Before I am awake Frank has dipped in the pool nearing dawn. When I go down, he is in a very excited mood––guess what happened! he said and I wondered if he was about to to make a joke or trick. Our friend was awake and had been down before me, and I thought, no it’s not a joke, something exciting has happened. I was stung! By a scorpion, he said. Very excitedly he recounted his experience. Getting out of the pool, picking up the towel, drying himself and stinging feeling in his groin, and there, on the ground, the scorpion. He crushed it dead. Our friend, a P.A. by training, reassured him. We did the research quickly that scorpion stings are not deadly, and, most likely, it would swell a bit, but nothing serious. Frank said, it’s exciting! This has never happened to me before! Indeed, not. Thank goodness. We were all happy to be reassured as he seemed to be just fine and went off to play tennis in the hot bright morning. Relieved, I went for my walk to the beach. I found a cheerful pink shell in the sand. I watched the surfers, walked a long way, found a place to sit for my meditation. I walked home wondering when some writing might flow in me again. The casa was empty and quiet and still and inviting. I sat down by the pool and found myself interested in thinking about a poem. What to work on for Monday night’s workshop? I tackled a poem I brought there two weeks ago about a morning swim in Farm Pond. Felt I improved it. Felt glad to know I will have something and will go Monday night from here. A lovely moment, mid-day, in the casa: we have five of us here now. We all at the same time decide to take a siesta. Everyone find their spot of perfect rest.