Feeling that we were ending our time of quarantine, middle son and I made a four-day trip to New York City last week. Reasons for going and many delights will be shared in weeks ahead. For now, the memory of a large three pane window presenting a iconic view of New York City is all that is needed to define a worthwhile visit.
The door to 3502 was pushed back and the window to the world on the far wall revealed a grand expanse of green bordered on three edges by buildings of various heights, widths, and roof shapes. I knew the name Central Park and had never viewed 834 acres laid out in its entirety. Over the four days, I learned the area was originally a rocky swampy useless plot laboriously transformed to compete with parks of European cities. It’s development included blasting out “rocky ridges with more gunpower than was later fired at the Battle of Gettysburg.” -a quote from the history web site. The lake I enjoyed across the street from the hotel was once a mosquito hotel while another water feature to the east is now a skating rink in the winter. Politics, of course, played a large part in relocating some poorer families who lived in the area in the beginning and in deciding who would be able to use the park as it improved. Statistics say 42 million people, that includes me, visit the park in a year. Pedestrian roads that peek through the tree openings reveal skaters, bikers, walkers, and carriages moving on their own trails while designated vehicle roads transverse other areas.
This vision became mine on Friday morning. After Houston heat, walking into a tree shaded area of 85 degrees and a hair rustling breeze, was an unimaginable gift. Lawns weren’t opened for sitting or sunbathing until 8:00, so we moved at our unobstructed pace up a gentle incline and over a rock bridge. We passed a man who had spread crumbs over the front of his shirt and pants legs and didn’t seem to mind the gathering of pigeons using him as a breakfast bar. Thanks to the “Come see,” cries of two young boys we watched a box turtle begin the hole to lay her eggs. Then we circled around past the ice skating rink of another season which the night before had flashed neon lights and disco music. As we left to re-enter a busy street, I patted the nose of a horse waiting to begin his day’s work. Maybe Central Park doesn’t solve all the needs of the city any more that the same action was everything the writer of Ecclesiastes needed, but for that day, its being nourished my soul.
5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
Ecclesiastes 2:5
Let Me Tell Ya 