Chris Offutt's The Same River Twice is a memoir written by Offutt along the banks of the Iowa River. It switches back and forth between past memories of his youth and present day worries about becoming a father. I find this very interesting, especially how different the two times of Offutt's life seem to be. The stories of his youth are written with such passion and, at times, vulgarity, where as his present day writings are much more composed and filled with concern. Presently, he seems to worry about even the simplest aspects of being a father; he writes, "Nothing has ever quite roiled me like that diaper leaking around each chubby leg..." showing his true weaknesses and concerns, a side of him that seemed non-existant in his youth. I think this drastic difference really highlights the transformation Offutt has gone through from adolescence to a married man on the brinks of fatherhood.
While this difference seems so immense, one common aspect seems apparent throughout both chapters of Offutt's life: his love for nature. The majority of his stories from his youth take place in nature, and all his present day thoughts are recorded on the banks of the river, a place where he could escape from all his problems and just reflect on life. I think this really shows that, although people may change as they age, certain aspects of ones life will always remain the same.
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