Fourth of July

My good friend Paula and I are trying to establish a new Tanglewood Fourth of July tradition - sneaking onto Tanglewood's beach after dark and swimming out to the floating platform with dry towels and bottles of wine held over our heads. We did it last year with our friends Deborah, John and Daniel; this year the crew was Eammon (Paula's boyfriend), Lance, Sarah, and Peter. After an 80-degree day, the lake water is delightful; it's the getting out of the water that hurts! But that's what the towels were for (and the wine!). After a brief swim, we sat on the platform and watched the fireworks going off around the lake. At one point, when the Twd fireworks were going off behind us, I turned towards the lake and saw a solitary sailboat. There was enough breeze for a very easy sail, and they must have had the best view for fireworks. Then it was time to brave the water once more and head home. We all agreed that in addition to being a 4th of July tradition, night swims on the Stockbridge Bowl should be regualr events at Tanglewood. I'll see what I can do about that...