On Sunday, we had another wonderful time up in Lenox. We left early, around 6:30, with home-made breakfasts in the car beside us, and did the long but very pleasant drive up into the Berkshires. (See photo below.) We arrived around 9:00, leaving us plenty of time to take a fast walk up and down some of the hills near the village, and then to sit in the shade with some coffee and watch the comings-and-goings of Sunday in a small New England town. There was an arts and crafts sale happening in a nearby park, so we wandered over there and visited a few booths. Soon, we picked up out lunches at Shots Cafe, and then drove to Tanglewood, where we settled under a huge tree, our favorite spot for lunch with views of the spreading hills in the distance. The music, of course, was spectacular, as always at Tanglewood. Joshua Bell played the Mendelssohn violin concerto, such a smooth and graceful piece of music, and the other pieces were just as inspiring. 

. . . . the lovely road to the Berkshires

. . . clouds above Lenox

. . . the view from our picnic spot at Tanglewood

Yesterday, we took a long and adventurous bike ride through the village of Groton Long Point. Cia led the way, pausing now and then to check her map, and it turned out to be (for me) a perfect workout -- tiring, but not too much, and lots of varied sights along the way. 

I've been loving, lately, my reading of two great books: Henry Fielding's Tom Jones and Wordsworth's The Prelude. I have Audible recordings of both, and it is delightful to listen to the polished actors read the words as I follow along in the books. I'm especially inspired by Wordsworth's long poem, one I have read a number of times, but not in the last many years. The paperback I'm using has lots of my notes from previous readings, plus -- and I had forgotten this -- the book was given to me as a gift by one of my college classes at the end of the semester, and each student had written a note in the inside cover. Wow! Such good memories brought back!

My Poem for Today

LIKE ENDLESS, SPLENDID, WELL-MADE MOUNTAIN TOPS

(about Shay M., 22, Blessings, CT.)

He sometimes works so hard to feel safe,

so hard that he can’t see the oldest truth,

that safety’s everywhere, even in loss

or darkest fear.  He easily forgets

that shelter waits inside of every day

and every hour, that refuge gives its gift

always and freely, that sanctuary lives

and whispers here and now and everywhere.

He thinks he has to build his safety by

himself, and doesn’t see the shield that “yes”

and selflessness always provide. Sometimes

his life seems small and open to attack,

but all the while it is vast and safe,

like endless, splendid, well-made mountain tops.

Sometimes he thinks he lives within a frightful world,

when actually he lives forever in

a sheltered, monumental harmony.