Parks in Springtime

The sun reflected on the lake’s rippling surface. In the distant glass buildings of downtown. In the sunglasses of toned joggers. In the tricycles of small children. Light played all around me. It was enjoying the first beautiful day since winter.

Just like the neighborhood kids, pedaling into the light, on a quest to find the perfect day. Running through endless forests, fighting ethereal creatures. They almost found it today.

It is days like these that one goes outside, to stroll, to sit, to meditate.

Like the grown man who had large glasses and messy dark hair. Thirty years old, he sat and sat, feeding Canadian geese as if they were his only friends. As if they were the only ones who relied on him. Just like he relied on his controlling mother who sat behind him.

Some come there to be alone.

Like the teenage girl dressed in a black hoodie, reading the latest vampiric novel. She felt the darkness seep through her, become part of her. She would sit in the light for hours, hoping all the time that some passer-by would recognize her, feel her darkness, and take her away from her non-existent life to the sunshine that was her only hope.

Some came to be with someone.

Like the only other teenagers there. Two girls who leaned on each other with such force it looked like they were drunk. They laughed and screamed. Flirted and dissed. Funny thing though: they were seeking the same thing as emo girl. Someone to care.
Families also came to relieve their children’s anguish of not being outside on such a glorious day.

A mother walked while her two daughters rode their bikes. One on training wheels, the other weaving in and out of other exercisers. “HEATHER!” “STOP!” The mother’s face turned red for some other reason than the heat, some reason I couldn’t understand.

Another family was there to enjoy each other. They wandered here and there studying everything, examining the little things. And as the little ones were trying to catch grasshoppers or climbing a tree, their Mom and Dad watched on with pleasure and awe in their faces, strolling while hugging each other, their dream realized in their beautiful children.

Various others were there for various other reasons. The homeless composers, so they could play their instruments freely, walkers who just wanted exercise and to gossip about office scandals and incompetence, rollerbladers training for the coming roller derby, couples to bask in the light, both of the sun and their love.
Park days. They bring many people out of their solitude to enjoy the pleasant days.

It forces mankind together. It forces different types of people into camaraderie.

I don’t know to what extent, but these people have something in common. They all are flesh and blood. Whatever you see on the outside, whether it be ripped jeans, or a suit and tie, they still have desires and fears. The girl reading about the Edwards and Bellas will one day become like a jog/walker, or the man feeding the geese.
Another point I have learned. Don’t take a moment, A MOMENT, for granted. This is your life. A moment to be sinful human before eternal glory. Break free from your chains that keep you from encouraging, from talking, from introducing. Do not let this meaningless barrier prevent you from learning to care for others. Whether they are like you or not. They need you. And we need each other.