Central Pennsylvania Beach Scene

The weather was to be hot and sunny, and my husband and I decided to go swimming at Bald Eagle State Park. The last time we'd been there, the water was as clean as we'd ever seen it. We packed up our stuff, stopped for gas and tacos, headed for the park.

I'd made a great big mess out of my taco, for it felt like it weighed about a pound and was full of chopped vegetables. I tried to hold it on my lap, but it resisted, and suddenly, there was diced tomato raining down onto everything. Onto my shirt. Onto my shorts. Onto the car seat. I could barely finish the first one. Tucked the second one away for later. Headed for the restroom to wash myself down. Told a lady there I'd been bested by a taco, but I'd learned my lesson: not to try to eat tacos in the car.

The truth of the matter is that when it gets hot like this, I sometimes have difficulty eating. We often end up eating in the car, but it seems I may have to rethink that strategy. I couldn't finish my hoagie about two weeks ago in the car because I was too hot; that's the real reason why I hopped out of the car and went over and got to photograph those water snakes mating. It was a win for me, though, in that I got to see something rather rare and bizarre and interesting. I do my best to turn my weakness into opportunity.

Anyway, I figured I'd come clean on all of that because it's really weird to be someone who feels this way. It's happened to me in prior summers. I just suddenly turn my nose up at things. You'd think I'd lose weight but somehow I never do. And I can't tell until it's time to eat if I can eat or not, if it's hot. It embarrasses me; sometimes frustrates my husband, who is the chief cook at our house.

I share all of this to say - it was a day that was nice in many ways but it had its challenges. So when we ended up by the lake, it was pleasant and breezy there, and it didn't feel as hot as everywhere else. And when I finally got in the water . . . ahhhhh. It was not nearly as clean as last time, but it was cool enough to help me.

Into the water I went, and I began to feel more myself again. I felt hope return to me. I began to think of the future. I actually FELT the sparkle return to my own eyes. Suddenly, I was me again! I was happy. And after I swam, I took an ice cold outdoor shower. I held my head under the frigid shower water until I had an ice cream headache. It felt good, though. I needed that.

So here is a scene from the beach where I swam, where the water revived me and brought me back to myself, back to my senses. I hope that if you are someone who loves the heat, that you are enjoying summertime. If you are someone who does not, I wish you refuge. For me, that means a return to water. The colder, the better. If I look like I'm swooning, toss me in, for that is where I will be revived.

As for my soundtrack tune . . . I came across this song a week or so ago and loved it. I ordered two of her CDs and it was all because of this song, which I'm putting here. I think if you listen, you will understand why I love it. Here is Alice Di Micele, with Made Out of Water.