Quality of the Air

Last week's heat exploded in a series of storms that set fires, blew circuits and knocked at least one radio station off the air for a few minutes. I was in the car when Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony suddenly went to static. 

But the result is a welcome bout of cool air, especially up here in Maryland where the family has gathered for a week of hiking, kayaking and hanging out.

For me, it's also time to ponder the quality of air that makes this corner of the state a special place. It's not just cooler and clearer but, at 2,000 feet of elevation, it's closer to heaven, too.