~A Late Afternoon out in Nature~ The warm afternoon sun lights up valley: the water of the creek glistens, the rocks radiate a steady heat, and the leaves of the surrounding trees twinkle as the breezes pass through their boughs. I lay down topless on boulder that has pushed itself out into the creek bed. The sound of running water fills my ears from every direction, echoing off the gentle cliffs around me. The day holds the promise of romance, and I feel myself succumbing to its pull…