I went on a long walk a couple of days ago. There’s a long, tree-covered walkway that spans most of the distance between the main part of a park and where I live that takes 30 minutes or so to walk through. It was one of those salient walks where the number of details I remember far surpasses my average—perhaps because I’d been cooped up inside during a heatwave for a week. But nevertheless little moments continue to resurface even days later and, before they inevitably fade, I am capturing them here. Perhaps you will enjoy them too.
I truly cannot overstate how much joy this brought me. Most of the conversations I overheard were about business business business or bad partners or workplace stress. But then I walked past a family with a young daughter. And right as I passed by the mom was asking what she wanted to do next and if she’d like to look at bugs. And of course the daughter could not refuse that offer. And the dad started giving her tips about where to look on the ground and around the roots of the tree. I was alarmed by how strongly I considered asking if I could look for bugs too. But then I remembered… I’m an adult with free will. And what do you know I started looking at the bottom of every tree I passed by as I continued (I was already looking at the trunks and am now regretting not taking some photographs but there’s always next time).
Then there was the older gentleman parked on a bench and strumming his guitar. As I was walking past, I was abruptly greeted by an affront on all senses—a leaf blower. You know how it is, diesel smell, small particles flying at your face, and of course the noise. The man continued strumming some approximations of songs, perhaps out of sheer defiance. But the real star was his small white dog. The second the leaf blower started up the dog became inconsolable. I think it was speaking for all of us humans who are too polite to scream out in disdain (we’re living in a society or whatever). Never have I been so pleased by the sound of a dog incessantly barking.
ty for reading love you always <3 and I hope you take an extra long look at a tree or some fun bugs!