a week.”
“Lost at sea could drink seawater.”
“Seawater contains salt higher than human can process and makes us thirstier.”
“Only fresh water helps us survive then.”
“You got it, Son.”
Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge: 2019.11.07 – No Water, No Walk in Life
The Showers of Blessings 
amazing Thank you for sharing
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You’re welcome, Anjum!
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And I am the next generation who picked up and carried that vessel of water, and you are, too. You wrote about Grandma Josephine and took her call to words and shared her impact. Thank you, Miriam.
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We must stop the pollution and any waste to contaminate the water for sure.
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An important lesson in your story, Miriam. And thanks so much for sharing the history of Josephine and the Water Walkers.
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Diana, I spinned off from Charlie’s story and learned something also.
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The Water of Life keeps us going! Very nicely done!
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Exactly, Dwight. Thank you!
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Great story, Miriam, and spiritual too. What an amazing tradition Josephine started and passed on to generations to come.
miriam
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Thank you for reading, Miriam. I appreciate your poems, they’re so inspirational!
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A lovely story Miriam.
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I all choked up to read the first story. Thank you, Peter!
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Great story….there are many envious eyes on the Great Lakes.
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I can understand. I didn’t know it contains 20% of fresh water in the world. We must protect the Great Lakes!
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Here is an interesting article from May 2018 on the subject. http://www.startribune.com/the-great-siphoning-drought-stricken-areas-eye-the-great-lakes/483743681/
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Thank you, Michael. I’ll read more about the Great Lake.
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Thanks for telling us the story of Grandmother Josephine, Miriam. I enjoyed your flash too. It carries a strong message.
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Thank you for reading, Norah. I have health issue, went to ER for serious acute allergy reaction. I need some rest. Next week I’ll help my daughter move to a new home. Hope to check out your blog in between!
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Oh, Miriam. That doesn’t sound pleasant. Look after yourself. I hope you make a quick recovery. Are you sure you should be helping your daughter move. Don’t worry about my blog. It won’t go anywhere. I don’t want you to go anywhere either. Get well soon. 💖
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Yes, I’m sure. She goes overseas to see her dad with cancer. She has many things on her plate. I’m getting better now after the appointment with my family doctor, easier to do follow up.💖
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That’s good, Miriam. Look after yourself.
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I will, thank you, Norah. Doc said it takes 3 to 6 months to heal, but I’m going to see a specialist.
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Good idea – a second opinion and a specialist is always a good option.
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Yes, I’m waiting to see him.
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I wish you good news.
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Thank you, Norah.
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Two great pieces of flash fiction, enjoyed them both moving
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Thank you! Charli’s prompt led me to learn about Josephine!
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Welcome
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🤗💖
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A great idea for this prompt, Miriam.
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Thank you, Robbie! Charli had a great prompt!
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