This morning I sat in the grass in the shade.

I sat in the grass, by a lake in a state which wasn’t my own.

My legs were weary, my shoulders were sore, my feet were blistered and pained, the rest of my body was raw from exertion, and my mental state lethargic from a severe lack of sleep.

I sat placidly, as a bumble bee spun, buzzed, and whirred around me.  I maintained my calm as it drew close enough for me to see the detail in the black and yellow fuzzy hairs on its body, as it made its delicate approach toward my skin.  I stayed perfectly still as it tickled the hairs on my legs with its inquisitive crawling.

I looked out to the lake and saw the frolicking families splashing in the roped off enclosure.  Some were batting around an under-inflated beach ball.  Some, shoving double-handfuls of dark green lake water towards their relatives. Some, casually dunking themselves to escape the unrelenting heat of the sun.  Some, standing waist deep in the rippling water, staring off at an unknown point, wondering how they ended up in this lake, at that particular moment, in this time.

I gazed at the undulating mirror of water, and the bright yellow rays of sunlight shimmering off its surface. I drank in the cool, refreshing, uncommercialized air of the beautiful state park.  I breathed in notes of pine, and crisp grass, and fresh green leaves.  I absorbed the feeling of almost-summer, and it brought to me a sense of clarity.

I took all of this in, and raised my eyes to the serene, powder blue sky, when all of these sensations coalesced into one thought.

I’m really glad things worked out this way.

Humbly yours,

J