My summer of state parks

In future, I will look back upon 2011 as the year that I became enamored of the State Park - and if I am not quite a convert from ocean beaches to lakes, then at least I have learned to appreciate the gentler joys of freshwater swimming.

On weekends, we have been taking the kids to Gilbert Lake State Park for swimming and playing in the dirt.



Last week, my sister and I spent a few days in Saratoga Springs on our inaugural sisters-only vacation :) We spent time walking and bathing in Saratoga Spa State Park, aka "The Public's Resort."



This past weekend, we all went to Glimmerglass State Park.

Our family's enjoyment of the parks has reminded me not only how much good it does us to enjoy water, sun, air, and earth, but also how much good We the People can do for ourselves. While walking the Hall of Springs at Saratoga Spa State Park, my sister and I noted that the buildings were constructed in 1934. If it was possible to build and even more significant to see the point of building "the public's resort" during the Great Depression, then surely we can summon the hope and imagination to build even better now - or at least not tear down what we already have.

The state parks brought to mind what my parents, who immigrated from South Korea, had said about Americans as being grandly generous.

For a $7 vehicle entry fee, you can have the run of a freshwater lake surrounded by wooded hills, with picnic tables and playgrounds (not to mention clean restrooms and a place to shower and change).

Rest and play and enjoyment ought not be reserved for individuals who can pay a premium or fly off-shore to find them. Places of rest and play and enjoyment in nature exist all around us. I am thinking that In These Economic Times, we need to fight for our right to swim and make mud pies.

On holiday: Fruits of the sea

Hmm, I wonder whether or not it is possible for humans to subsist completely on shellfish? If so, then I am interested in a Wellfleet oyster diet. Surely there must be some paleofantasy about our human ancestors to which we could attribute its evolutionary advantages?!

On this trip, we have discovered also a taste for clams - in particular, steamers cooked in Cape Cod Beer, then served with a bit of the cooking broth with butter melted in it... and littlenecks on the half shell.

Slurp.

On holiday: Postcard for Saturday

Stopped at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Our objective - and the objective, apparently, of every well-heeled, middle-aged person in western Massachusetts - was to see the exhibit, "Picasso Looks at Degas."

Beanie and Bubbie were likely the youngest viewers in the museum, but I suspect that StraightMan and I might have been the youngest adults there.

However, Beanie has been interested in Degas since her spring ballet recital, which was titled "Degas." She was enthralled. Delightful company for strolling the show! I learned a lot as we walked around and looked at the paintings and sculptures.

Bubbie also took interest. His voice bouncing around the atrium: "I WANT TO SEE ART!" He took the stairs without waiting for us. Then he changed his mind: "THE BEACH IS WAITING FOR ME!" StraightMan finally coaxed him into seeing art. I tried a few mommy-tricks, like asking him to talk about the colors - lots of blue...

Then, standing in front of "Nude Wringing Her Hair," I asked Bubbie to count the number of triangles. "NO. I SEE CIRCLES HERE AND HERE! I LIKE THE CIRCLES! CIRCLES ARE MY FAVORITE!"

Art and the three-year-old boy.