Timing is everything: a rescue mission

Was it the spirit of Marjorie Bayersdorfer that led us to Pennypack Trust at the exact perfect moment? Who knows why we dilly and dally, how we decide to go to a particular place and then leave when it's time to go.

My goal was to entertain Sarah and show her the beauty of the emerald green suburbs on her whirlwind visit with her Pennsylvania kin. First I took her to The Secret Garden, part of The Lord's New Church in Bryn Athyn where a wooden gate with a cut-out symbol of some sort of cross actually swung open at our approach as if inviting us inside.

The pond was overgrown with yellow-flowered cedum. A white fountain with cupid-like figures seemed to stop gushing as if waiting to be turned on again.

Marvelous iris and daisies and tiny shrubs grew wild all around it as if awaiting a gardener and his trowel to pick up where he last left off. Benches seemed to ask us to sit down and contemplate the tranquility of the garden and take a huge bite out of life, a golden sandwich.

I picked up a few fallen branches and tossed them in a pile to neaten up the place.

Then we headed for Pennypack Trust where I wanted to show Sarah my favorite view: Raytharn Farm. They made up the name Raytharn after the founders of Bryn Athyn - Raymond and Theodore Pitcairn. We went into the Barn which Sarah remembered as a kid. A group were huddled together talking very seriously. Some words they used were:

Lake, turtle, fishing line, tangled, what are we gonna do.

Here's what the Demings did about it.

Sarah and Scott went down to the pond. Scott stood on the deck with two other virile muscular handsome hairy men while Sarah waded in the water in her jeans, T-shirt and shoes to protect her feet. She waded in the water about 15 feet, hands held in the air, water up to her waist, and then picked up a calmly thrashing turtle who'd gotten tangled in some fishing wire.

Bringing it to the overhanging pier, she handed the turtle to the virile men who in an amazing operation turned Mr. T upside down and removed the fish hook from his claw. After handing him back to Sarah, she gently put him back in the water and watched him swim away.

We all applauded our teamwork and I handed Sarah a towel. I always keep a towel and my bathing suit in the trunk in case I find a place to swim or save turtles.