A Symmetrical State

O. Hi. O.

I visited my first Dayton MetroPark yesterday -- Carriage Hills Farm in Huber Heights. It's a preserved late 1800s farm, and if you get there between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., you can help with chores.

Of course, I assiduously made sure I did not get there until about 3 p.m. Whatever assiduously means.

It's lush and pretty and smells good and I tramped one of the walking trails. They're color-coded and range from .7 miles to 3.4 miles. I chose the 1.5-miler, mainly because as I was driving to the park, I was informed by a radio announcer that there was a tornado watch in effect. Much as I love wild weather, I did not want to be caught in the path of a tornado.

For those of you who have never had to worry about a tornado, here's what you do if one comes at you, according to the 90-ish volunteer handing out pamphlets at the park:

Find a depression in the ground, or the lowest point around. Lie face down. Try to become one with the earth. Hope that the tornado jumps over you.

I didn't find it necessary to fling myself into a depression, thank heaven, because I like ticks almost as much as I like tornados. I still shook two ticks out of my hair back at the hotel.

Today I shall explore one or two of the other MetroParks. If I can tear myself away from this computer!