Monday, July 02, 2018

Gunpowder

My favorite activity of the summer thus far has been taking the kids swimming and frolicking in the Gunpowder river, which is about 20 minutes from our house.  We first went on Saturday morning, when it was just us and one other family hanging out there.  Then tonight the Jeanners and I decided that there would be time after dinner for a family outing there.  Tonight there were about 75 other folks there.  We seem to prefer a spot that must be some sort of unposted Hispanic swimming hole, because everytime we go there, we seem to be the only native English speakers there.  I kind of enjoy it that way.  I always think of this Carl Sandburg poem when I'm there:


Happiness

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell
    me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of
    thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though
    I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along
    the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with
    their women and children and a keg of beer and an
    accordion.