I was walking Tiger in the park the other day (as I have been doing for more than fifteen years) and as I was strolling along I was remembering some of the things that make the park so enjoyable for me. Tiger and I have met many folks, with and without dogs, on our walks and made a lot of friends. Currently there is an older couple (about my age) who walk their two Basset Hounds, Rufus and Huckleberry, every day and they just love Tiger, both the folks and the hounds (who drool all over him). Over the years, most of my family members have joined me on walks in the park. I recall many walks with Ellie and Micki (when they were about five or six years old) who loved to climb on the toy train and animals on the playground. I pushed them on the swings and spun them around and around on the merry-go-round. A few years later, Jennifer and Ellie introduced Charley to Jennifer's friend, Darah, (a really cute little blonde) at the park. (He was impressed.) Once, when Tiger was just a few months old, he jumped out of the car after I had parked near the walkway and ran after some geese that were a few feet away. The geese were not in the least impressed by him and one of them had rolled him over and was standing on top of him by the time I came to his rescue. It took him awhile but he finally got even a few months ago, he chased some geese again and this time got a mouthful of tail feathers as they ran squawking into the water. Grandma used to take Glen and Jennifer on picnics in the park and took Glen fishing in the pond there. Tiger and I got our picture in the paper after a reporter met us walking in the park during a near blizzard. Of course there is the annual Septemberfest with the parade and then festivities in the park all afternoon culminating with fireworks in the evening. Now Samantha and I enjoy the new playground equipment put in by the recreation department a few years ago. She loves to climb and slide and swing and I've taken a few pictures of her in the process.
There is a fountain near the front of the park with a brick walkway around it. People can purchase a brick, engraved to honor the memory of a loved one, and have it placed in the walkway. I had a brick placed there in memory of my wife, your mom, grandma and great grandma. I think that it is a fitting tribute that she is included among the memories that many of us share of this park and our family.
3 comments:
This was a great post Grandpa... baby Ryan will continue our family's presence at this park and will we be sure to have lots of pictures here for you. Also, don't forget that Laura and I had some of our wedding pictures taken here.
Thank you. The park evokes many memories of fun and frolic with my grandchildren and some of quiet, pleasant walks with Tiger. Usually during the quiet walks I think about family members as I take my cues from particular locations in the park. I think of Ellie at about age six when I see the critter with the yellow body and purple head because Ellie had climbed up and was sitting on its head when I decided to give it a shake to startle her. Unfortunately, when I shook it, one of the horns struck Ellie on her forehead and she cried. I felt terrible because I surely didn't mean to hurt her. When I walk along the seawall I think of you, Jennifer, Ellie and Micki because I remember a time when it was low tide and we took turns drawing pictures in the sand with a stick while the others tried to guess what they were. Micki always liked to play on the parallel bars near the water jug stand and of course Sammie owns the playground with the slides. Sammie and Tiger both like to get a cup of cold water from the jug. Tiger drinks his but Sammie just likes to get a cup and push the button to fill it with water. She usually doesn't drink it and will pour it out so she can fill it up again. And I can't pass by the fountain without thinking about Grandma because that's where her brick is. I'm looking forward to many good times in the park with Ryan. I wonder what his favorite part will be.
That park will always hold a special place in my heart as well. I've walked with Dad there, and also used to take the kids there for picnics. When they were younger, they attended some summer day camp programs at the park as well. I've taken Samantha there a few times too, she has a blast! I think it's very fitting to have Mom's memorial brick in a place with so many wonderful memories.
I've gone there a few times alone since Mom's passing just to talk to her. I can feel her there and it's comforting.
Anyway, here's hoping our family can make many more fond memories in the park.
Debbie
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