A Walk in the Park

We took a walk in the park today. It takes up a full city block, and is complete with grassy patches, sculpted shrubs, and these beautiful red lanterns strung in long lines high up in the trees. John took this awesome picture, capturing the fantastic contrast between the red of the lamps and the green of the trees. Further down the lane you end up at a small Buddhist temple. Off in the corner of the park there is a new playground (a cool one at that, my four Utah Grahams would have loved it!). Many people were there, walking slowly or sitting quietly. Some were eating ice cream. What a lovely sight, to see the city slow down. To see children playing with their parents and sweethearts holding hands. This belongs in every city, a place to pause, a place to appreciate the beauty of green and growing things as you watch your children play. A place to breath, and to live well.

I hope I remember this when we get back home, to take time with our kids, hold John's hand, and live slowly every once in a while. To watch things grow and look for the color contrasts around me (like tomatoes growing on the vine, or roses budding on their bush). But for today, I'm so thankful for our walk in the park and our chance to catch to people of this country living well.