Now that I am the only one living in my home
I seem to have times when my feet start to shuffle and my hand starts feeling
for the steering wheel and I just feel like I must GET OUT of the house. I am
sure the feeling is all in my head, but never the less I start to get nervous
and MUST be on the go.
Well recently I have got into the habit of
grabbing the newspaper and going over to the Duck Park to read it. I have my
morning Diet Coke, read the paper and watch the “goings on” while I feed the
ducks.
Of course if you go to the Duck Park you
would think it would be to feed the ducks, Right? That is not so in many cases.
Even though it is called the Duck Park, it is much more than that. It is what
you might call a multi-faceted, or an all purpose urban Park. We started taking
our kids there many years ago, then we took our grandkids and now there is JUST
ME. Of course I will not fit on the slides or the monkey bars.
Now in one short venture there I see a lot
of things that I did not notice when I was taking my family there, many years
ago. I see families, some obviously multi-generational. I see single people of
all ages (why are some kids 6-9 years old there by themselves, with no
parents?) It is interesting to watch the people and their activities, even
though I don’t do much but sit and read and watch. It seems like one of the
favorite activities is for the children (all ages) to chase the ducks and try
to catch them—right under the sign that says, “Unlawful to hunt or interfere
with any wildlife.” The thing I do not like the most is the people who bring
their dogs to walk them, and as soon as they let them out of the car they run
over and (do their job) right in front of the sign that says. “All dogs must be
on a leash & please clean up after your dogs.”
Of course there is always a group kicking a
soccer ball around and having a great time. Then there are the “worker bees”,
putting food on the table and setting up play pens. It usually looks like a Mom
& Dad. They are hustling about trying not to step on or knock down the
toddlers who seem to be ever present under their feet, unless they are in a
high chair or a stroller propped up so they can watch the action.
Several times I have been there when there
is a young guy or gal sitting off in one corner of the park with a guitar. I
usually wonder what he is singing and what he or she is playing and why he or
she is alone when almost everyone else is with at least one other person or
else a group of people. He and I are the loners I guess, and I am pretty sure
it is for different reasons.
Well what usually happens on one of my trips
to the DUCK PARK, is my big task of finishing the newspaper, watching the
people and feeding the ducks. It is then time for lunch so I am off to get a burger
or home to make a sandwich or perhaps a bowl of dog food (This is a private
joke in the family.) This is not a typical everyday happening but it seems to
happen quite frequently.
I am sure I could read the paper at home,
but at THE DUCK PARK I get to watch the interaction of the people as well and I
enjoy that.
W.R.
Baldwin May 2015
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