Berkeley Plantation on the Potomac. I’ve spent some serene hours on its front lawn contemplating the river. There’s no one there. No mayors, no presidents. It’s heaven.
Having an odd afternoon. Listening to Rostropovich. Watching Raebert sleep. My wife put carrots in his bowl this morning because they were left over from the stew. Here’s what he did with them.
A deerhound protest.
As I said, an odd day. My wife is bringing me a nice corned beef sandwich.
Heard a guy on SportsTalk this morning declaring that you know you’re married to your soulmate when after 10 or 20 years you still get excited at seeing her after a day at work. I do. Even without the sandwich.
So I guess it’s a good day. But I’ve never taken her to the Berkeley Plantation. Which is not full of tourists. Just a house on the river where you can sit and feel peaceful. My bad.
Hopefully, we have more time ahead of us. Though we’re both sad about the young’uns. So much time ahead for them and so little curiosity, so little fever to know more than they do. We spent some hours last night reminiscing about our educations, arguing about Latin, and we were both so happy that we’d gone to school when you could still get an education. We compared notes, teachers, courses. Hard times. Good times. Then we remembered the sorry plight of those who came after. Sappy curricula, propaganda instead of tutelage in thought and knowledge. And we grew sad. We have grandchildren who know virtually nothing. And children who don’t seem aware that their kids know nothing.
But we remain soulmates. We held hands and fussed about each other’s legs and knees. Enough for us. But it doesn’t do a damn thing for you. Think about it. In the meantime we’re just taking in the view.
Now just hit reverse view on your iPhone and see the river from the lawn. You can do that can’t you? Sure you can. You’re the smartphone generation. Hum the Mozart to yourselves. Louder than the ringsound.
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A beautiful place but I think we have our own piece of heaven right here. Nothing can match our view of the night sky.
And nothing is better than being greeted so warmly when I return home.
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A small change: Berkeley is on the James River, as are several plantations between Richmond and Williamsburg. All lovely. A real treat to get away is to continue southeast on Rt. 5 and take the free Jamestown to Scotland ferry across the James, then drive to Chippokes state park, where there is a hiking trail that takes you down to the James right onto a beach. I do a lot of thinking there too.
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You’re right. James River. Thanks for the correction.
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