Tangible Delights
After work today, I headed to Piers Park, near my apartment. It's a plot of land with a playground, small ampitheater, a boathouse where one can take sailing lessons, and a long stretch of bricks and benches that resembles the pier it used to be, and those surrounding it. It is one of the token projects of East Boston's renewal. An ode to East Boston will have to wait for another day, as this article concerns only this evening's experience.I walked over to the park from the subway station, passing joking neighbors, the little green house that I like to pretend is mine, and the old immigrants home before I enter the steel gates of the park. Immediately, the scent of the harbor greets me, and my smile widens. I thanked God for the gorgeous day, and continued in prayer as I walked through the park and down the pier. Finding a cozy table for two, I sat down and daydreamed a bit about a person that I wanted to share the table with.
My daydreaming drifted into admiring the view of the city and observing all that was going on around me. I watched a pigeon strut by and admired the irridescent area around its neck and throat, wondering, as I always do, what causes that sheen and coloration. I noticed an older gentleman taking his afternoon power walk around the park. On his second of the three laps I witnessed, I took in his clothing and was amused by the contrast between his preppy polo shirt and khaki shorts and the neon green tube socks that topped his white tennis shoes.
I watched the young families with children: siblings playing together, a father and son switching between soccer and assorted other games that had the boy shrieking with delight, shy little girls walking past with their mothers and glancing at me curiously, and so many more. I smiled and even laughed out loud as I watched these innocent children enjoying the sunny June evening. All of this made me think of my mother and the pleasure she gets from watching and interacting with young children. Apparently this is another way in which I am my mother's daughter.
The impulse led me to call my mother, and I spoke with both parents about the scene around me, my week, my upcoming plans, and what was going on in their world. As I wrapped up the conversation, I began walking back up the pier and out of the park. I briefly nosed over into the nearby marina and saw a sign for a restaurant that I thought I remembered someone recommending. Then I took the stairs up the cliff to my apartment building, where I opened up the windows in order to savor the fresh breeze and perfect weather for a little bit longer.
To quote a Frank Sinatra song: This is a lovely way to spend an evening/ Can't think of anything I'd rather do. That is how I spent the second evening off from my virtual life. I don't plan to abandon that life, but it was a sweet reminder of the pleasures to be found in my tangible life. I hereby resolve to take better advantage of the summertime, while the weather is fair and the sea's in the air. It's one of the main reasons I moved here, after all.
Labels: Boston, life, outdoors, summer, tangible, virtual
posted by Virginia Green @ 1:13 AM
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