Summer Morning: Still Waters at Prince Gallitzin

Since we had such a late evening of it, my husband and I spent the night at my mother-in-law's place in the Johnstown area. You know how it is sometimes when you stay at someone else's house: I can't say we were having a great night's sleep.

And then, around 4 a.m., her little phone, which was lying on a table near the couch where we slept, began to speak. "BATTERY . . . LOW!" it proclaimed loudly; "MAIN SCREEN!!!" It said it again. And again. And again.

My husband grabbed the little phone and took it to another room, and placed it under a pillow, where it stayed until we all got up. But our night's sleep was pretty much ruined. I can't say I slept much after that. Darn you, little phone!

On the plus side, we were up and out of the house and on our way well before 8 a.m, which allowed us to have a very fine morning swim at Prince Gallitzin State Park, the place where my husband and I enjoyed our first kiss, in a canoe, some 33 years ago.

The swimming area is off to the left of the photo I've posted above. While the water was bathtub-warm, we still enjoyed our swim. The water was very, very still, and the tree reflections were quite fine indeed.

A song for still, reflective waters: Emmylou Harris, with Beneath Still Waters.