The Woods were alive this morning with the sound of music. I took a less-trodden path and saw one of my favorite haunts full of picnic goods but no picnickers. I traveled on toward the cabins and lodge. The sound of laughing and water splashing told me folks staying in the cabins enjoyed the swimming pool.

As I entered I heard an old man say that they used to tell him if he was hungry let’s go to work. As I departed the lodge he was inspecting the wood door frames.

My colleagues across the state loved Giant City State Park. When SIUC hosted our meetings it was a holiday for them. The woodland beauty is compelling. The peace of listening as trees sway in the wind is intoxicating.

A Black Bear has been sighted 3 miles from my house. They are common in the Great Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Perhaps they are like the armadillo who resided in Texas but migrated to Southern Illinois. Now you see them along the side of the road regularly.

‘Join us friends,’ Benny Bear beckoned. ‘We are going to have a fine July Feast,’ Benny B continued. ‘You see our friends have prepared much food and the tables groan under the weight of the Horn of Plenty,’
Benny observed.

‘How did you carry all the prepackaged guilty pleasures,’ Billy B asked? ‘There are beer cookies Oscar Mayer Weiners and Charles Chips among the enjoyments,’ Billy B laughed.

‘Bobby and Belinda told me of the picnic and the food left for us by some lovely humans,’ Benny said with a wide toothy smile. ‘It seems they were in a hurry to leave,’ he noted. ‘I hope they return as they left their shoes behind,’ Benny said as he chomped an Oscar Mayer Weiner directly from the plastic wrapping…