Someone walked away from the bench. The sun hid behind the clouds. The river’s tide went out. Yet, it never left. Never does.

The stillness screams. It screams stark, brilliant gratitude. A lone person hears the scream, feels the solitude. The river’s tide is gentle, embracing, as it washes away the solitary chill, warmth lapping at the shore, reaching to hold solitude’s cold hand, toasting it with its hot breath — like a loving mom steaming her child’s frosty little fingers.

The lone person returns to the lonely bench, the hot breath beckoning, knowing that fitting into this picture, nature’s family, is the most natural state of all. Symbiosis. Keeping company. Loved. Cozy again. Always welcomed. Always taken in, warmed, held tight by the river that never leaves.

Take the chill out and let the Rumson riverfront on the Navesink take you in … (Click on one photo to enlarge and scroll.)

With the winter bite, there’s some snow in the weather forecast this week. See this week’s weather from the National Weather Service …

• In Memoriam: Fair Haven Native, Fire Company Auxiliary Life Member, Trish Connor DePonti, 73
• Focus: A Night Out with Fair Haven’s Finest
• Retro ‘Night Out’ Mayoral Dunkin’
• Scene Around: River Rats Reunited; Sailing on in Mayor’s Cup
• In Memoriam: Fair Haven-Raised RFH ’85 Grad, Ellen Golembeski Davis, 59