A Bridge Too Far

As usual, two days without posting means I'd left the building - or at least, the city - and spent some time decamped to the country, not my natural habitat.

Cue "Green Acres" theme song as in, "I get allergic smelling hay" (and mildew and dust and grass and...).

But fortunately it also means I finally got to walk the High Bridge Trail, a former railroad path in Farmville that stretches across the anemic-looking Appomattox River, but only after we walked three miles from the Rice Depot to get to the bridge.

Along the way, signs made it clear who trumped whom. Let me sum it up for you: horses trump everyone, basically.

Yea, sure, bicyclists had to yield to pedestrians, too, but basically, if it walks on four legs, get out of its way. Just before the bridge was a dismount station - wooden steps and platform- to allow riders to climb down with dignity. Or pose suggestively for the camera, depending on your predilections.

I only wish we'd seen a horse or two along the trail. God knows we saw enough horse poop on the ground.

The view from the bridge was impressively panoramic and with benches and a breeze, worth stopping to admire after a walk in that afforded far too little shade. Next time, the plan is to take bikes and a picnic lunch to enjoy 125 feet above the water.

The ultimate al fresco, no?

After that kind of sweating, it was time for outdoor showers under the bluest of skies before guests arrived for a birthday celebration that had been neither planned nor thought through. In other words, no birthday cake awaited us and no party games had been procured.

My solution was to pull out the croquet mallets, balls and wickets and invite the celebrants to set aside their wine glasses for a bit of recreating. Let the record show, some people were good enough players one-handed to be able to smack balls and get loopier simultaneously.

In honor of the birthday boy, the youngest in attendance, we took turns in order of age, meaning almost everyone got to play before me. My athletic competitive spirit being all but non-existent, I was just fine with that.

And while I might have game suggestions, I certainly wasn't going to bake a cake on a warm day (even a birthday), although I did come up with a pretty decent birthday dessert (if I do say so myself) on the spot: fudge brownie ice cream with crushed Fritos and a wedge of dark chocolate candy.

Fattening, easy and low-brow. What self-respecting country-dweller wouldn't dig in?

This city girl liked it just fine, even among land spreading out so far and wide. Enjoying myself so far out in the sticks all depends on the quality of the company.

Raise the Flag

Memorial Day to-do list.

Accept an invitation to the country for a day of doing nothing.

Take a walk through the woods and down to the stream, enjoying the coolness of the shade the further in we go.

Set the day's tone with screened porch music blasting serious soul: first Pandora set to Marvin Gay and then, six hours later, updated to Luther Vandross. R & B is meant for a hot afternoon.

Begin the holiday celebration with a bottle of Laurent Perrier Brut and a toast to more Memorial days. Follow with hours of music discussion, research and wonderment. The band America was formed in London? Get the hell out!

Eat like you're an American: burgers grilled over charcoal with fries cooked outside. Even the one who says he's not a ketchup person dips these fries in it. Maybe it's how well they pair with the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir we're drinking.

Set up a croquet court, toss the coin and play two games of a lawn sport I haven't played since junior high. While I won both coin tosses, I lost both games. Don't tell my father, but I am no better now than I was then.

Retire to the porch to wait out the remaining daylight in anticipation of the massive firefly display that begins just after dusk this time of year.

Watch for hours as hundreds of fireflies sparkle and dance mid-air brightly against the backdrop of a row of darkened trees that encircle the property. I have never seen so many concentrated in one place at one time. It's like nature's fireworks sans noise.

Take advantage of the '80s R & B playing with occasional slow dancing before returning to the cocoons of the chairs.

Indulge in the unique pleasures of an old favorite experienced in a new way. Musical evening closer: Neil Finn's lush brand new album, "Dizzy Heights." Pop psychedelia grandeur and goodnight.

Nailed this holiday.