This day was like the best gift you’ve ever gotten.

For one thing: the wind wasn’t blowing. Those of you who are lucky enough to live in “normal” climates, where the wind is “gentle” and “soft” and “refreshing” probably don’t appreciate that as much as do those of us who live where the wind blows almost all the damn time. This day was so calm that it almost didn’t even seem real.

Another other thing was that almost every other time I’ve been here, it’s been packed with people. But this day, this calm and warm and peaceful day, was quiet: there were fewer than five other people in the whole place. (And three of them were scuba divers and were under water it’s almost like they don’t count..)

And that water! Oh, that crystal water.

Balmorhea State Park
Toyahvale, Texas
photographed 1.14.2023