My high school backed up onto levee near the American River. It never occurred to me that the levee was unusual, that not all rivers had 8-10 feet levees running near their banks. But, in California, much is exaggerated and extreme. The levees, designed for flood control, kept the developed lowlands from being inundated by heavy rain storms. But it provided a great attractive hazard. Why go to class, when you could disappear over the levee?
My husband and I both attended that high school (see Prose Essay #7 on 6/7/7) and we went back for a visit during our trip to California last month. Dennis mentioned that 'over the levee' counted for a big part of his high school experience. We arrived just at the time that school let out and we walked around freely. In general, the school looked much better than it did 12 years ago. Not run down and in disrepair, nice plantings, some tables and a general good level of activity. But as we strolled through, Dennis knew that he would have to go back up and over the levee.
In the picture, he's standing on top of the levee, it drops off at a fairly steep angle just to his right. A bike and walking trail inside the levee now runs along the river. The actual American River flows beyond the trees. Always a wild place outside the suburban civilization so close by, 'over the levee' provided a haven for teens looking for alternatives. But, it could also harbor danger.
Note the bright yellow California light.
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