Calm Water

One hot summer afternoon a young boy of 12 and his companion were given the task of of paddling an aluminum canoe across a cold lake in upstate New York. The two skinny kids from the city had little experiences in large bodies of water or fast flowing streams, had practiced and felt confident. Off they went. As they returned they were told to swamp the canoe some distance from shore and paddle it in full of water. They were completing a test to see if they could handle the canoes alone there at scout camp. Those were my first experiences in a canoe. I have loved them since.



Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes - every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man. Orison Swett Marden