I spent a delightful hour down in the park this morning, around 6:00 am, simply walking up and down beside the pond. There was almost no one else there, just a few lone walkers now and then, and I enjoyed the silence and solitude. I quietly paced back and forth in the cool morning air, letting thoughts come slowly and naturally. It reminded me of my old days in the seminary, when solitude was a wonderful everyday gift. Later in the morning, I came back to the park and did some reading, sitting under an enormous beech tree which spread its shade far and wide. (See picture.) A few strolling families came along now and then, taking pleasure in the lovely morning, but I still felt happily alone. Relaxing in utter peacefulness in my blue lawn chair, I read a chapter from Dombey and Son and a few pages of Wordsworth’s Prelude.