October 21, 2026
To: Jesus Mora, Los Angeles
From: Stephen Brown, Comfort Island
Dear Jesus,
Dear Jesus,
Tonight, I took the small Lyman across the River to Wellesley Island for dinner with friends. It was a beautiful evening. The sun was setting, the sky was brilliant orange, and the water seemed to change color every few minutes.
I've crossed this channel thousands of times, and tonight, as I watched the water moving past the boat, I got to thinking about the power of the River and how it affects us.
This summer you had the chance to visit me here at Comfort Island and experience, firsthand, the beauty of the St. Lawrence River. You know the power of pushing your body beneath the surface and feeling the water surround and transform you.
My sister Regan believes that the St. Lawrence River water is magical. Once you slide into it and feel the comfortable, softness of the water, and then dunk your head beneath the waves, you will have been “baptized.” Once in, you will ALWAYS find a reason to come back.
There may be something to her theory.
My friends, Matt, Daniel and Julian are testament to that. They came in July and needed to return this month….to jump naked once more into the waters, despite its very chilly temperature.
My mother subscribed to the same notion. One week after I was born, she brought me north to dip me into the River. This is my home. It will always be. I think it, in some way, makes me who I am.
Many people who live up here get exactly what I’m trying to say here.
Which brings me back to tonight.
I went across the river to Wellesley Island and River Oaks to have dinner with my friends Jane and Kevin Hefron. John McConnell from Cuba Island attended and so did Marlene and Cyril Mouaikel from Washington Island. The evening started with cocktails and conversations about religion, money and politics. It was a third rail series of topics all around.
Now this may seem crazy, but the conversation was rational, thoughtful and forward thinking. We were folks from all political stripes…and by that, I’m a very left leaning fellow…and the other guests were not.
And I’m going out on a limb here, but I lay our conviviality and consensus squarely at the feet of the River.
John said, “The River has power because it is moving, as opposed to a lake.”
Cyril said, “It connects us.”
The River binds us. We all swim in it. We all drink from it. We all love it. That’s what brings us together to the point that we can have rational conversations around more difficult topics…because we can all return to our love of that one thing that brings us together.
As I took the boat back across the river to Comfort, I got to thinking, as we head into a very tough election. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the country could do that as well?
Jesus, I’m so glad you were able to come east and experience the River. Hope the kids at school aren’t driving you crazy.
Stephen