And I Am Telling You You're Not Going

If you hope to visit the Sandhill Cemetery or put your boat in at the Upper Greens Run launch area at Bald Eagle State Park, I am here to tell you you're not going: the waters are still high from last week's heavy rains, the road is flooded, and the gate is closed down by the main road.

I had two vacation days scheduled to deal with some house stuff (this is part of how you know that you're an adult: when you schedule actual vacation days from work just to deal with homeowner responsibilities). The commitments, while important, were actually just to be Monday morning and Tuesday morning. So that left us with much of the day to spend however we chose.

And so around noon on Monday, we grabbed a pair of hoagies at Bonfatto's in Bellefonte and made our way to Bald Eagle State Park. We hadn't decided in advance which part of the park to hike in, but I suggested the old Sandhill Cemetery on the hill. We hadn't been there in a while and it is a lovely place, full of Civil War-era tombstones, a picturesque spot, very peaceful.

But we didn't make it there on this day because the road was impassable, as you can see. For beneath all that water somewhere is the road. And even with water shoes, you might not have made it; I suspect it might have required actual swimming to get across. There is a bridge in the middle of this picture but it won't be much use, as it is flooded out.

And so we hiked up on the hill and spent some time there instead. The woods are that wonderful shade of spring green that is so baby-green that it is almost unbelievable. May apples are in bloom all along the side of the hill. And so we had a lovely time, in spite of not getting to go where we had planned to. But isn't that life? Making the most of each and every twist and turn in the plot; enjoying the moment in spite of the fact that you didn't end up exactly where you planned or maybe even hoped. But maybe you ended up somewhere just as fine, and unexpected, anyway.

A word to the wise as we approach the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend: if you are in central Pennsylvania or thereabouts, and you are planning to go somewhere low-lying or next to a major water source, you just might want to call first to make sure that they're open and that the roads are passable. Otherwise, you may be just like me and find your path diverted by high waters; and if that's the case, I am telling you you're not going . . .

The song: Jennifer Hudson, And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going, from the soundtrack to the film Dreamgirls.